How to Change the Color of an Object in Photoshop

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How to Change the Color of an Object in Photoshop

As with most things in Photoshop, there are many ways to change the color of an object, clothing and backgrounds to a completely different hue. Depending on your starting image, the item you want to change, and the difference between the object and the surrounding area, you may wish to isolate your subject first using a quick mask, layer mask, or color range tool. You can also opt for “Replace Color” in Photoshop.

SetteeFourColor2-600x4531 How to Change the Color of an Object in Photoshop Blueprints Photoshop Actions Photoshop Tips

For this edit of an English Setter named Sparrow, I wanted to alter the color of the velvet teal settee for some alternate looks.  You can also watch the Photoshop video tutorial below to see exactly how I edited this image.

  1. Edited the original image, shown in video but not here, using the MCP Fusion Photoshop Action Set (One Click Color and Creamsicle).
  2. Next I created a Hue/Saturation adjustment layer.  Chose cyan from the drop down.  You would chose the color closest to the one you wish to change.  It will impact everything that is the color you pick.  But you can mask areas back later if needed. If you do not find a suitable color, you will want to make a selection of the area you wish to change first (using any number of selection tools) and just use the master channel instead of a specific one. On this adjustment layer, slide the Hue slider until you get a color you like.  Next, increase or decrease the Saturation slider and/or Lightness slider if desired.
  3. Clean up the image. You may need to mask out the other areas that were impacted – for example if you wanted the collar to remain the original color. Just hide the color change by painting carefully with a black brush set to normal.  Likewise, you may get some haloing in areas that were not selected perfectly.  To adjust these, make a new blank layer.  Set the layer to the Color blend mode.  Then choose the brush tool and set it to Color blend mode.  Next use the dropper tool to select a sample color (that you want to turn the areas that still need to change). And carefully paint on this blank layer.  If you have overspill, add a mask and clean up your brush strokes.

If you take the photo with this in mind, by selecting colors that do not blend with others in the image, it is easy to change the color of the object, background, clothing and more.

Here is the step-by-step video:

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Thank you to Danika of www.pouka.com for the use of her beautiful image for the video.

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No Comments

  1. Shelline Watts on June 12, 2013 at 10:40 am

    THANK YOU for the tutorial!1 I have read it 25 times or more, and I am doing something WRONG . My background is white , I want it light purple and every time ,my entire image changes not just the basckground ..have NO CLUE what I am missing, will try again later

    • Jodi Friedman, MCP Actions on June 16, 2013 at 2:15 pm

      You need to have color to change color – white lacks the color needed to pick up any changes from this method. Sorry I did not mention that.

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