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:

• Select the Rectangle Shape Tool
  • Make sure it is black
• Starting at the top left corner
  • Draw a box that fills half the canvas
  • 

Step 3:

• Select the Rectangle Shape Tool Again
• Starting in the white area below the black box you just drew
  • Draw a rectangle that is sized
    • • W: 1.153
      • H: 2.540
        • If it isn’t a perfect size don’t worry about it

Step 4:

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

   

Step 5:

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

Step 6:

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

Step 7:

• We are now going to duplicate 2 Color Box
  • Click Control J
    • With the move tool
      • Move the duplicated box slightly 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 6 Color Layer
  • Hold the Shift Key and click 1 Color Layer
    • This will highlight all of the color layers

Step 10:

• At the top of Photoshop
  • Click on the 3 dots

Step 11:

• Click on
  • Align Bottom Edges (far right icon)

Step 12:

• Click on
  • Distribute horizontal centers

Step 13:

• We will now be adding the main image
• Click on the Rectangle Layer
  • Go to File-
    • Place Embeded

Step 14:

• Move the photo smaller or bigger so that it fits the edges of the canvas

Step 15:

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

Step 16:

• Right click again on the image
  • Duplicate Layer

Step 17:

• 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