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The Instigator
Known Participant
April 13, 2023
Question

How to change background color in an image with a single layer?

  • April 13, 2023
  • 6 replies
  • 41461 views

I need to change the background color of a PNG image that has only one layer, using PhotoShop 2018. You can't select everything else and mask it because it's a very complex image, and the Spot Healing Brush tool doesn't seem help much because the color I'm trying to change is very subtle and only appears in certain areas.

 

There must be an easy way to just change the entire background color, but I have yet to find it.

 

Can anyone help?

6 replies

N
nice_Glaze6744
Participant
November 14, 2025

 請幫我把這張照片的底色變成藍色

Stephen Marsh
Community Expert
Stephen MarshCommunity Expert
Community Expert
April 14, 2023

Another option is the Filter > Camera Raw Filter.

 

Here I have set the white balance to the buff background using the eyedropper (Basic) and have also applied Vignette reduction (Optics).

 

Again, just a start point, more subtle and finessed results are of course possible.

 

T
The InstigatorAuthor
Known Participant
April 14, 2023

Hmm… I don't see a Camera Raw filter in the Filter menu for Photoshop CC 2018.

Stephen Marsh
Community Expert
Stephen MarshCommunity Expert
Community Expert
April 14, 2023

@The Instigator 

 

Despite the simplistic appearance of the image, as you have found, it isn't a 1 click edit.

 

I would like to offer the following as another approach for you to explore.

 

I have set color sampler tool markers in the upper left and lower right and I am using the info panel to evaluate when white is achieved.

 

More work would be required, this is just a very fast start point which gets you 95% there in less than a minute.

 

Here is an animated screenshot GIF, it only uses two adjustment layers (selective color and levels):

 

    T
    The InstigatorAuthor
    Known Participant
    April 14, 2023

    It looks very nice, but as I said before, I rarely use Photoshop for anything. If you had a step-by-step tutorial of how to do this (and eliminate the vignetting for all white background), that would be really helpful. Or, if there's one online that deals with this type of image, that might be helpful as well.

    Stephen Marsh
    Community Expert
    Stephen MarshCommunity Expert
    Community Expert
    April 14, 2023

    I appreciate that you rarely use Photoshop.

     

    The GIF animation is the step-by-step, there are only two steps and the values are highlighted in the adjustment layers properties panel. You can download and open up the GIF animation in Photoshop if it is looping too fast in each frame, or take a screenshot of each frame etc.

     

    Search up how to add an adjustment layer if you don't know how.

     

    As for the vignetting, you could simply add a new layer and paint white with a brush, or use the Dodge tool set to affect the highlights which may be better as it would help protect the signature on the lower right.

     

    S
    Sotoshop
    Inspiring
    April 13, 2023

    Images that are difficult to do instantly, for people who are not used to or familiar with selection using the color range or via the RGB channel, if you don't understand it, I suggest you learn to select using the color range or RGB channel, because images like that, can only be done with those 2 methods, the method is not too perfect, because a white edge will appear, or parts that are not perfectly selected.

    for reference, you can see this tutorial
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4CgUxvJM2RQ&ab_channel=PsGraphics

      M
      Community Expert
      Mariam HovhannesyanCommunity Expert
      Community Expert
      April 13, 2023

      Hello, here it's showing step by step how to change background of photo you can follow it step by step and at the end just add a white background photo or just add a white layer below your photo layer https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b3Z9WU41BLc&ab_channel=Broxzez

      T
      The InstigatorAuthor
      Known Participant
      April 13, 2023

      That's a much less complex image than what I posted, so it would be impractical for me to attempt, and probably anyone else, too.

      melissapiccone
      Community Expert
      melissapicconeCommunity Expert
      Community Expert
      April 13, 2023

      Are you trying to change the tan color? Go to the Select drop down menu - choose select color range and select the color you want to change. Use a hue saturation adjustment layer to make the change. This is just one option. It's not an easy task because there are shadows and gradients in there. 

      https://helpx.adobe.com/photoshop/using/selecting-color-range-image.html

      Melissa Piccone | Adobe Trainer | Online Courses Author | Fine Artist
      T
      The InstigatorAuthor
      Known Participant
      April 13, 2023

      I'm trying to change the background color. It should be a pure white, but it's obviously not, and that's why I want to change it to that.

      jane-e
      Community Expert
      jane-eCommunity Expert
      Community Expert
      April 13, 2023

      If I were to try this, I would need to be able to have it select all the colors of the design, including the apparent shadows. Only then could I mask that and make the background completely white. But it has to be done in Photoshop 2018, and there aren't any tutorials I've found for how to do this, especially with a complex design like this. If I could find a professional who is skilled in this to do it for me, that would be great.


      If I could find a professional who is skilled in this to do it for me, that would be great.

      By @The Instigator

       

      This forum is not a job site, but you might try Behance:

      https://www.behance.net/hire

       

      Jane

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