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T
thewriteway 123456
Inspiring
November 1, 2019
Answered

Unable to Replace color in Photoshop - Color results different from what is chosen

  • November 1, 2019
  • 3 replies
  • 4727 views

We are trying to edit a scanned copy of an image in PS. We want to replace all the black in the image to a shade of Pink. Mode under "Image" tab is RGB. On going to Image > Adjustments > Replace Color and choosing the eyedropper to choose black, and thereafter choosing the shade of Pink in the hue results, the color on the actual image shows Gray rather than Pink. We have been on the chat support with Adobe exec for over half hour with no resolution in sight. They made us update the graphic driver of Windows and yet no difference. Is there a solution to this? thanks,

Attached are the images showing how the colors look before and after choosing the replace color option. 

This topic has been closed for replies.
Correct answer

Hi

The Replace Color doesn't work with Black, White or Gray

You could try the Selective Color and choose black from the dropdown menu

3 replies

D Fosse
Community Expert
D FosseCommunity Expert
Community Expert
June 1, 2023

You cannot use "replace color" for this.

 

Black is not a color! Black is the absence of color. In Photoshop, the color component is separate from the luminance/brightness component. The meaning of the term color is narrower than in casual everyday speech. It has to be - otherwise you would just get an area of flat color like a stroke of paint.

 

The proper way to do this is to select the area you want and make a mask. Then use any tool avalable in Photoshop to modify it.

D
David29784495mwha
Participant
May 31, 2023

For anyone stumbling across this thread having a similar issue using black and white images with transparent parts use Layer Effects -> Color overlay. Works like a treat.

A
Anonymous
Correct answer
November 1, 2019

Hi

The Replace Color doesn't work with Black, White or Gray

You could try the Selective Color and choose black from the dropdown menu

    T
    thewriteway 123456Author
    Inspiring
    November 1, 2019

    Thanks. That worked for most part. 
    Selective dropdown doesn't seem to work for white. For example, in the image attached, we tried replacing the white in the image by Selective Dropdown > choosing white from dropdown and altering colors below. But it doesn't change. Anything that can be done here? thanks, 

    rob day
    Community Expert
    rob dayCommunity Expert
    Community Expert
    November 1, 2019

    Why not simply multiply the layer over a Solid Color layer?

     

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