Sepia in Photoshop

More control without complication...

There are two main ways to achieve a Sepia effect using Photoshop. This article explains how to take a greater level of control over the process, and achieve the best results possible, every time.

There is another method however, using a Photoshop Sepia Tone Layer Style. Sometimes this method does not give you perfect results, but it is generally very successful, and if you haven't already, I advise you to try it out.

If you're already completely confused, and don't actually have a clue what Sepia is, you might want to read my article explaining What Sepia Is.

Sepia in Photoshop

Seeing as you're attempting to apply a Sepia effect manually, we'll assume right from the outset that you're working with a 'problem image'. A common example is when the contrast is very high, with a lot of very dark and very light areas, but few midtones.

Applying a Sepia tone is still relatively easy, just follow the steps outlined below.

Desaturation

Firstly, we must desaturate the image. To do this, select 'Enhance - Adjust Color - Adjust Hue/Saturation' from the menu. In the dialog box that appears, drag the Saturation Slider all the way to the left, so the image appears grayscale, then click 'Ok'.

If the picture was already black and white, it is possible the file is in grayscale mode, which will stop us adding color to the image. Ensure that the image is in RGB Color mode, by selecting 'Image - Mode - RGB Color' from the menu.

Changing the Color

Now we must recolor the image using a Sepia tone. Firstly, select 'Enhance - Adjust Color - Color Variations' from the menu.
A dialog will appear that looks like this:

Now we can adjust the color. You can either follow my recipe for a good Sepia color, or experiment to find your own!

My Guide

1. Ensure 'Midtones' is selected.

2. Adjust the 'Amount' slider until it is one notch left of the middle.

3. Click on the thumbnail labeled 'Decrease Blue'.

4. Click on the thumbnail labeled 'Decrease Blue' again.

5. Click on the thumbnail labeled 'Increase Red'.

Experiment!

The whole point of using this method is to give you more control, so don't stick rigidly to my instructions. Experiment!

Try selecting 'Shadows' or 'Highlights' to deal with those high contrast images. Try clicking the 'Lighten' or 'Darken' thumbnails to adjust the balance of your image. Play about until you find a formula that works for you, and results in the exact shade and tone of the warm brown Sepia effect that you like!

I hope you manage to get the effect just as you want it, using this great technique for Sepia in Photoshop.

Kind Regards

Robert Redwood Robert Redwood - Bio
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