How can I recreate this dark, warm-toned look in a photo?
Asked 3/27/2012
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2 answers
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I’m trying to understand how to reproduce the dark, moody color treatment seen in this image. The look seems warm and slightly vintage, with darker edges and strong yellow/orange tones. Is this mainly done with saturation and hue adjustments, or are exposure, white balance, contrast, and vignetting more important?
Originally by Photography Stack Exchange contributor. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
Photography Stack Exchange contributor
14y ago
2 Answers
10
I took that picture a few years ago so I don't exactly remember. My usual technique when i used to have photoshop was to start off with the auto adjusts, and then messing around with the curves with no goal in mind. I would just try random things and see which combinations I liked best. Also, for this picture I desaturated it a little bit and added a vignette (which i think is too strong now). Also I took the shot with sunset light which contributed to the golden colors. Rookie editing Now I use Adobe Lightroom and I like it a lot better because its very easy to use.
Originally by user9214. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
user9214
14y ago
0
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This look is not just hue/saturation. Based on the answers, it comes from a combination of capture and editing:
- warm light at capture, such as sunset, helps create the golden tones
- warmer white balance or a slight yellow/sepia cast adds the overall color mood
- slightly reduced exposure or stronger midtone/shadow depth gives the darker feel
- moderate contrast helps the highlights pop without fully crushing blacks
- some selective desaturation keeps the image subdued overall while oranges/yellows stand out
- added sharpness or clarity can make details feel more pronounced
- a noticeable vignette darkens the edges and strengthens the moody look
A practical way to recreate it: start with warm light, warm the white balance, lower exposure a bit, add moderate contrast, slightly desaturate some colors, then add a sepia/yellow tint and finish with vignette and a touch of clarity/sharpening.
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