Mastering color in Lightroom is about knowing the right tool for the job. Two key features, the Color Mixer and Color Grading tools, each handle color differently, and understanding their unique roles can significantly improve your editing.
Coming to you from Christian Möhrle - The Phlog Photography, this practical video explains how Lightroom’s Color Mixer lets you tweak colors already present in your photos. Möhrle walks through adjustments of hue, saturation, and luminance, demonstrating how you can dramatically shift colors without adding anything new. For instance, if the greens in your landscape feel unnatural, Möhrle shows how reducing the green hue can subtly transform foliage into warmer tones. Adjustments to blues in skies or oranges in buildings similarly enable precise control over your image's existing palette.
On the other hand, Möhrle highlights how Lightroom’s Color Grading—formerly split toning—operates differently by adding color tints to your highlights, shadows, and midtones. Rather than tweaking existing shades, this tool creates stylistic looks. Möhrle demonstrates this clearly: warming highlights enhance a sunset atmosphere, while introducing cooler midtones creates depth and contrast. This technique is especially useful if you're looking to establish mood or cinematic effects in your images. By carefully balancing these color additions, you ensure highlights remain prominent without overwhelming your overall photo.
Möhrle’s approach also emphasizes the importance of subtlety in both tools. Too much saturation or drastic shifts can quickly lead to unnatural results. Throughout the video, he stresses minimal adjustments, repeatedly stacking small changes to maintain a realistic appearance. His step-by-step process provides clear guidance on achieving tasteful edits that enhance without overpowering.
Another strength of Möhrle's demonstration is his strategic use of Lightroom’s masking tools alongside color adjustments. By selectively brightening or darkening specific areas—like darkening skies to draw focus toward subjects—he further refines the visual hierarchy within the frame. This integrated approach to using masks with color controls helps produce more polished and visually balanced images. Check out the video above for the full rundown from Möhrle.
And if you really want to dive into landscape photography, check out our latest tutorial, "Photographing the World: Japan II - Discovering Hidden Gems with Elia Locardi!”
