How to Change Hair Color in Photoshop CS

Red head

Forget about hair dyes and wigs. Change your hair color as many times as you like with Photoshop CS. With Photoshop's Layers capability, your original image remains intact. If you change your mind, revert back to the original color, or select a new one. Combine Photoshop's powerful color-correction tools with masking techniques to get professional results. First create soft masks to separate the hair from the background, then use "RGB Levels" to alter its color. Try making red hair brunette, then make brown hair red.

Things You'll Need

• Photographic image
• Scanner
• Computer
• Photoshop software
• Computer tablet
• Stylus
• Computer printer
• Paper

Instructions

1. Turn on your computer. Upload your digital photo on to the desktop. Start Photoshop and open your image.

2. Select "Layers" from the Menu bar. Choose "Duplicate Layer" from the pull-down menu.

3. Select the "Magic Wand" icon in the "Tools" window. Type "10" in the "Tolerance" box, which is on the Horizontal Menu bar. Click in the middle of the hair you want to change. A broken line surrounds your selection.

4. Hit "Shift" on the keyboard then click in adjacent areas to add to the selection area. Hit "Option" and click to remove selections. Keep refining your selection area until the entire hair shape is included.

5. Click "Select" from the Menu bar. Select "Feather" from the pull-down menu and type "12" in the "Feather Radius" text box. Choose "Select" again from the Menu bar then choose "Save Selection." A new window opens.

6. Click on the "Channel" select bar, and then choose "Background Copy Mask" from the pull-down options. Notice the black and white square which appears next to your image icon in the "Layers Control" window. This icon represents your hair mask.

7. Choose "Image" from the Menu bar, "Adjustment," then "Levels" from the pull-down menus. The "RGB Levels Adjust" window opens.

8. Turn Red hair brown. Choose "Red" from the pull-down "RGB" selection bar. Locate the "Output Levels" slide bar. Click on the right arrow and move it left. Choose "Green" from the "RGB" selection bar. Click on the right side arrow on the "Output Levels" bar. Slide the arrow left a little bit. Your red hair is brown. Adjust the "RGB" (luminance) levels if needed to blend the hair in with the subject's complexion.

9. To turn brown hair red, choose "Blue" from the pull-down "RGB" selection bar. Locate the "Output Levels" slide bar. Click on the right arrow and move it left. Choose "Green" from the "RGB" selection bar. Click on the right-side arrow on the "Output Levels" bar. Slide the arrow left a small amount. Your brown hair is now red. Adjust the "RGB" (luminance) levels if needed. Adjust the settings until you are satisfied with the result.

10. 

11. 

Tips & Warnings

• Match hair to the overall tones of the photograph. Very dark hair will look out of place in a low contrast image.

• Save your work often. If the computer locks up or crashes, you will

• lose your unsaved projects.

References

• "Photoshop CS Users Manual"; Adobe Systems; 2007
• "Photoshop Effects for Portrait Photographers"; Christopher Grey; 2006

Resources

• Creative Pro: Photoshop and Photography