Editing photos can be a challenge. With so many sliders and options to choose from, sometimes it makes sense to understand some fundamentals to build upon. Understanding the effect of undertones on the colors in an image can help bring sense to what might seem unpredictable.
In this video, Todd Dominey looks at the importance of not just understanding color in an image, but understanding how the undertones of the colors impact the overall aesthetic of the photograph. Dominey starts with a simple trio of blues, each of a different shade, and explains why the shades are different.
Dominey then works on a photograph with a focus on making the yellow in the image more prominent. He used the Selective Color tools in Adobe Photoshop to make these changes, with clear information on what he was changing and why as he worked through the image.
Wrapping the video up, Dominey encourages practice to get better at seeing the undertones of a color and making it more natural to alter a color in a way the photographer sees fit. To help with this, he shares a great tool to help practice just that: a CMYK matching game.
I found the video very helpful. I know I have room for improvement in identifying the undertones in color and, more importantly, how to manipulate a color in the direction I want it to go. Dominey’s video was a great start on both understanding why this color theory is important and helping make the first steps toward being more knowledgeable.
