Not Just Another Color Enhancement For Paint Shop Pro 9

This is all about taking those photos that are great, but just don't have enough to them. In photography contrast is almost as important as the photo itself. This hub is going to help you add that contrast with no headaches. Just a few simple steps and your photographs are going to be looking as if a professional took them.

For this color enhancement hub, I want you to find a very plain photo. One that looks "flat", and could use a great adjustment. When you have found this photo, open it in Paint Shop Pro 9. Now we are going to began, and I am sorry for repetitiveness that is about to occur.

First you want to go up to the top tool bar and go to Adjust>>Automatic Color Balance. I am going to have mine set to, Strength>>30 and Temperature>>9176. I suggest using my settings, but keep in mind all photos are different and some may look better in other settings. If you feel this to be true, tweak the settings a little.

Now you was to go back up to the top tool bar and go to Adjust>>Automatic Saturation Enhancement. My settings are, Bias>>More colorful and Strength>>Normal. If you are working with a photo of a person (particularly a head shot), you may want to take into consideration of marking the "Skin tones present" box. After clicking OK, go back up to the top tool bar and now go to Adjust>>Brightness and Contrast>>Clarify. My settings are at 5 here, if you think it is too much, do not go any lower then 3.

Now I would like to go to the top bar and go to Layers>>New Raster Layer. Click OK, then go to the fill button on the left hand side (little bucket), and fill in the layer with white (#FFFFFF). After filling in the layer, go back to the top bar, and click Layers>>Properties. When the window appears set your settings to Blend Mode>>Dodge and Opacity>>31. Then click OK. On the right hand side you will see and area that says 'Raster 1' and 'Background'. Right click on 'Raster 1', then click on 'Merge down'.

(This last step can be optional) Once again, you want to go to the top bar then go to Layers>>New Raster Layer. This time you want to fill this layer with the color #de70a4. Once you have filled the layer go back to the top tool bar and go to Layers>>Properties. This time make your settings say Blend Mode>>Multiply and Opacity>>31. Then on the right hand side, right click on 'Raster 1' again then click 'Merge Down'.