Drastic tone/color change methods (dark -> light)

[mike60640]

I'd like to hear from others about different techniques for drastic tone and color changes, like very dark brown to pale blue. I've done many different things all depending on what the original is like and what the final needs to be like, but I'd like to hear from others.

Keep in mind the results need to look as real as possible... smooth tones and real color. I know color can be hard not to make it look like it's hand panted sometimes.

Here is an image to use as a sample. Change the brown leather to nice pale blue (something opposite color and tone).

In a separate thread I'll find an image to do white object to very dark.

[MiningArt]

Used a black-blue/white gradient fill adjusted to a balance of highlights and dark tones. Version two was hand painted.

[mike60640]

John, thanks. Gradient map is something I use, but I've always wanted slightly better control in the Gradient editor.

For example, if you are working on a Curve, you can click on the curve and a point is added in place and you can tweak it. In the gradient you click where you want to edit, and a new stop appears with the color of the last stop you touched (not with the color at that point in the gradient). It takes some practice or a little math with the color pallet to create a smooth effect... especially if you need to add more stops to desaturated your highlights and shadows a little.

Also, if using this method and trying to get a drastic tone difference (like making the sofa much lighter than you have), then the stops are VERY close together at the dark end and a little difficult to fine tune. see attached image.

[MacBurg]

The gradient map really is a great feature and overlooked by many, I only wish the adobe developers could realise this too, and upgrade the interface, instead of main streaming ways to do simple things for simple people.

[mike60640]

Anyone with any other approaches?

To lessen the density, what do you think of a duplicate layer placed above with the mode set to Screen? In this case with the shinny highlights, I might run a curve on that screen layer to knock down the highlights so they don't blow out even more.

Also, what do you think about temporarily switching to 16bit while doing these dramatic shift edits. I have seen a little smoother histograms in the final image when doing this.

[mistermonday]

A curve adj layer in LAB color space is one of the most effective ways to move the color from anything to anything.
Regards, Murray