Technique 54: Mixing Color with Channels
Save Time By
Replacing color channels
Applying the Channel Mixer command
If you ever wanted to recolor an image but found that you lost detail when using the Photo Filter, Gradient Map, or Hue/Saturation commands, recoloring an image by using channels may work for you.This technique focuses on recoloring images by using two channel methods. First, you swap channel information by copying and pasting from one channel to another. Although the results of this method can be unpredictable, they can also be excellent — a true case of “you never know until you try.” Details are preserved as some colors are pumped up and other colors are toned down. The second method involves changing how the channels blend together by using the Channel Mixer command. The Channel Mixer adjusts the output of each channel by making the grayscale image in a channel whiter or blacker. The whiter a channel is, the more output color from that channel.Recoloring images by using channels is really unpredictable. The results can be wild or subtle depending on how much adjustment you make. If other methods of recoloring haven’t worked to your satisfaction, give channels a try. You may be surprised at the great results. Take a look at Color Plate 54-1 to see the effects — in color — of channel swapping and channel mixing.