On-demand fashion print images are available to download in several different file formats but what happens if you have bought a ‘flat’ bitmap/raster file but would really like to edit the colours to try different colourways?

Well its actually not as difficult as it may seem. By following our four simple methods you should be well on your way to quickly and easily recolouring your designs!

What is meant by a ‘flat’ bitmap/raster file?

A ‘flat’ bitmap/raster file is one that has no layers and is therefore very limited with its editability.  Unlike a vector file (something created in a program like Adobe Illustrator) elements within the design cannot easily be moved, edited or recoloured.

File types that could be included under this heading are: .Jpeg, .PNG or an unlayered .TIFF or .PSD

How to make ‘non-destructive’ colour changes in Adobe Photoshop

Using Adobe Photoshop our four simple methods will help you to quickly change and manipulate either the colours of the whole design or target individual ones.

All four methods are non-destructive and will leave all the colours from your original design intact. By using Adjustment Layers in Photoshop all our recolouring methods are easily turned on and off without affecting your file!

Method 1: Black and White Adjustment Layer

Everyone loves a monochrome design right? So how do you easily change a coloured design to a black and white one?

  1. Open your design in Photoshop (please not that this method only works with RGB and not CMYK colour models).
  2. If the Layers panel isn’t already showing make it visible by going to Window (at the top of your screen) and scrolling down to select Layers.
  3.  Now go to the bottom of the Layers panel and click on the Adjustment Layer icon.
  4. Scroll through the pop-up menu and select Black and White.
  5.  You will now see your design has changed from colour to black and white and a new Adjustment Layer appears above your design. You may have also noticed that that the Black and White Properties Panel has appeared. This panel allows you to edit further your Black and White Adjustment Layer.
  6.  By changing the Presets in the drop down menu, or by moving the sliders below it, you are able to add in, or remove, blacks and whites to edit your design further.
  7. By ticking the Tint checkbox you can add a coloured tint to your black and white design, further changing its appearance. Click on the coloured square next to the Tint checkbox to change the colour of the tint.

Method 2: Hue and Saturation Adjustment Layer – Change the Overall Colour

Want to change the overall colours of your design? Then this method works really quickly and gives great results without the need for complicated Photoshop work!

  1. Open your design in Adobe Photoshop.
  2. As before, if the Layers panel isn’t already showing make it visible by going to Window (at the top of your screen) and scrolling down to select Layers.
  3.  Now go to the bottom of the Layers panel and click on the Adjustment Layer icon.
  4. Scroll through the pop-up menu and select Hue/Saturation.
  5.  You will now see a new Hue/Saturation Adjustment Layer appear above your design. You will also notice that the Hue/Saturation Properties Panel has appeared.
  6.  By moving the Hue slider near the top of the Hue/Saturation Properties Panel either to the left or right you can quickly alter the overall colours of the design.
  7. By moving the Saturation slider you can add more colour saturation or move the Lightness slider to make the colour change darker or lighter.

Method 3: Hue and Saturation Adjustment Layer – Change an Individual Colour

This method uses the same principals as the previous one but allows you to target specific colours within the design.

  1. Open your design in Adobe Photoshop.
  2. As before, if the Layers panel isn’t already showing make it visible by going to Window (at the top of your screen) and scrolling down to select Layers.
  3.  Now go to the bottom of the Layers panel and click on the Adjustment Layer icon.
  4. Scroll through the pop-up menu and select Hue/Saturation.
  5.  As in the previous method you will now see a new Hue/Saturation Adjustment layer appear above your design. You will also notice that the Hue/Saturation Properties Panel has appeared.
  6. To target specific colours using this method, click on the Master drop down menu in the Hue/Saturation Properties Panel. This then allows you to target and rework specific colours.
  7. For the below example we have reworked both the Magenta and then Red to create this new colourway, each time using the Hue slider to alter the colour.

Method 4: Selective Colour Adjustment Layer – Change an Individual Colour

Want to change colours within individual colours of your design? Then this method will target individual colours and allow you to alter the colour values inside that specific colour using the a Selective Colour Adjustment Layer.

  1. Open your design in Adobe Photoshop.
  2. As before, if the Layers panel isn’t already showing make it visible by going to Window (at the top of your screen) and scrolling down to select Layers.
  3.  Now go to the bottom of the Layers panel and click on the Adjustment Layer icon.
  4. Scroll through the pop-up menu and select Selective Colour.
  5. You will now see a new Selective Colour Adjustment Layer appear above your design. You will also notice that the Selective Colour Properties Panel has appeared.
  6.  By clicking on the Colours drop menu you are able to target specific colours within the design.
  7. By selecting different colours from this drop down menu, and then moving the colour sliders below, you are able to rework colours even more accurately. For the below example we have reworked the Magentas, Reds, Yellow and Neutrals to create a completely new colourway.

These four methods are quick and efficient ways of trying out new colourways and changing the overall look of a ‘flat’ raster/bitmap image. There are many more ways, including more advanced and accurate options, but they require a more in-depth knowledge of Photoshop.

We really hope these four simple methods help you to try out new creative colour options without getting too weighed down with technical Photoshop know how!

 

 

 

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