STEP 1
First thing we want to do is make the foreground photo match background a bit more. Select the top layer.
Grab an adjustment layer. Select Black And White.
This is going to create a black and white adjustment layer.
STEP 2
Now you open properties panel by double-clicking on the Black & White Layer if it isn’t visible
If you make any adjustments, it will affect all layers.
We want to affect the top layer only.
In the properties panel, click the little square icon. Now the adjustment will only affect the layer directly beneath (our woman layer).
Tip: You can do the same thing (clipping group) in the layers panel. Hold down the Alt/Option key and notice when you put your mouse pointer in the Layers Panel between the two, you see that little arrow.
STEP 4
Adjust the different color sliders until the luminosity (blank and white tones) matches the best you can between the layers.
STEP 5 MATCHING THE COLOR TONES
By now the luminosity matches, but not the color, the background has a slight blue tint, lets grab it!
in black and white Properties, Select Tint.
Under Tint click on the tiny swatch
You now want to sample the color to use on the foreground image.
Place the eyedropper (cursor) on an area close to 50% on the background to sample the color.
STEP 6
Now we need to match the contrast
Create a new Curves adjustment layer
Click on the clipping icon to only affect the top layer
You pull the line and adjust the curves, now affecting only the foreground image.
Here I have created a slight S curve. Darkening the shadows and lightening the highlights to increase contrast.
This gives us a moody and mysterious feel
STEP 7
Ok, lets apply the color splash effect and just make her hat red. (Very Carmen San Diego)
Click on the mask on our black and white layer.
Make sure black is our foreground color.
Grab a brush. (B key)
Choose a hard edged brush and paint over the hat and you should see the color appear as you paint on the mask.
And here is the result!
I hope you enjoyed this tutorial and added a few useful skills to your arsenal.
