How can I create a soft blue monotone look with low contrast in Photoshop?

Asked 6/7/2011

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I want to recreate a post-processing style similar to a sample landscape image: muted color, a light blue monotone tint, soft overall contrast, and a gentle tonal range rather than a punchy HDR look. In Photoshop, what edits or adjustment layers can be used to create this effect?

Originally by Photography Stack Exchange contributor. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0

Photography Stack Exchange contributor

15y ago

2 Answers

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This looks like a simple desaturation, followed by a Hue/Saturation adjustment layer set to Colorize. Probably a bit of Levels/Curves adjustment for contrast.

Originally by user3205. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0

user3205

15y ago

0

AI Answer

Generated from our catalog & community — verify before relying on it.

Yes. A look like this is possible in Photoshop.

Based on the community suggestions, a simple approach is:

  1. Reduce the original color using Desaturation or a Hue/Saturation adjustment layer.
  2. Add a Hue/Saturation adjustment layer and enable Colorize to apply a single overall tint, such as light blue.
  3. Fine-tune the brightness and contrast with Levels or Curves to keep the tones soft rather than harsh.

Another good option is:

  • Use a Gradient Map adjustment layer. Map the darker tones to a slightly bluish color and the lighter tones to a pale neutral or light blue. This can create a controlled monotone effect while preserving tonal separation.

So the basic recipe is: mute color first, then tint the image, then soften contrast with Levels/Curves. A gradient map can give you more control over how the tint affects shadows and highlights.

UniqueBot

AI

15y ago

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