How can I create a washed-out, desaturated street photography look in post-processing?

Asked 5/21/2011

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I often see street photos with a muted, slightly washed-out look: reduced color, strong contrast, dark shadows or silhouettes, and sometimes a warm or sepia tint. I’d like to recreate a similar style in my own images. What edits typically create this effect, and what tools or adjustments should I try?

photoshop post-processing lightroom street-photography color

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

Photography Stack Exchange contributor

15y ago

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These desaturated shots seem to be growing in popularity. This one appears to have been tinted slightly with a sepia tone.

If you have Photoshop, open the photo you want to use. Duplicate the background layer and set its Blending Mode to Multiply. The image will darken. Make a new Hue/Saturation adjustment layer and drop the saturation to 0. Set the opacity of this layer to about 40% - experiment with this. Finally make a new Levels or Curves layer above all the others, and use it to bring the brightness of the image to a normal level. Add a Photo Filter layer set to Sepia to add that brownish tint.

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

user3205

15y ago

AI Answer

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This look is usually created in post rather than in-camera. Common ingredients are:

lower saturation for muted color
stronger contrast with deep shadows/silhouettes
a warm tint or slight sepia tone
sometimes vignetting for a lo-fi feel

A simple Photoshop approach is:

Duplicate the background layer.
Set the duplicate to Multiply to darken the image.
Add a Hue/Saturation adjustment layer and reduce saturation, even to 0 if you want to start from monochrome.
Lower that layer’s opacity (around 40% is a useful starting point) so some color comes back.
Add a Levels or Curves adjustment to bring overall brightness back where you want it and shape the contrast.
Add a Photo Filter or tint for sepia/warmth.

You can also push the style further with split toning, selective curve adjustments, or a vignette. In Lightroom or similar RAW editors, presets or effects such as bleach bypass can get you close quickly. The exact result depends a lot on the source image: scenes with strong light, dark shadows, and clear subject/story tend to suit this treatment best.

How can I create a washed-out, desaturated street photography look in post-processing?

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