Color Grading an Image

Part 1: Building the Graph

Step 1:

• Make a new file in photoshop
  • File
    • New
      • Width:   7.833 Inches
      • Heigth:   7.833 Inches
        • Resolution:   150
          • Background Contents:   White

Step 2:

• Go to View
  • Guides
    • New Guide Layout

Step 3:

• Color: Custom: Black
• Columns
  • Number:  6
  • Gutter:  0.2 in
• Rows
  • Number:   2
  • Gutter:  0.3 in
• Margins
  • Top: 0
  • Left:  0.1 in
  • Bottom: 0.1 in
  • Right: 0.1 in

Step 4:

• Select the Rectangle Shape Tool
  • Fill:  Black
    • Stroke:  White box with red line through it
• Draw a box that fit into the top section of the graph

Step 5:

• Select the Rectangle Shape Tool again
  • Fill:  Black
    • Stroke:  White box with red line through it
• Draw a box that fit into the left side of the graph
  • Leave white space around the box (stay in graph lines)

Step 6:

• Go to Layers Pallet
  • Double click on layer Rectangle 2
    • Remain it 1 Color

Step 7:

• We are now going to duplicate 1 Color Box
  • Click Control J
    • Move the duplicated box to the right

Step 8:

• Double click on layer 1 Color Copy
  • Remain it 2 Color

Step 7:

• Click Control J
  • Move the duplicated box  to the right

• Double click on layer 2 Color Copy
  • Remain it 3 Color

Step 8:

• Continue duplicating the boxes, moving and remaining them until you have 6
  • You will now have 8 layers
    • 6 color layers, rectangle 1 layer and background layer

Step 9:

• Click on the Rectangle Layer
  • Go to File-
    • Place Embeded

Step 10:

• Move the photo so that it fits the edges of the canvas
  • It is ok if it’s bigger than the black box because we will fix this in the next step

Step 11:

• Right click on the photo you just inserted
  • Create Clipping Mask
    • The photo will now be locked into place

Step 12:

• Right click again on the image
  • Duplicate Layer

Step 13:

• Go to Filter
  • Filter Gallery
    • Artistic
      • Cutout
        • Number of Levels:  8
          • The photo will now look like cutout shapes/colors

Part 2: Creating the Colors

Step 1:

• Click on
  • 1 Color Layer
• Choose the Eye Dropper Tool

Step 2:

• You will be starting at the left of the photo
• Choose an area which is very dark, but NOT BLACK
  • Click the Eye Dropper Tool over this area of color
    • The color has now been selected

Step 3:

• Select the Paint Bucket Tool
  • Click on the far left box (1 Color layer)

Step 4:

• Click Ok when the box shows up that says “Shape layer be raterized……”
  • The box will now become the color you selected

Step 5:

• Click on
  • 2 Color Layer
• Choose the Eye Dropper Tool
  • Pick an area in the photo that is lighter than the first color you picked
    • This should NOT be the lightest color.  That will come next
• Click the Eye Dropper Tool over this area of color
  • • The new color has now been selected

Step 6:

• Select the Paint Bucket Tool
  • Click on the 2nd box  (2 Color layer)
• Click Ok when the box shows up that says “Shape layer be raterized……”
  • The box will now become the color you selected

Step 7:

• Click on
  • 3 Color layer
• Choose the Eye Dropper Tool

Step 8:

• Choose an area which is the lightest, but NOT WHITE!
  • Click the Eye Dropper Tool over this area of color
    • The color has now been selected

Step 9:

• Select the Paint Bucket Tool
  • Click on the 3rd box  (3 Color layer)
• Click Ok when the box shows up that says “Shape layer be raterized……”
  • The box will now become the color you selected

Step 10:

• Click on
  • 4 Color Layer
• Choose the Eye Dropper Tool
• Look at the middle or right side of the photo
  • • Choose an area which is very dark, but NOT BLACK
      • I used the blue of her shirt but I could have also used the dark green of the background 
    • Click the Eye Dropper Tool over this area of color

Step 11:

• Select the Paint Bucket Tool
  • Click on the 4nd box  (4 Color layer)
• Click Ok when the box shows up that says “Shape layer be raterized……”

Step 12:

• Click on
  • 5 Color Layer
• Choose the Eye Dropper Tool
  • Pick an areathat is lighter than the last color you picked
    • This should NOT be the lightest color.
• Click the Eye Dropper Tool over this area of color

Step 13:

• Select the Paint Bucket Tool
  • Click on the 5th box  (5 Color layer)
• Click Ok when the box shows up that says “Shape layer be raterized……”

Step 14:

• Choose an area which is the lightest, but NOT WHITE
  • If there is not a lighter color you can select a different color that hasn’t been used yet.
    • • (My photo did not have another shade of blue so I used the green)
  • Click the Eye Dropper Tool over this area of color

Step 15:

• Select the Paint Bucket Tool
  • Click on the 6th box  (6 Color layer)
• Click Ok when the box shows up that says “Shape layer be raterized……”

Step 16:

• Go to the Layer that is the main photo copy with the cutout
  • Click the eye off
    • The cut out will now be gone and the original photo is showing

Step 17:

• Right click on the Background Layer
  • Flatten Image
    • Save as jpeg