Colour Correcting Deep Green Water

**GLOC** · July 19th, 2006, 11:07 PM

There was a thread recently on YD concerning the correction of blue water images and a link to an action on the Adobe site was listed. Unfortunately the UK has green water and not blue water so if you ran the action on an image from around 20m and below, it would be very orange.

Almost at the same time Clare asked me how I got the images I have using natural light, and I tried to tell her in the Little Thief just down the road, needless to say that without a computer it was a waste of time...so here is a quick explanation of what I have done.

First start with your 'green image', this was on the Persier (30m) just next to the prop shaft swim through, where a plate has fallen over.

Next load a curve, it is best use Layers in Photoshop as you can always turn them off and you don't change the original file (as long as you save the file as something else).

The curve is here - /deep green water.acv just right click and 'Save As' and save it in the normal curves folder (C:Program Files/Adobe/Photoshop CS/Presets/Curves) and then load it from that folder when you follow the step above.

The curve adjust the proportions of Red, Green and Black. I created this curve by using the 'White' Eyedropper on the MOD sticker of Rob's cylinder and then tweaking it slightly moving the balance of the curves as shown below. Just left click on a point on the curve and move it, little movements sometimes have big effects.

Red Curve

Blue Curve

Green Curve

Most of my Photoshop stuff has been learnt from trial and error although the thing I used to tell students I taught in a digital monochrome class was have a play, as long as you have an original file somewhere else, doesn't matter what you do, you will learn more by experiementing than reading books.

This curve works on other images which I have taken in bright sunshine at 30m in the UK, if it doesn't work for you "straight of the box", have a play with the curves...

Happy playing with Photoshop.

limeyx · July 20th, 2006, 03:38 AM

Quote: (Originally Posted by GLOC)

There was a thread recently on YD concerning the correction of blue water images and a link to an action on the Adobe site was listed. Unfortunately the UK has green water and not blue water so if you ran the action on an image from around 20m and below, it would be very orange.

...
Happy playing with Photoshop.

That looks really nice. However, I only have Photoshop Elements which doesnt seem to have the Curve option. Am I SOL or is there a way?

**jb2cool** · July 20th, 2006, 07:32 AM

Cheers, i'll have to give that a go. The only thing i had so far was a blue water 'action'.

That's awecome. Here is what it's done on one of my imaged. Possibly a little too much red but it was a lot shallower so that's to be expected.

From

To

Have a shiney for your trouble

**GLOC** · July 20th, 2006, 08:10 AM

Quote: (Originally Posted by limeyx)

That looks really nice. However, I only have Photoshop Elements which doesnt seem to have the Curve option. Am I SOL or is there a way?

I haven't played with PSE for some time, do you have levels in PSE? If so, you can do the same sort of thing, just not with the same amount of control.

Had quick playthis morning on a Levels layer which does something similar.

http://www.imagesoflife-online.co.uk...reen_level.alv

HTH

limeyx · July 20th, 2006, 04:14 PM

Quote: (Originally Posted by GLOC)

I haven't played with PSE for some time, do you have levels in PSE? If so, you can do the same sort of thing, just not with the same amount of control.

Had quick playthis morning on a Levels layer which does something similar.

http://www.imagesoflife-online.co.uk...reen_level.alv

HTH

I do have levels, but not the curve one. I'm not really sure what "principles" you are applying so I can see if I can do the same thing either.

Can I just load that layer in somehow? Gonna play with it

**GLOC** · July 20th, 2006, 04:36 PM

The principles are based on trying to balance the colours.

In a 'levels' screen the left hand side controls the dark side of the image (whatever channel, RGB or as a whole), the right hand side covers the highlights (again whatever channel), the slider in the middle covers the brightness of the image.

If you select each channel in turn you can play with the balance of the colours.

http://www.cambridgeincolour.com/tutorials/levels.htm is a good tutorial on using levels.

The use of the droppers is very useful and is worth reading up (detailed at the end of the above article).

