The Color Replacement tool in Photoshop can come in handy in a lot of creative situations. For example, you may want to bring out your subject with a pop of color.
Or maybe you want to create contrasting colors. Or maybe you like one color better than another. Whatever your reason, Adobe Photoshop makes it easy to replace one color with another.
One way to replace a color is to use the Replacement Color tool. But there are a couple of other ways to do it. This easy step-by-step guide will help you replace a color in Photoshop.
Color Replacement Tool in Photoshop Tutorial
One of the easiest ways to change color in Photoshop is to brush a new color over the original one. So, using the Color Replacement tool, let’s change this dull, green car into a bright red one.
Step 1. Open the Image in Photoshop
Step 2. Duplicate the Background Layer
The Color Replacement tool changes your original image. Duplicating the background layer makes the tool non-destructive. You can turn off the color if you change your mind.
To create a duplicate layer, go to the Layer drop-down menu and select Layer > Duplicate Layer.
Step 3. Select the Color Replacement Tool
With the duplicate layer highlighted, go to the toolbar, and select the Color Replacement tool. It may be grouped with other brush tools.
Then, click the foreground color icon near the bottom of the toolbar to choose a new color. Click OK.
Step 4. Brush on the New Color
Paint the new color over the original. Keep the + in the middle of the brush on the original color. The Find Edges selection in the options bar will help keep the new color contained.
If you make a mistake, select Undo (Ctrl or Command+Z) or switch to the Eraser tool (E) and erase the color. You may need to go over an area a couple of times.
Compare the image before and after the color change.
This method is easy to understand, but it may not be precise enough for your needs.
Notice that the shades of color are difficult to control in the reflection. If you lose the fine gradations in the color, you should try the Replace Color tool.
How to Use the Photoshop Replacement Color Tool
In addition to the Color Replacement tool in Photoshop, it also has a Replace Color tool. As you might’ve guessed from the name, the latter replaces one color with another.
Step 1. Open the Image in Photoshop
Step 2. Duplicate the Background Layer
Using the Replace Color tool changes your original image. Duplicating your background layer makes the tool non-destructive. You can turn off the color change if you decide you don’t want it.
Right-click on the background layer and select Layer > Duplicate Layer.
Step 3. Open the Replace Color Tool Dialogue Box
Highlight the duplicated layer. Open the Replace Color dialogue box by going to the Image drop-down menu and selecting Image > Adjustments > Replace Color.
Step 4. Select the Color You Want to Replace
In the Replace Color tool dialogue box, use the eyedropper tool to select the color you want to replace. In most pictures, there are gradations of the color present.
Click on the purest example of the color. Then, use the + eyedropper to add lighter and darker shades.
If you want Photoshop to select only colors around the area selected, check the box next to Localized Color Clusters. The fuzziness slider makes the range of colors selected more or less specific.
Step 5. Change the Color
Use the Hue slider to choose a new color. Based on the results, you may need to adjust your selection to include more hues.
Use the Eyedropper + tool to click on areas that you want to add to your color change. Do not worry if other colors in your image also change. In the next step, we will remove unwanted color changes.
Move the Saturation and Lightness sliders to adjust the color. When you are happy with the new color, click OK.
Step 6. Remove Unwanted Color Changes With a Layer Mask
On the duplicate layer, add a layer mask. To do this, click the mask icon at the bottom of the Layers panel or go to the Layer drop-down menu and choose Layer > Layer Mask > Reveal All.
Click on the mask. Using a black brush, paint over the areas of your image where you do not want the color to change. If you make a mistake, change to a white brush to reveal the color change.
Compare the image before and after the color change.
The woman’s blue jacket and the blue-painted wall had also turned pink when the color was changed. But using the mask, we returned these back to their original color.
The Replace Color tool works fine. But there are a couple of drawbacks to using this method.
If you forget to add a duplicate layer, then your original image is changed. Also, you cannot go back to adjust the colors once you apply the change.
How to Use Hue/Saturation Adjustment Layers to Change Colors
The Hue/Saturation adjustment tool lets you change colors in your image. It is just as easy to use as the Replace Color tool. But it is non-destructive and lets you re-adjust colors at any time.
Step 1. Open the Image in Photoshop
Step 2. Add Hue/Saturation adjustment layer
Add a Hue/Saturation adjustment layer in Photoshop.
Either click on the Hue/Saturation icon in the adjustments panel. Or open the Layer drop-down menu and choose Layer > New Adjustment Layer > Hue/Saturation.
When you add adjustment layers, a couple of things happen.
A new layer appears in the layers panel above your original image. The adjustment layer icon appears next to a white mask. And a new Properties panel opens with Hue/Saturation adjustments.
Step 3. Select the Color You Want to Change
Click the Hand tool in the Hue/Saturation properties panel. This opens the eyedropper tool. Click on the color you want to change.
Notice that the sliders at the bottom of the panel now show a grey area with tabs on either end. This is the range of colors that will be affected.
You can add to the color range by dragging the tabs out. Or you can use the Eyedropper + tool to click on more colors.
Step 4. Change the Color
Use the Hue slider to change the color. Do not worry if other colors in your image change. You will fine-tune the details in the next step.
Use the Saturation slider to increase or decrease the saturation and the Lightness slider to make the color darker or brighter.
Step 5. Remove Unwanted Color Changes With a Layer Mask
Select the white mask layer in the Hue/Saturation layer and a black brush.
Paint over the areas of your image where you do not want the color to change. If you make a mistake, change to a white brush to reveal the color change.
You can use selection tools, like the Object Selection tool or Quick Select, to help define edges. If you have not used these select tools before, read our article about Photoshop selection tools.
If you want to change the results later, using the Hue/Saturation adjustment layer means you can go back and change the colors.
Compare the image before and after the color change. Now the pink color stands out from the background.
Conclusion: How to Use Color Replacement Tool in Photoshop
The Color Replacement tool in Photoshop is incredibly useful. But it’s not the only way to replace a color.
You can also use the Replacement Color tool or the Hue/Saturation adjustment tool. But the Hue/Saturation adjustment tool is the most flexible. All get the job done.
