Color Range in Photoshop - 2

I had posted a tutorial on a special effect with the Color Range Tool here. I had promised to post another tutorial to explain the use of the Color Range better. As I had said earlier that the Color Range is better than the Magic Wand. It is very useful for correcting photos especially where details need to be brought out. And, this can be done in a non-destructive way i.e. the original photo is not affected should you go wrong or are not pleased with the effect by using Adjustment Layers. This is possible only if you are using a high resolution image. Try searching here for free stock high resolution photos. You will only have to register to download. http://www.sxc.hu/ It is a very useful site.

Step 1 : I have opened this photo to demonstrate the Color Range tool.

Step 2 : Go to Select Color Range.

Step 3 : I have clicked on the middle mountain range. Keeping the SHIFT key pressed I have dragged on the entire range. You can see in the preview window that opens how the image looks. It shows only the middle mountain range. As I drag the preview keeps changing.

Step 4 : See how the mountain in the middle distance image has been selected.

Step 5 : In the Layers pallette click on the Add Adjustment Layer button and click on Levels from the popup or dropdown.

Step 6 : The left Black slider is to darken the image. The White at the right is to brighten and the Grey slider in the middle is to increase or decrease the highlights. If you drag the Grey slider to the left it will brighten the highlights. If you drag it to the right it will darken the highlights. I have dragged the Grey slider to the right. How you drag the sliders will depend on you image. Try each of the sliders a little at a time.

Step 7 : You can see how the mountains in the middle have become clearly visible.

Step 8 : Click back on the Background layer.
Step 9 : Go to Select>Color Range.
Step 10 : I am keeping SHIFT pressed and dragging the cursor on the white clouds. Look how the sky is selected in the preview window at the right.

Step 11 : The white clouds in the sky are now selected.

Step 12 : Again go the Layers pallete and click on the Add Adjustment Layer button and click on Levels from the popup.

Step 13 : In the Levels dialogue box I have dragged the Black slider towards the right to darken the clouds.

Step 14 : This is how the clouds look now.

In the Layers pallette you will find a second adjustment layer called Levels 2.

Step 15 : Click back on the back on the Layers pallette and again go to Select>Color Range.
Step 16 : I have kept SHIFT pressed and dragged the cursor over the leaves. Then clicked on Invert in the dialogue box at right. Click ok.

Step 17 : Again go the Layers pallette, click on New Adjustment Layer and bring up the Levels just as earlier. I have first dargged the White slider to the left to brighten dull tones. Then dragged the Black slider to the right, then dragged the Grey slider to the right. There is no hard and fast rule. It will depend on your image. Click ok.

This is the image I began with.

And this is the image corrected with Color Range. That is all.

Other photoshop tutorials are here.