How to Use a Color Overlay in Adobe Photoshop

A color overlay is a great way that you can add a bit of color to your Adobe Photoshop image. When you set up the color overlay you can change the color and opacity of the overlay, creating a whole new look for your image. The directions below will tell you how to successfully use the color overlay in Adobe Photoshop.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Adobe Photoshop CS3

1. Start Adobe Photoshop CS3 and open an existing image from your files. If you prefer, you can start a new canvas and import an image into the document.

2. Create a new layer to hold your color overlay by choosing the "Layer" menu, pointing to "New" and clicking on "Layer" to bring up the "New Layer" dialog box.

3. Type a name for the new layer and set any type of settings that you want to apply to the new layer. Click the "OK" button to close the "New Layer" dialog box. You will notice that you now have a new layer in your Layers palette.

4. Choose the "Layer" menu, point to "Layer Style" and click on "Color Overlay" to bring up the "Layer Style" dialog box.

5. Click on the color swatch beside the "Blend Mode" drop down menu to bring up the "Select overlay color" dialog box. Choose the color you wish to apply to the color overlay and click "OK" to close the "Select overlay color" dialog box.

6. Use the Opacity slider to change the opacity of the color overlay. The lower you set the opacity, the more transparent the color overlay will be. When you are finished, click the "OK" button to close the "Layer Style" dialog box and apply the color overlay to your Adobe Photoshop image.

Tips & Warnings

• You can quickly add a new layer to your image by using the keyboard shortcut of SHIFT+CTRL+N.
• If you don't see the Layers palette, choose the "Windows" menu and click on "Layers" so there is a check mark beside the word "Layers."