July 19th, 2006, 11:07 PM	#1 (permalink)
GLOC(Offline) Moderator and aka Mavis Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Malmesbury, Wilts Posts: 2,772	There was a thread recently on YD concerning the correction of blue water images and a link to an action on the Adobe site was listed. Unfortunately the UK has green water and not blue water so if you ran the action on an image from around 20m and below, it would be very orange. Almost at the same time Clare asked me how I got the images I have using natural light, and I tried to tell her in the Little Thief just down the road, needless to say that without a computer it was a waste of time...so here is a quick explanation of what I have done. First start with your 'green image', this was on the Persier (30m) just next to the prop shaft swim through, where a plate has fallen over. Next load a curve, it is best use Layers in Photoshop as you can always turn them off and you don't change the original file (as long as you save the file as something else). The curve is here - /deep green water.acv just right click and 'Save As' and save it in the normal curves folder (C:Program Files/Adobe/Photoshop CS/Presets/Curves) and then load it from that folder when you follow the step above. The curve adjust the proportions of Red, Green and Black. I created this curve by using the 'White' Eyedropper on the MOD sticker of Rob's cylinder and then tweaking it slightly moving the balance of the curves as shown below. Just left click on a point on the curve and move it, little movements sometimes have big effects. Red Curve Blue Curve Green Curve Most of my Photoshop stuff has been learnt from trial and error although the thing I used to tell students I taught in a digital monochrome class was have a play, as long as you have an original file somewhere else, doesn't matter what you do, you will learn more by experiementing than reading books. This curve works on other images which I have taken in bright sunshine at 30m in the UK, if it doesn't work for you "straight of the box", have a play with the curves... Happy playing with Photoshop. __________________ Gareth Images of Life Photography DIR Team Foxturd Travels Underwater and Further Afar “Set your expectations high; find men and women whose integrity and values you respect; get their agreement on a course of action; and give them your ultimate trust.” “It is far better to be trusted and respected that it is to be liked.”

July 20th, 2006, 03:38 AM	#2 (permalink)
limeyx(Offline) New Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Los Angeles, CA Posts: 822	Quote: (Originally Posted by GLOC) There was a thread recently on YD concerning the correction of blue water images and a link to an action on the Adobe site was listed. Unfortunately the UK has green water and not blue water so if you ran the action on an image from around 20m and below, it would be very orange. ... Happy playing with Photoshop. That looks really nice. However, I only have Photoshop Elements which doesnt seem to have the Curve option. Am I SOL or is there a way? __________________ my divelog: http://www.mydivinglife.com/limeyx

July 20th, 2006, 07:32 AM	#3 (permalink)
jb2cool(Offline) Sorry for being a dick Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Bracknell, Berkshire Posts: 1,053	Cheers, i'll have to give that a go. The only thing i had so far was a blue water 'action'. That's awecome. Here is what it's done on one of my imaged. Possibly a little too much red but it was a lot shallower so that's to be expected. From To Have a shiney for your trouble __________________ http://jb2cool.bulldoghome.com Last edited by jb2cool; July 20th, 2006 at 07:40 AM..

July 20th, 2006, 08:10 AM	#4 (permalink)
GLOC(Offline) Moderator and aka Mavis Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Malmesbury, Wilts Posts: 2,772	Quote: (Originally Posted by limeyx) That looks really nice. However, I only have Photoshop Elements which doesnt seem to have the Curve option. Am I SOL or is there a way? I haven't played with PSE for some time, do you have levels in PSE? If so, you can do the same sort of thing, just not with the same amount of control. Had quick playthis morning on a Levels layer which does something similar. http://www.imagesoflife-online.co.uk...reen_level.alv HTH __________________ Gareth Images of Life Photography DIR Team Foxturd Travels Underwater and Further Afar “Set your expectations high; find men and women whose integrity and values you respect; get their agreement on a course of action; and give them your ultimate trust.” “It is far better to be trusted and respected that it is to be liked.”

July 20th, 2006, 04:14 PM	#5 (permalink)
limeyx(Offline) New Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Los Angeles, CA Posts: 822	Quote: (Originally Posted by GLOC) I haven't played with PSE for some time, do you have levels in PSE? If so, you can do the same sort of thing, just not with the same amount of control. Had quick playthis morning on a Levels layer which does something similar. http://www.imagesoflife-online.co.uk...reen_level.alv HTH I do have levels, but not the curve one. I'm not really sure what "principles" you are applying so I can see if I can do the same thing either. Can I just load that layer in somehow? Gonna play with it __________________ my divelog: http://www.mydivinglife.com/limeyx

July 20th, 2006, 04:36 PM	#6 (permalink)
GLOC(Offline) Moderator and aka Mavis Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Malmesbury, Wilts Posts: 2,772	The principles are based on trying to balance the colours. In a 'levels' screen the left hand side controls the dark side of the image (whatever channel, RGB or as a whole), the right hand side covers the highlights (again whatever channel), the slider in the middle covers the brightness of the image. If you select each channel in turn you can play with the balance of the colours. http://www.cambridgeincolour.com/tutorials/levels.htm is a good tutorial on using levels. The use of the droppers is very useful and is worth reading up (detailed at the end of the above article). __________________ Gareth Images of Life Photography DIR Team Foxturd Travels Underwater and Further Afar “Set your expectations high; find men and women whose integrity and values you respect; get their agreement on a course of action; and give them your ultimate trust.” “It is far better to be trusted and respected that it is to be liked.”