Tell me more ×
Graphic Design Stack Exchange is a question and answer site for professional graphic designers and non-designers trying to do their own graphic design. It's 100% free, no registration required.
up vote 2 down vote favorite

I'm a Photoshop layman and have a task that I figured would be straightforward, but which I haven't been able to figure out even after researching online. I hope you don't mind me ask what is likely a complete newbie question here.

I have an image I'm just copy and pasting into Photoshop from another screen/web browser. It's a greyscale clipart-style line drawing on a white background. I want to change ALL the white pixels in the image to another color (a specific RGB value), including the white pixels inside the drawing.

Photoshop's "Replace Color" command seemed to be promising, but I can't enter an RGB or even absolute HSB value.

So: how do I do this, either using Replace Color or another approach? Thanks!

share|improve this question

2 Answers

up vote 0 down vote accepted

In this case, instead of “replacing” selected color range, I'd rather add a layer filled with specific color below your clipart and changed clipart layer blending mode to “Multiply”. IMHO it's much easier than just “replacing white”, allows you to easily change background color without reselecting background and—finally—will make dark lines properly blend into background.

As for filling layer with specific color, you can create “Solid Color” “Fill Layer” (recommended) or create empty layer and filling it with foreground/background color (IIRC there should be such actions in “Edit” menu, there are also keyboard shortcuts to do that). The latter method works also with selections.

share|improve this answer
Thanks! That worked nicely. It's almost as good as making the white background transparent. Based on my web research, it seemed doing that is a hassle -- or not? – Ghopper21 Jul 3 '12 at 2:04
Glad it worked for you :). Well… hassle… I think each new technique seems a bit of a hassle at first but it's becoming quite obvious in time. – thebodzio Jul 3 '12 at 23:53
Another thing came to my mind recently: take a look e.g. at photoshopessentials.com/photo-effects/blend-if. Instead of “selecting white” or changing layer blending mode, you can also use “Blend If” sliders in “Blending Options”. Of course “coloring” layer should be below in this case too. – thebodzio Jul 4 '12 at 22:56
Thanks, I'll check that out! – Ghopper21 Jul 5 '12 at 4:10
up vote 1 down vote

Select > color range ... or the magic wand with a narrow selection range (and 'contiguous' unchecked) should do the trick pretty quickly.

share|improve this answer
Cool, thanks. I now have the white bits selected using the Select > Color Range tool. Now how do I change the color of that selection to a specific RBG color value, or a color I pick using the eyedropper? I've tried Image > Adjustments > Hue/Saturation, but that only has +/- HSB adjustment, not absolute color choices. – Ghopper21 Jul 2 '12 at 22:29
@Ghopper21 Edit > Fill… (shift+F5) to fill any selection with any colour. You can do it on a new layer to avoid destructive editing of the original too. – Kit Grose Jul 3 '12 at 1:04
Thanks plainclothes and @Kit Grose! – Ghopper21 Jul 5 '12 at 4:09

Your Answer

 
discard

By posting your answer, you agree to the privacy policy and terms of service.

Not the answer you're looking for? Browse other questions tagged or ask your own question.