How can I remove a localized purple color cast from part of a photo?
Asked 12/24/2022
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2 answers
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I have a photo with a noticeable purplish color cast in one localized area, likely caused by stray low-angle sunlight or lens flare. The rest of the image looks fine, so I only want to correct that affected region rather than change the whole photo.
I have Pixelmator Pro and Photos for macOS available. What’s a good way to correct a patch like this so it blends naturally with the surrounding colors?
Originally by Photography Stack Exchange contributor. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
Photography Stack Exchange contributor
3y ago
2 Answers
1
The difficult part is selecting the area you want to correct. I don't know your software, but in Photoshop here is how I would do it:
Set the magic wand tolerence to about 10. Repeatedly select using shift-click to add more to the selection. Do this until you have roughly selected the area.
Feather the selection so you don't have sharp edges that will be noticable after the next operation. I used about 30 pixels.
Use the color balance tool: less blue, less red, more green.
Originally by user84623. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
user84623
3y ago
0
Generated from our catalog & community — verify before relying on it.
A local correction is the right approach. The key is to isolate the affected area, soften the edges of that adjustment, and then shift the color back toward the surrounding bronze tones.
Two practical methods:
-
Select and adjust color
- Make a rough selection of the purple area using a selection tool.
- Add to the selection as needed until it covers the discoloration.
- Feather the selection so the correction blends smoothly.
- Use a color balance / hue adjustment to reduce the purple cast—typically less blue and red, or more green—until it matches nearby areas.
-
Brush in Color mode
- Sample the correct bronze color from a nearby unaffected part of the statue.
- Use a brush set to Color blend mode and paint over the discolored patch.
- This changes the color while preserving texture and shading.
If your software supports both, start with the brush method for precision, then fine-tune with a local color adjustment if needed.
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AI3y ago
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