Changing the color of an object in Photoshop is a fundamental skill for graphic designers and photo editors. It can enhance the visual impact, create a harmonious composition, or completely alter an image’s mood. Photoshop offers various tools and techniques, making experimenting with different color schemes and tones easy. Photoshop’s advanced features allow for precise and professional-looking results, from subtle adjustments to complete transformations. Whether for practical or creative purposes, changing the color of an object is a valuable skill for producing visually stunning images.

 

Method 1: Using the Hue/Saturation Adjustment Layer in Photoshop:

 

Changing the color of an object in an image can be time-consuming, but using the Hue/Saturation adjustment layer in Photoshop can make the process much easier. This adjustment layer allows you to adjust an object’s hue, saturation, and lightness without permanently altering the original image.

 

Step 1: Open your image in Photoshop and select the object you want to change the color of using the selection tool of your choice. Many selection tools are available in Photoshop, including the lasso tool, the magic wand tool, and the quick selection tool. Choose the tool best suited for the shape of the object you want to select.

 

Step 2: Click the “Create new fill or adjustment layer” button in the Layers panel and choose “Hue/Saturation.” The Layers panel is typically located on the right-hand side of the screen and displays all of the layers in your image. The “Create new fill or adjustment layer” button is at the bottom of the panel and looks like a half-black, half-white circle.

 

Step 3: In the Hue/Saturation dialog box, adjust the Hue slider to change the color of the selected object. The Hue slider is the first slider in the dialog box and allows you to change the object’s base color. Moving the slider to the left will shift the color toward green, while moving it to the right will shift it toward red. You can also adjust the Saturation and Lightness sliders to refine the color further. The Saturation slider controls the intensity of the color, while the Lightness slider controls the brightness.

 

Step 4: If necessary, use the layer mask to limit the effect of the adjustment layer on the object you want to change the color of. A layer mask allows you to hide or reveal parts of a layer selectively. To create a layer mask, click the “Add layer mask” button at the bottom of the Layers panel. Then, use a black brush to paint over the areas of the layer mask where you want to hide the adjustment layer. Use a white brush to reveal the adjustment layer.

 

Once satisfied with the object’s color, you can save your image or export it to another format.

 

Method 2: Using the Color Replacement Tool in Photoshop:

 

Another method to change an object’s color in Photoshop is using the Color Replacement Tool. This tool allows you to select a color in your image and replace it with another color.

 

Step 1: Open your image in Photoshop and select the Color Replacement Tool from the toolbar. It is under the Brush tool and resembles a brush with a circle in the middle.

 

Step 2: Choose the new color you want to apply to the object by clicking on the Foreground color swatch at the bottom of the toolbar. A color picker window will appear, and you can select the color you want. Click OK when you are done.

 

Step 3: Adjust the settings for the Color Replacement Tool. The Tool Options bar will appear at the top of the screen when you select the Color Replacement Tool. You can adjust the brush size, hardness, and tolerance. The brush size determines the size of the brush tip, the hardness determines how hard or soft the edge of the brush is, and the tolerance determines how much of the original color is replaced.

 

Step 4: Paint the object with the Color Replacement Tool. Make sure to paint only over the parts of the object you want to change the color of. You can see the new color applied in real-time as you paint. If you accidentally paint an area you didn’t intend to, use the undo function (Ctrl/Cmd + Z) or the History panel to return to a previous state.

 

Step 5: If necessary, refine the color replacement using the Hue/Saturation adjustment layer. Sometimes, the new color may not look quite right, and you may need to adjust it. To do this, create a new Hue/Saturation adjustment layer and move the sliders to fine-tune the color. Use the layer mask to limit the adjustment layer to the object you want to change the color of.

 

Once you are satisfied with the object’s color, you can save your image or export it to another format. The Color Replacement Tool is a handy tool. However, it may not work well on images with complex colors and textures, so it is important to use the right tool for the job.

 

Method 3: Using the Color Balance Adjustment Layer in Photoshop:

 

The Color Balance adjustment layer is another method you can use to change the color of an object in Photoshop. It allows you to adjust your image’s color balance by shifting the color balance in the shadows, midtones, and highlights.

 

Step 1: Open your image in Photoshop and select the object you want to change the color of using the selection tool of your choice. As in previous methods, several selection tools are available in Photoshop, including the lasso, magic wand, and quick selection tools.

 

Step 2: Click the “Create new fill or adjustment layer” button in the Layers panel and choose “Color Balance.” The Layers panel is located on the right-hand side of the screen and displays all of the layers in your image. The “Create new fill or adjustment layer” button is at the bottom of the panel and looks like a half-black, half-white circle.

 

Step 3: In the Color Balance dialog box, use the sliders to adjust the color balance of your image. There are three sliders for adjusting the balance of the colors in the shadows, midtones, and highlights. Moving the slider to the left will shift the color toward cyan, while moving it to the right will shift the color toward red. You can also adjust the tone balance by choosing between the options in the “Tone Balance” dropdown menu.

 

Step 4: If necessary, use the layer mask to limit the effect of the adjustment layer on the object you want to change the color of. As before, create a layer mask by clicking on the “Add layer mask” button at the bottom of the Layers panel, and use a black brush to paint over the areas of the layer mask where you want to hide the adjustment layer. Use a white brush to reveal the adjustment layer.

 

Step 5: Continue fine-tuning the object’s color until you are satisfied with the result. You can use the layer opacity to adjust the strength of the effect or use the blending mode to change how the adjustment layer interacts with the layers below it.

 

Once you are satisfied with the object’s color, you can save your image or export it to another format.

 

Method 4: Using the Recolor Artwork Tool in Illustrator:

 

If you’re working with vector graphics in Adobe Illustrator, you can use the Recolor Artwork tool to change the color of an object. This tool allows you to adjust the colors in your artwork while preserving the shading and gradients.

 

Step 1: Open your image in Illustrator and select the object you want to change the color of. You can do this by clicking on the object with the selection tool or using the Direct Selection tool to select individual anchor points.

 

Step 2: Go to the Edit menu and select “Edit Colors,” then “Recolor Artwork.” Alternatively, you can use the keyboard shortcut Shift+Ctrl/Cmd+K to access the Recolor Artwork dialog box.

 

Step 3: In the Recolor Artwork dialog box, you can use the color wheel to adjust the colors in your artwork. The color wheel is divided into segments for each color in your artwork, and you can drag the sliders to adjust the color. You can also use the eyedropper tool to select a color from your image and apply it to the object.

 

Step 4: To isolate the object you want to change the color of, click the “Limit to” checkbox at the bottom of the Recolor Artwork dialog box. That will allow you to adjust the color of the selected object without affecting the rest of the artwork.

 

Step 5: Fine-tune the object’s color by adjusting the brightness, saturation, and other color properties in the “Edit” section of the Recolor Artwork dialog box. You can also use the “Assign” section to apply a specific color to the object.

 

Step 6: Once you’re satisfied with the new color of the object, click “OK” to apply the changes.

 

Conclusion

 

To sum up, there are multiple ways to change the color of an object in Photoshop and Illustrator. You can use the Hue/Saturation adjustment layer, the Color Replacement tool, the Color Balance adjustment layer, and the Recolor Artwork tool. Each method has advantages and can be used depending on your needs. With a little practice, you can master these techniques and create stunning designs with vibrant colors.