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Off-colour photographs may resemble faded by time and element images, but they need to be corrected differently because all three colour dye layers remain intact - unlike faded by time images. Usually this type of photograph is out of balance because of a lighting problem existing when the original photograph was taken. Many digital cameras include a (manual, or automatic) White Balance filter; this sets the camera bias towards sunlight, shade, tungsten or florescent lighting. However, even if the white balance is correctly set, you may end up with imperfect pictures. Photoshop has various filters that can balance out those type of photographic problems.
Home Printers: Home printing machines are the major culprits for producing off-colour prints. If you print your own images, the biggest consideration for producing good quality prints is the quality of ink and printing media. Generally speaking, high quality ink and printer paper, provide better results.
Repairing colour is not a precise science. Undoubtedly, you will require considerable patience and lots of time. Additionally, individual photographs have different needs, and require different filters and commands.
1/ Variations
Your first step for improving off colour images is Variations. This filter is found from the top menu, as shown below.
The Variations dialogue is self explanatory, experiment with the settings highlighted in red below, and when you find an image you like click it. Your thumbnail choice will then be set in the Current Pick thumbnail. Now click OK to commit the change. If you change your mind, click the Step Backwards tab and start again. (Top menu then Edit then Step Backwards).
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Your next step is Auto Colour, found from Image then Adjustments then Auto Colour. Approximately half of images are corrected with Auto Colour.
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Your next step is manual Levels, utilising the white, black and grey droppers to alter colours. My Levels lesson can be found Here.
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Another good filter is the Hue/Saturation/Lightness editor found from Image then Adjustments then Hue/Saturation.
Sometimes, increasing the Saturation slider is enough - if it is not, then adjust the Hue and Lightness sliders and find settings that work best for you.
5/
One of the most important tools for adjusting colour is the Channel Mixer, top menu, then Image, then Adjustments then Channel Mixer.
By adjusting individual channels - Output Channels, and Source Channels, (Red, Green and Blue), you can alter your photographs overall tone, quite dramatically, if needed. Lesson Example Here.
6/ The Dodge and Burn Tools.
 Lesson!
The Dodge and Burn Tools are used for lightening (or darkening) areas of photographs. If you find certain areas are too dark, or too light, then activate either the Dodge Tool to lighten them, or the Burn Tool to darken them - working between Midtones, Shadows or Highlights as needed. Remember to adjust the amount of Exposure, as necessary.
7/ Sharpening Filter
After manipulating and improving photographs, (especially after resizing), it is a good idea to finish by applying a sharpening filter. To do so, from the top menu, choose Filter then choose Sharpen, and you have the following choice of filters.
There is always room for improvement with digital and scanned photographs. Using the tools and commands I have mentioned - as well as using third part filters, can give your images a new lease of life.
Wendi EM Scarth. Top of Page - Home.
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