You have taken your product photo, then you find out that the product's actual color has not been captured. Instead, the photo looks dull and washed out or sometimes too vibrant in color. That's when Photo Color Correction comes into work.
No matter what products you sell online, the color correction technique ensures your photos look natural, as they should be.
Here's how you can do that...
What Is Color Correcting?
Well, color correcting is all about helping you get the natural color of the image. It's all about adjusting, tweaking, and balancing the colors. So that your photos look exactly the way it's in the real world. Color correction is all about that. Natural, no enhanced colors.
Why Color Correct Your Photos?
Let's say you're selling the most amazing red velvet dress online. You've got the perfect shot to upload on your website. But there's an oops moment. Your red velvet cake picture looks a little in maroon shade. That's not a fault of yours. But how will your customers understand that?
That's what color correction does, to make your cupcake look like what it is in real life!
Make Your Products Pop (Accurately!)
Imagine when a customer clicks on your product photos thinking of the jewelry gems as vibrant turquoise, but they are not actually. The color is actually royal blue. Not good!
Color correction ensures your customers see exactly what they are getting. If the jewelry color is royal blue, the image should show the actual color. There will be no surprises, just happy customers knowing they will get exactly what they see.
Build Customer Trust
Trust is everything in the online world. When your potential customers see you're putting out consistent, high-quality images, they will feel confident buying from you. They will trust you because you're not giving them any unpleasant surprises. Rather you maintain a consistent look in your product photos. That makes your brand a trustworthy one. Your customers believe in you every time they buy from you.
How Does Color Correction Work?
Color correction is mostly done using advanced photo editing software. Here's how you can do that...
1. Adobe Photoshop
Photoshop is a globally recognized software that even a newbie heard of. Think of it as your digital toolbox. It’s packed with all the necessary tools to fix color mishaps.
Need to brighten up dull colors? Photoshop’s got the options. It lets you adjust the color with the necessary settings. You can tweak the hue and shade of the photos until you reach perfection.
2. Quick Fix
Auto-color correction button gets you on the quick fix.
But when you need to color-correct complex images, you can use options like adjustment layers, layer masks, and the pen tool in Photoshop. Adjustment layers help you apply changes without altering the original.
Layer masks can adjust the color of a specific object in a photo. Suppose you want to brighten up a certain portion of your image; add a layer mask to the object you want to brighten up then tweak the color of it. Whole image's color will remain the same except the object you have brightened up.
The pen tool works for precision. It works for color correction of intricate detailing.
3. Object Selection
Adobe Photoshop has an object selection tool. Using that, you can perform challenging tasks like changing the color of a specific object in the photo. Suppose a model is rocking a green dress, but you must also show it in another color. With the object selection tool, you can do that.
Choose the object selection tool from the toolbar. Now click and drag over the object you want to select. Photoshop's AI can automatically detect the object. But if the selection is not perfect and you need more precision, you can switch to the lasso tool or quick selection tool.
Once the object is selected, go to the adjustment panel to adjust the hue slider to change the color. You can also use curves or levels to tweak the image brightness.
Is Color Grading the Same Thing as Color Correction?
No. Color Grading and Color Correction are not the same. They might sound like they belong to the same family. But they're totally different editing techniques.
Color correction is all about getting your photo's color to look the same. Here you need to make sure the reds are actually red, the blues are blue. Your product images just look like the real ones. It actually makes sure your photos look neat and tidy. No off-key hues are there.
But Color Grading, on the other hand, is where all the fun belongs. It's less about accuracy and more about the whole vibes. Want to give your photos a cool, moody vibe? You can achieve that through color grading. It's like putting your photos in different lights. It helps to tell a different story and set a different mood.
If your photos are for your website or catalog - then their accuracy is key. So color correction is your go-to thing. But if you want to set completely different aesthetics to your social media platforms, you can choose Color grading at that time.
Difference Between Photo Color Correction and Photo Retouch
Photo retouching also seems like the same concept, but not. Photo retouch helps to smooth out the imperfections from the photo. It goes beyond color correction. It helps to remove any spots, smoothing out, and getting rid of distractions from the background. It makes sure the pixel comes out picture-perfect. Photo retouching is mainly used by the fashion industry, where you need the subject to look flawless. It gives your photo the necessary glow-ups.
What Tool Do You Need to Color Correct Photos
As we already mentioned above. Adobe Photoshop and Lightroom are your best tools here. These magic tools help you with the necessary digital paint brushes to give your photos the actual color.
How to Use Lightroom for Color Correction
- Start by launching Lightroom software and head to the library. Click on the import button on the left to bring out the image you need to color correct.
- After selecting and importing your image, head to the basic panel on the right side.
- Use the temperature slider to set your image tone. It goes between cooler to warmer hues.
- Under the presence section, you will get the saturation slider. It helps to boost or intensify your image color.
- For more precise color correction go to HSL/Color/B&W panel. Here you can individually work on the hues, saturation, and luminance of the colors.
- You can also experiment with the exposure, highlights, shadows, and clarity tools to enhance your photo.
- Once you are satisfied with your overall work, go to export to save your final edited version.
How to Use Adobe Photoshop for Color Correction
- Go to File > Open to get the photo you want to correct.
- Navigate to Filter > Camera Raw Filter. Here you can do the quick fix by making the basic adjustments in the temperature, tint, and saturation.
- Click Image > Adjustments > Hue/Saturation, for advanced adjustments. Here you will find specific colors for your image.
- Image > Adjustments > Photo Filter, to apply a photo filter. Here the color range is from warm tone to cool tone.
- You can create an adjustment layer for non-destructive photo editing. Here you will get options like curves, layers, or hue/saturation for precise control in color correction.
- For certain area color correction, choose the layer mask.
- Once the desired color correction is done, go to File > Export.
Does Lighting Have Anything To Do With Color?
Lighting makes everything different.
Different types of lighting can make the color of a product completely different. Warm lighting gives your photo a rich look. At the same time, cool lighting gives it a moody tone.
While doing color correction, remember to play with the lighting within your software tools. If you get the lighting right, your color correction will achieve originality.
Who Needs Color Correction?
Well, if you're working with photos for your E-commerce business, then the answer is You!
Running an online store means you need your product photos to look true to life. Otherwise, you risk tricking your customers with the wrong product colors.
Also, if you are a photographer, such a color correction is a necessity. You always need to fix the unwanted tints in your shots to make sure your photos look crisp.
Basically, for those who are involved in working with visuals and want their photos to look their best, color correction is their daily necessity.
Conclusion
Finally, color correction comes with many benefits. If you have the basic rights, you can do the color correction yourself. For the best results, you can always hire photo editing professionals to help you out.
