How to Change the Color of Shadows in Photoshop

Changing the color of shadows in Photoshop can dramatically alter the mood and feel of an image. A straightforward method involves selecting the shadow areas and then adjusting their color.

The Basic Technique

According to a common method for altering shadows, you need to use the Colour Range tool from the Select dropdown. Once you select whatever your shadows are, then you can use the Hue/Saturation tool to change your selection. This technique allows you to isolate the darkest areas and modify their hue, saturation, and lightness.

Step-by-Step Guide

Here's a breakdown of the process based on the referenced technique:

1. Open your image: Start by opening the photo you want to edit in Adobe Photoshop.
2. Access the Colour Range tool: Go to the main menu at the top of the screen. Click on Select, and then choose Colour Range... from the dropdown menu.
3. Select Shadows: In the Colour Range dialog box, locate the "Select" dropdown menu (usually at the top). Change it from "Sampled Colors" to Shadows.
   • Refine Selection: You can adjust the "Fuzziness" and "Range" sliders in the Colour Range dialog box to fine-tune which areas are included in your shadow selection. The preview window will show the selected areas (usually in white).
4. Confirm Selection: Click OK in the Colour Range dialog box. Photoshop will create a selection outline around the shadow areas you defined.
5. Open Hue/Saturation: Now that your shadows are selected, you need to change their color. Go back to the main menu, click on Image, then Adjustments, and select Hue/Saturation... (or press Ctrl+U on Windows or Cmd+U on Mac).
6. Adjust Color: In the Hue/Saturation dialog box, ensure that "Preview" is checked so you can see the changes in real-time.
   • Move the Hue slider to change the actual color (e.g., from gray/black to blue, red, green, etc.).
   • Move the Saturation slider to increase or decrease the intensity of the new color.
   • Move the Lightness slider to make the shadows brighter or darker.
7. Apply Changes: Once you are happy with the new shadow color, click OK.
8. Deselect: Finally, deselect the shadow area by going to Select > Deselect (or pressing Ctrl+D on Windows or Cmd+D on Mac).

Your shadows should now reflect the new color you selected using the Hue/Saturation tool on the selection created by the Colour Range tool.

Why This Method Works

• Targeted Selection: The Colour Range tool with the "Shadows" option is designed specifically to identify and select the darkest areas of an image based on their luminosity values, making it an effective way to isolate shadows without manual brushing.
• Non-Destructive Adjustment (Optional): While using Image > Adjustments is a direct way, a more flexible method involves creating a Hue/Saturation Adjustment Layer after making the selection. The layer will automatically apply the selection as a layer mask, allowing you to edit the color adjustments later without permanently altering the image pixels.

This technique provides precise control over the color of the shadows, enabling creative adjustments to your photographs.