Color EQ

The Color EQ filter (hue, saturation, contrast, and brightness) is used to adjust overall colors in an image or each color individually. The advanced tools can subtly fine-tune and enhance colors, or completely change individual colors in an image.

For instance, if an image has a yellow car, use the Saturation tab to saturate the yellow, or use the Brightness tab to brighten the yellow. In the Hue tab, change the color of the car from yellow to pink. In the Contrast tab, adjust the contrast of the yellow and use the Balance slider to target the brightness range for that contrast adjustment.

Customized settings can be saved as a preset for future use. Presets can be selected from the Presets drop-down, or saved by clicking the adjacent Save icon.

If an image contains a yellow car with a yellow building in the background, change just the car by using the Selections tool. Select the car using the Selections tool and then apply color adjustments.

To adjust color:

  1. Select Filter | Color | Color EQ from the main menu, or press O.
  2. Set the options as described below.
  3. Do one of the following:
    • Click Apply to apply any changes.
    • Click OK to apply any changes and close the tool.
    • Click Cancel to discard all changes and close the tool.

Color EQTM Options

Select High Quality mode or Standard mode from the top of the Color EQ dialog. To adjust colors individually, click a color on the image and drag up or down to alter. Changes are reflected in the color sliders in High Quality mode, and the graph in Standard mode respectively. This works in the Saturation, Brightness, Hue, and Contrast tabs.

High Quality Adjust image colors individually. High Quality uses the newer, more modern color models, allowing for a visually perceptive and higher quality adjustment.
Color EQ Adjust each color individually by dragging sliders right for more intensity, or left for less intensity. You can also enter a number into the fields for precise adjustments. Or select a precise color to adjust by placing your cursor on the image for the double arrow icon to appear. Then click and drag up or down to adjust the colors beneath the double arrow icon. The affected color sliders automatically adjust as you move your cursor.
  Saturation Color saturation adjustments can be made in the Red, Orange, Yellow, Green, Cyan, Blue, Purple, and Magenta bands. Drag sliders to the right for more intensity, or to the left for less intensity of color. Levels can also be entered numerically to the right of the slider on a scale of 0 - 100.
  Brightness Color brightness adjustments can be made in the Red, Orange, Yellow, Green, Cyan, Blue, Purple, and Magenta bands. Drag sliders to the right for more intensity, or to the left for less intensity of color. Levels can also be entered numerically to the right of the slider on a scale of 0 - 100.
  Hue Color hue adjustments can be made in the Red, Orange, Yellow, Green, Cyan, Blue, Purple, and Magenta bands. Drag sliders to the right for more intensity, or to the left for less intensity of color. Levels can also be entered numerically to the right of the slider on a scale of 0 - 100.
  Contrast Contrast adjustments can be made in the Red, Orange, Yellow, Green, Cyan, Blue, Purple, and Magenta bands. Drag sliders to the right for more intensity, or to the left for less intensity of color. Each color band also has an adjacent Balance slider with a range of -100 to +100. Levels can also be entered numerically to the right of the sliders.
Global Adjustments    
  Vibrance Drag the slider to adjust the vibrance of the image without affecting skin tones.
  Saturation Drag the slider to adjust the saturation of the image.
  Color Shift Drag the slider to adjust the amount of color shift in the image.
  Hue Drag the slider to adjust the hue of the image.
  Lightness Drag the slider to adjust the lightness of the image.
  Red Drag the slider to adjust the amount of red in the image.
  Green Drag the slider to adjust the amount of green in the image.
  Blue Drag the slider to adjust the amount of blue in the image.
Standard Adjust colors individually or make global adjustments.
  Vibrance Drag the slider to adjust the vibrance of the image without affecting skin tones.
  Vertical Slider

Apply adjustments to the entire image. The main slider on the left has the following effects on the tabs:

  • Saturation: Adjusts from saturation to grayscale.
  • Brightness: Adjusts the light or dark tones in the image.
  • Hue: Changes to a different color.

It is also possible to enter a number into the field for precise adjustments.
  Individual Color Sliders Adjust each color with individual sliders. Select the color to adjust and click and drag the sliders. It is also possible to enter a number into the fields for precise adjustments.
  Direct Image Adjustments

Place the cursor on the image for the double arrow icon to appear. Then click and drag up or down to adjust the colors beneath the double arrow icon. The curve control and the affected color sliders automatically adjust as the cursor is moved. The black down arrow on the graph indicates which color is being adjusted in the image.

The curve appears black in the graph and is not directly adjustable. To apply further adjustments, alter the white curve. When adjusting the white curve, the black curve automatically changes with it. It is also possible to enter a number into the fields for precise adjustments.

Right-click a slider to reset to the default value.

This filter features a Pixel Targeting tab (see Pixel Targeting for more details).

Use the Edit Brush to paint this effect onto specific areas of the image.

Use the Gradient tool to transition this effect across specific areas of the image.

Use the Radial Gradient tool to apply effects around, or directly to, a center point.

See also: