I consider myself somewhat comfortable with most of Photoshop's features, but LAB Image Mode has always confused me. I understand what Lightness is, but what the heck are A and B?? Well, I still don't know, but if you have PS, try this and see if it doesn't work.

Take a horribly washed out shot, like this one that I did the other day. (It was about to rain, but I wanted to remember this place so I could come back and maybe do some stuff another time...)

Open a pic in Photoshop, and then choose Image>Mode>Lab Color from the menu.

Then choose Image>Adjustments>Levels...

Then, while on the Lightness channel, bring  the sliders under the histogram over to meet up with the darkest and lightest parts of your data. (Like this...)  

Now for the cool stuff.... Go to the B channel. Now slide the light and dark sliders about half way in. It WILL start to look horribly wrong, but if you move them both the same amount everything with look normal again!! Then use the middle slider to adjust your pic from bluer to greener. (Like this...)

Now use the A channel for the reds. (Like this...)

The end result may not be perfect with just these steps alone, but it no longer looks like a rainy day in January! (Results...)

Yes, you CAN do the same thing if you use Hue/Saturation in conjunction with Levels and maybe Color Balance, but this seems to be a lot easier that dealing with the 6 sliders in the Hue/Saturation dialog box. Trying to tweak greens, blues, and cyans all seperately?!?!?

Aahhh!!!

Anyway, if this helps anybody out there, then my job is done.



 
  • Lidljo
    136
    Thanks for the lesson. I will try it. The change looks nice.

    - Flowers are happiness...

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  • chef009
    2977
    yep,good job...this looks easier..I've always did it the hard way..so I'll try it out also...thanks...great post..

    - Time to cook

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  • MrWiz
    15
    I like what you've done...shows that even the worst pics can be corrected...

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  • Pyro43
    1146
    Good job! I will have to give it a try. Back again. Well, I was going to give it a try, but don't see "Lab Color" in PS Elements.

    - Mmmmmm... Multiplicative

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  • kristyk
    25
    Wow! I think I need Photoshop!!

    - me

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  • Wow! What a difference. Great job.

    - snowflake

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  • Beholden
    33
    :o) neato mosquito!

    - ummmm

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  • good info and clean-up on that pic. i stumbled across this one day, some good info on curves - http://www.thegoldenmean.com/technique/curves1.html

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  • TURBO
    107
    Now that's nice...I agree with kristyk, im gunna have to get that photshop.. Saxguy, what version is that?

    - Life is good.....

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  • KayN
    1147
    BIG difference! Thanks for the explanation!

    - Ms.N

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  • austinspace
    1126
    If you want to buy Photoshop, try to buy it through a student at a college--it's MUCH cheaper academically. And, you might look to see if Photoshop Elements can do this, too--heck that's only about $70, and Costco/Sam's Club usually carries it, and probably for less than that.

    - here and there

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  • lilbit
    226
    I have Photoshop and I'm trying to learn to use it, it's not as easy as what I used to use and that's Photo Studio, any good websites out there that can teach the basics would be nice. Share if you have any....I checked out the one rootshell mentioned and bookmarked it, it was helpful thanks!

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  • SaxGuy
    15
    I'm using CS, but I think LAB color has been in there a while, so it really shouldn't matter what version it is. I've read several big honkin' thick books on photoshop, but I don't think I've seen this trick in any of them. I just kinda stumbled across it when I was playing around. I don't think anybody really works in LAB color. Probably because it's too hard to understand exactly what the heck it is.

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  • lilbit
    226
    You almost need a PhD. to run PS...LOL

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  • jojames1
    2136
    Awesome lesson...can't wait to play with some of my throw aways to see if I can save them!

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  • chef009
    2977
    with photoshop everthing is art

    - Time to cook

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  • codepoit
    56
    lil (and others): Photoshop itself has a good online help section...you can access it by either hitting the F1 key, or by going into the Help menu and choosing a topic from the "How to" section...

    - I'm Special!

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  • lilbit
    226
    well thank you for that after I cussed it out today...LOL I see the little word that says "help" but I never seem to click on it.

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  • Pyro43
    1146
    I found it. In order to find the Histogram in PhotoShop Elements 3, choose Window > Histogram. (You may, if you choose, then place it in your Palette Bin.) For the levels adjustment, choose Enhance > Adjust Lighting > Levels. (The key stroke is Ctrl L.)

    - Mmmmmm... Multiplicative

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  • TonKpils0514
    6
    wow dude good job...the image examples helped too!!!!

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