Photoshop Elements >

Toning B&W Photographs >

4 - Method #3:

Solid Color Adjustment Layer

Be sure to check off as you go along.

If you haven't already done so, do the Preparation described in the first section.

Toning

1) Use the Background copy layer or the composite layer (see Preparation).

2) Create a Solid Color adjustment layer.

The Color Picker window will open.

Choose a color.

For sepia tones, change the values for red, green, and blue using the chart below.

You can use the values from the columns A, B, or C.

The column A color is what Photoshop Elements uses for its sepia color filter (Go to Filter > Adjustments > Photo Filter > Sepia).

	A		B		C
Red	172		90		160
Green	122		60		130
Blue	51		20		90

If you haven't already done so, go to Color Picking.

3) Change the blending mode of the Solid Color adjustment layer from Normal to Color.

At the top of the layers stack, look for the unlabeled Blending Mode box.

It's to the left of the Opacity box.

The Blending Mode box probably has Normal inside.

The Soft Light blending mode may be tried, as well.

Opacity

Adjust the opacity of the layer to vary the amount of the sepia toning.

50% was used for the photograph below.

Original

Sepia Toned

Column A: 172R, 122G, 51B

At 50% Opacity

Here is the column-A-color version, again, alongside a new version using the column B color.

Sepia Toned

Column A: 172R, 122G, 51B

At 50% Opacity

Sepia Toned

Column B: 90R, 60G, 20B

At 50% Opacity

Use a Photo Filter Adjustment Layer

Instead of using a Solid Color adjustment layer, you can use a Photo Filter adjustment layer instead.

For example, you can use the Sepia filter.

Or, you can choose your own color.

Double click the colored square in the Photo Filter window to open the Color Picker.

Saving the Photograph

If you haven't already done so, go to Saving Files.

The next section discusses how to mix other colors.

Back

4

Next