Color Correction - Removing Color Casts

Creating a fine art print means paying attention to color, not just the individual colors of the subject, but possible color casts that cover the entire image. Incorrect color tones in an image can ruin what could have been a wonderful print. Many prints with color casts tend to remind me of 1960's era prints that have not aged well over the years.Unless you are nostalgic for the early years of television, color casts are terrible.

While talking to some friends, I discovered that what I thought was a commonly used method to correct for color casts apparently is not. Most people know about using levels to set the white and black points, but the levels tools can also be used to remove color casts. This is also referred to as selecting the white balance in Camera Raw.

In the top right image there is a terrible color cast, but the bottom right image shows how it can be corrected using one layer adjustment in Photoshop. First, set up your image as you always would with your normal workflow. You can even use a levels adjustment layer to set the white/blank points. There is nothing keeping you from using multiple levels layers in Photoshop.

So you get your image to the same point as my yellow mountain laurel and simply add another adjustment layer with levels. This time, instead of setting the white/black point, click on the "Gray Point" eyedropper in the levels dialog box. Now move the curser onto the photograph and begin clicking.

As you click on different colors you will notice the color cast change. I have found that clicking on something in the mid tones to white areas of the photo works best, something neutral. If the adjustment looks really bad and you cannot seem to find the correct color cast simply reset the dialog box by holding down Alt/Option (on a Mac) and then clicking on the reset button. Remember, this is an adjustment layer so you could also delete the layer if you have to.

Once you get the color cast looking good you can then adjust the opacity of the levels layer. Hopefully you can use this technique and save some wonderful photos that would never see the printer.


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