You’ve probably heard of Luminosity Masks or even Color Masks in Photoshop before. If you haven’t, or you’re not sure what they are, here’s a quick explanation. A luminosity mask is basically a mask (or selection) of the luminance values in a photo (the brightness). Once we have a selection of that area, we can do things with it. We can also reverse that selection and do things with that.
But, luminance masking isn’t just restricted to brightness and darkness. We can use some of the same concepts of a luminosity mask, and we can make selections of color too. And once you have that selection of a color, you can then do things to it as well.
That’s where this tutorial comes in. With this color masking technique you can have more detailed areas of color selected. More than you can usually get with just a Hue/Saturation adjustment layer. And once you get that area selected, you can always adjust the selection as well. In this tutorial we’ll look at how to color mask the sky, and adjust the blue. But as you’ll see, you could use the same technique on any other color you wanted.
In case you missed it: If you’re interested in other ways to work with the color in your photos, I have another free tutorial that shows a difference method. As I mention in this video, these are all tools to put in your bag. If I’m only working in Lightroom on a photo, I have a certain way I’ll do things. If I happen to be in Photoshop, I have other ways. And a lot of it depends on trying one thing, and then another, and seeing which one works best. Anyway, make sure you check out this video as well:Â https://mattk.com/mystery-solved-lightroom-color-tool/
Have a good one!
I need a basic masking method when making composites –Have forgotten how and reviewed your luminosity course but seems not as simple as I had remembered masking to be –Just need a 101 course –any suggestions ??
Hi. My compositing course covers this.
Mattk.com/compositing
🙂
I took notes and followed them on a sunset pic. Did select colors and dropper. The layer for selection did not come up.
Awesome video.. thank you very much for this tutorial. Like Pat said, you have opened a whole new world for me in Photoshop. Many thanks xx
Wow. I’ve used PS for years yet never used luminance masking. You’ve opened a whole new world for me. Thanks!
Pat
hallo Matt,
Very interesting to see how you process it with photoshop.
For several weeks i am learning Greg Benz Lumenzia and it is quite nice
for color grading,…
best regards
marc
What an awesome video. Will solve a lot of skies issues for me
Thank you
You’re very welcome! 🙂
As usual, well explained and useful. Thanks, Matt