Using Variations to Make Color Corrections

The Variations dialog box is an excellent tool for quickly correcting color in an image. Using thumbnails, the Variations dialog box shows how an image would look with various color corrections applied.

To open the Variations dialog box, choose Image→Adjustments→Variations. As shown in Figure 9-7, the dialog box shows the original image and current pick at the top, and various color corrections from more green, more yellow, and more magenta to lighter and darker.

To use Variations: Select the tonal range to be adjusted — shadows, midtones, highlights, or saturation. Move the Fine/Coarse slider to set the amount of the adjustment. Click any of the More thumbnails (such as More Cyan) to increase the amount of a particular color in the layer. When you’re finished, click OK.
To change the brightness of the image: Click Lighter or Darker at the right side of the Variations dialog box.

Remember
After you adjust one tonal range, you can change another: Make all the adjustments you need.

Color Plate 9-6 shows how Variations can dramatically change the color and saturation in an image. The peacock was looking rather drab, so various colors were first used to find the right hue. Yellow looked best, so Cyan was added to brighten the peacock’s feathers. Finally the Saturation radio button was selected and increased to make the peacock’s body appear more vibrant.