Expert: Glen Demers - 7/22/2009

Question
Can I change the color of a chandeier in a stock manufacurers photo from smoky clear to opaque black, keepin the detail of the crystal when changed.  I can forward pic.

Answer
Hi Stan,

You can try selecting the chandelier and use selective color set on neutrals to try darkening the crystal. You may have to select the crystals themselves and use curves to darken them.

Black in a photo need not be 100% K to appear black and I would only darken the portion of the curve that is smoky and darker, retaining the highlights for detail. Any darker details will be lost when you darken the crystals.

If you make an accurate selection of just the crystals you may want to make a layer mask and try a color overlay, you can then adjust the opacity until it looks natural.

I know, from trying to turn a gravel road to new asphalt, that making something black AND natural looking is difficult. A lot of the edges are defined by darker color values which can be lost when darkening the subject. You may want to try switching to Lab mode and just darkening the "a" and "b" channels to try and retain the darker details.

If I can be of further assistance, please let me know and include the picture.

Hope this helps,
Glen Demers
Adobe Certified Expert, Photoshop 7
Prepress Technician, Best Printing Online
www.bestprintingonline.com

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