Recoloring Elements in PSE

SUBJECT: Using the Replace Color Tools to Recolor Elements

PROGRAM: PSE8 (can be adapted for other versions of PSE, notes provided for Photoshop)

PREREQUISITES: Be able to open a document in PSE/PS, basic understanding of the eye dropper tool

The starting point for this tutorial is any digital scrapbooking element. This technique will work best on elements with distinct color areas. You can practice on the same alpha used in this tutorial. Click here to download.

Go to Enhance>Adjust Color>Replace Color. (Note to Photoshop Users – in PSCS4 the tool is found at Image>Adjustments>Replace Color)

Make sure the ‘Selection’ circle is selected and click on the eye-dropper tool in the Replace Color dialogue box. On your canvas, click on the color in the element you want to adjust. In my case, I want to change the blue in the alpha, while leaving the off-white lettering and cardboard backing unchanged.

Take a look at the black and white image of my element in the dialogue box above. The white area indicates the area selected for color change. You’ll see there is still some black ‘fuzzy’ areas in the white. This is because the blue has texturing and slightly varied shades that weren’t selected in my single click with the eye dropper tool. I want to add to my selection until all the blue has been selected. To do this, click on the ‘Add to Sample’ eye-dropper tool, directly to the right of the eye-dropper tool in the dialogue box. Click on the various blues on the element (or whatever color you want to change) until the entire area you want to change is showing white in the dialogue box. Adjusting the Fuzziness slider may also help you refine your selection.

Next adjust the Replacement Color Sliders until you have changed the original color to your desired color. The Hue slider moves the color along color spectrum. Saturation controls the level of pigment in the color and Lightness controls the lightness/darkness. Click ‘ok’ once you are satisfied with your new color.

Remember to do a ‘Save As’ of your recolored element to avoid saving over of the original.