How to Use Color Overlay in Adobe Photoshop

A color overlay is a simple effect that can be applied to images or any other object in Adobe Photoshop. A color overlay is putting a layer of color over your Photoshop image or creation and then manipulating that layer of color. Within the color overlay options, you can change the opacity of the fill or set a blending effect.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Adobe Photoshop

1. Start Adobe Photoshop. Open up an existing image file from your computer. Notice that in the Layers palette your image is set as a background layer. Change this into an actual layer to apply the color overlay to your picture.

2. Right-click on the Background layer in the Layers palette. Select "Layer From Background…"

3. Name the layer an appropriate name and keep all of the other options to their defaults. Your image is now a layer, and you can apply effects to it.

4. Select the "Layer" menu, then "Layer Style" and finally "Color Overlay."

5. Decrease the opacity of the color overlay by either using the slider or keying in a new percentage in the opacity box. As you decrease the opacity, you will be able to start seeing your image under the color overlay.

6. Choose a blend mode from the drop-down box to change the type of blend mode the color overlay is using.

7. Click on the color square by the blend mode drop-down box to change the color of the color overlay.

Tips & Warnings

• If you don't see the Layers palette on your screen, choose "Layers" from the "Window" menu, or press the F7 key on your keyboard.