How do I lighten the wood in this image to a pale white colour?

[Kazooboid]

Hello,

I'm working with a client on a book cover, and they want me to change the skirting board in this image to a pale white colour. I can't figure it out - I've tried overlaying colours, fiddling with curves, but it all looks overexposed. I've attached the image and the look we're going for. Can anyone help me sort this out?

[Silkrooster]

Make a selection of just the border then clip an image of the white wood to that layer.

Find an image of white wood straight on so it matches though.

[Norman Sanders]

When a color must be changed dramatically I recommend Lab Color Mode where color channels are separate from image tones. (In RGB mode, as you alter the color values, tonal scale --the "draw"-- is also affected.)

Here the Lab values of the wood sample provided are L 75   a 1  b -2. (Very slightly magenta/blue, not neutral gray) The Curves shown below matched the sample and control of the Lightness channel allowed for maintaining the modeling of the wood pattern. Then return to RGB.

[Norman Sanders]

For comparison, the color below-right of the arrow separator is a near match working in RGB and using the Hue/Saturation sliders. Note the loss of modeling in the right side of the sample. Keep in mind that in the Lab Color Mode approach, the wood modeling can be increased, if desired, without affecting the color by adjusting Lab L curve.

[meganchi]

Try isolating the wood with your quick selection tool. Hit Command + J (or Control + J on a PC), so the wood is on its own layer.

Select the isolated wood layer, then go to Layer menu and select "new adjustment layer"..."black and white".

With the Black and White layer selected, add a color overlay layer style, change fill the color to white and change its blend mode to "lighten". Adjust the opacity slider to 72% or whatever you like. Then click ok.