Three-Point Color Correction Technique

Presenter: Umesh from Pixel Perfect

Introduction

• Greeting and community support message
• Announcement: Free Photoshop live workshop on the 12th with Nars Academy
  • Topic: 12 incredible Photoshop tips and tricks

Three-Point Color Correction Technique

• Prerequisite to understanding the twist (fourth point)
• The technique involves identifying and correcting three critical points: black, white, and gray points in an image

Steps to Apply the Technique

1. Finding the Black Point

• Create a Curves Adjustment Layer -create new layer on top curves name "identification "
• Move the rightmost slider to the left
  • This makes bright areas brighter until details are lost.
  • The darkest areas are the most resistant to losing detail.
• Mark these areas with a black brush on a new plain layer
• came back to layer " identification " hard round brush ,mark this are

2. Finding the White Point

• Reset the Curves Adjustment Layer
• Move the left slider to the right
  • This makes dark areas darker until details are lost.
  • The brightest areas are the most resistant to becoming black.
• Mark these areas with a white brush on the same plain layer
• same layer as " identification layer "

3. Finding the Gray Point

• Turn off Curves Adjustment Layer
• Create a solid color neutral gray layer (hex code: 808080)
• Set the blend mode to Difference -solid color layer
  • The area that appears the darkest is closest to neutral gray
• Use curves again to isolate the darkest areas -Move the rightmost slider to the left -white -let come back identification layer
• Mark these areas with a gray brush on the plain layer
• Delete the solid color layer and reset the Curves Adjustment Layer

Applying Corrections

• Start with White Point using the white-point eyedropper -in curves
• Adjust patterns to avoid detail loss in bright areas using the RGB channel -in curves
• Adjust Black Point using the black-point eyedropper in curves
• Use Gray Point with the gray-point eyedropper
  • Click on gray-point areas to see what looks most natural
  • Fine-tune for an artistic result -name curves " manually "

Automatic Application

• Create a Curves Adjustment Layer -new curves -name automatically

• Click on the grid and select Auto Options

• Choose between:

  • Enhance per channel contrast select this
  • Find dark and light colors

• Ensure Snap neutral midtones is checked

• Compare results of auto settings and pick the best one

The Fourth Point: Logic and Artistic Sense

• Computers can automate the process but miss real-world logic
• Example: Fixing an incorrect tint on a road that should be gray
  • Use logic to identify the expected color and adjust accordingly
• Manually adjust using the gray-point eyedropper to correct to a realistic tone -plus hue saturation -plus idrop to click anything weird to normal -middle I drop

Recap

• Manual Method:
  • Identify and mark darkest, brightest, and grayest areas
  • Use Curves Adjustment Layer and corresponding eyedroppers
• Automatic Method:
  • Use Auto Options in Curves Adjustment Layer
• The Fourth Point:
  • Apply logical reasoning to ensure realistic results

Conclusion

• Encouragement to subscribe and ring the bell for updates
• Thanks to Patreon supporters
• Encouragement to keep creating