Adaptive Saturation
Content
Adaptive Saturation
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Currently 2.9/5 Stars. 1 2 3 4 5
Rating: 2.9/5 (3471 votes cast) Written by Denny Tang WEDNESDAY, 20 SEPTEMBER 2006 Page 1 of 4
Identifying the Saturation
First, we need to find the areas that are saturated. To do this, we just simply create a layer with no saturation and change the blending mode to Difference. 1.Open a photo you would like to edit. Or, you may use the photo used in this tutorial (from iStockPhoto).
From iStockPhoto
2.
Create a new Hue/Saturation adjustment layer (Layer> New
Adjustment Layer> Hue/Saturation). When the Hue/Saturation tool appears, reduce the saturation to -100. Click OK when done.
New Hue/Saturation adjustment layer. 3. Change the blending mode of the adjustment layer to Difference.
Page 2 of 4
Using the Saturation Data
Now that we have an image that shows the difference 1. Make sure the layer mask is activated. The thumbnail of the layer mask in the layers window should have a white border around it. If it doesn't, click on the thumbnail to activate the layer mask. 2. With the layer mask selected, open the Apply Image tool
(Image> Apply Image). The default settings should be fine so you may simply click OK if the settings are default: Layer: Merged Channel: RGB Invert: Unchecked Blending: Multiply Opacity: 100%
The Apply Image tool 3. Normal. Change the blending mode of the adjustment layer back to
Blending mode set back to Normal. Page 3 of 4
Adjusting Saturation
Finally, we're able to adjust the saturation of the image. There are a few steps you should follow: 1. To increase the contrast, use the Levels tool (Image>
Adjustment> Levels or Ctrl+L) or apply an Auto Levels (Image> Adjustments> Auto Levels or Shift+Ctrl+L).
Auto Levels applied to the layer mask. 2. Double click on the adjustment layer thumbnail to bring up the
Hue/Saturation tool then adjust the saturation.
Reducing saturation with the Hue/Saturation adjustment layer. 3. If you increased the saturation, select the layer mask of the
adjustment layer and Invert (Image> Adjustment> Invert or Ctrl+I). This will make the saturation adjustment visible on the low-saturation areas of the image so that the already saturated areas are left alone. 4. To achieve the opposite effect, invert the layer mask (again if
you've already done it). For example, if you increased saturation and inverted the layer mask, invert the layer mask again to have the saturation adjustments visible on the saturated areas of the image. This will make the vivid areas even more saturated while leaving the dull colors alone. Page 4 of 4
Final Results
Final results (Rollover your cursor over the above image to see the unedited image.)
With and Without Layer Mask
With and Without Layer Mask. Layer mask inverted.
With and Without Layer Mask
• • • • • •
Currently 2.9/5 Stars. 1 2 3 4 5
Rating: 2.9/5 (3471 votes cast) Written by Denny Tang WEDNESDAY, 20 SEPTEMBER 2006 Page 1 of 4
Identifying the Saturation
First, we need to find the areas that are saturated. To do this, we just simply create a layer with no saturation and change the blending mode to Difference. 1.Open a photo you would like to edit. Or, you may use the photo used in this tutorial (from iStockPhoto).
From iStockPhoto
2.
Create a new Hue/Saturation adjustment layer (Layer> New
Adjustment Layer> Hue/Saturation). When the Hue/Saturation tool appears, reduce the saturation to -100. Click OK when done.
New Hue/Saturation adjustment layer. 3. Change the blending mode of the adjustment layer to Difference.
Page 2 of 4
Using the Saturation Data
Now that we have an image that shows the difference 1. Make sure the layer mask is activated. The thumbnail of the layer mask in the layers window should have a white border around it. If it doesn't, click on the thumbnail to activate the layer mask. 2. With the layer mask selected, open the Apply Image tool
(Image> Apply Image). The default settings should be fine so you may simply click OK if the settings are default: Layer: Merged Channel: RGB Invert: Unchecked Blending: Multiply Opacity: 100%
The Apply Image tool 3. Normal. Change the blending mode of the adjustment layer back to
Blending mode set back to Normal. Page 3 of 4
Adjusting Saturation
Finally, we're able to adjust the saturation of the image. There are a few steps you should follow: 1. To increase the contrast, use the Levels tool (Image>
Adjustment> Levels or Ctrl+L) or apply an Auto Levels (Image> Adjustments> Auto Levels or Shift+Ctrl+L).
Auto Levels applied to the layer mask. 2. Double click on the adjustment layer thumbnail to bring up the
Hue/Saturation tool then adjust the saturation.
Reducing saturation with the Hue/Saturation adjustment layer. 3. If you increased the saturation, select the layer mask of the
adjustment layer and Invert (Image> Adjustment> Invert or Ctrl+I). This will make the saturation adjustment visible on the low-saturation areas of the image so that the already saturated areas are left alone. 4. To achieve the opposite effect, invert the layer mask (again if
you've already done it). For example, if you increased saturation and inverted the layer mask, invert the layer mask again to have the saturation adjustments visible on the saturated areas of the image. This will make the vivid areas even more saturated while leaving the dull colors alone. Page 4 of 4
Final Results
Final results (Rollover your cursor over the above image to see the unedited image.)
With and Without Layer Mask
With and Without Layer Mask. Layer mask inverted.
With and Without Layer Mask
