“How do I color grade my photos?”
We know that colors can evoke emotions and connect with the audience.
It is important to
1/ Consider the kind of mood you wish to convey
2/ Use the color tone to match the mood
Entering a room with carefully selected lighting, wallpaper, and coordinated furnishings creates an intentional design. Similarly, the colors within your photos should work together to create a cohesive tone.
Using every color in a painting on any size of canvas would be overwhelming. Limiting yourself to a color combination makes the decision easier. You can also think outside the box and add an accent color.
“How to create a color palette though?“
In my journey, I drew inspiration from the art of film photography. Call me old school, but this was the origin of all my photography skills.
The analog photos were processed by film labs. I was stunned and mesmerized by the vibrant colors. Every film roll has different color profiles some of them are more saturated, and some are cooler.
“How were you able to visualize the end process?”
The key is to see the potential of each photo.
Color grading involves more than just adjusting sliders; it’s about making the subject stand out and evoke a specific emotion.
You can create your style based on your preference.
In my book The Art of Color Grading, I shared color palettes. These include pastel creamy colors and cinematic moody colors. I provided before and after photo examples.
Muted colors
Muted colors are desaturated and have a calming effect on an image. They are characterized by neutral tones that give a more natural and subdued look. This color palette is perfect for portraits, landscapes, and still-life photography.
When it comes to muted colors, there are 2 main types – lighter and darker. Lighter muted colors are creamy and soft, while darker muted colors are charcoal and moody. The choice of which one to use depends on the mood and style you want to convey in your photograph.
Once you decide what result you are looking for. The next step is to color grading in Lightroom, Snapseed, or other photo editing apps.
- Identify which area to edit
- Decide which panel to use
To achieve muted colors in your photos, go to the Color Mixer panel in Lightroom.
Start by reducing the saturation and vibrancy levels, then adjust the hue and luminance. You can play with the color balance. Experiment with split toning to add more depth and character to your images.
I’ve always believed in keeping things simple and stripping away the fluff to give you just the essential steps. If you’ve been enjoying my tutorials, I think you’ll love my color grading book.
Delving into the intricacies of using colors, you’ll learn
– when to use curves, color mixer, and color grading
– how to create a color palette
– step-by-step breakdown
– post-shoot workflow
I draw from my career as an editor. This is a resource that I wish I had when I was starting out. I sincerely hope that it helps aspiring photographers on their photography journey.
