Photoshop LAB Color Hints

By SaxGuy written 1/4/06 5:22 PM, published 1/4/06 5:22 PM

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 Popup Linkthis 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. Popup Link(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. Popup Link(Like this...)

Now use the A channel for the reds. Popup Link(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! Popup Link(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
    Thanks for the lesson. I will try it. The change looks nice.

    - Flowers are happiness...

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

    - With these Hands

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

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  • Pyro43
    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
    Wow! I think I need Photoshop!!

    - me

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  • Snowflake
    Wow! What a difference. Great job.

    - snowflake

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  • Beholden
    :o) neato mosquito!

    - ummmm

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

    - Say what ?

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  • KayN
    BIG difference! Thanks for the explanation!

    - Ms.N

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  • austinspace
    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
    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
    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
    You almost need a PhD. to run PS...LOL

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  • jojames1
    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
    with photoshop everthing is art

    - With these Hands

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

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