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Split Toning in Photography - Get Creative!

By
Real Estate Agent with Real Estate Showcase Photography

 

 

Split Toning in Photography - Get Creative!

 

Traditionally, split toning was used to add both warm and cool tones, or color tints, to a black and white photograph.  It was done after the normal processing of a photograph by using chemicals in the darkroom, and is different from regular toning, such as sepia, which adds only a warm tone, as seen below.

Black & White                                                        Sepia

Black and White Photo Example for split toning tutorialSepia Photo Example for split toning tutorial

                            Split tone example using yellow and blue

Split tone example

 

But here we are in the digital age, and there are some fun ways for Photoshop's Camera Raw split toning tool to be used on color photographs.

If you have Photoshop, but do not have the Camera Raw plug-in installed, go to Adobe and get it - it's free! Just be sure to download the version that is right for your version of Photoshop.

 

1. Open a photo in Camera Raw - This is my original

Photo Example for split toning tutorial

 

2. Click on the Split Toning Icon

 Example for split toning tutorial

 

3. Move the sliders around until you achieve a color you are satisfied with.

Photo Example for split toning tutorial

4. These are the settings I used for the image above.

Example for split toning tutorial

 

5. The same photo with another set of settings gives it this bluer cast.

Photo Example for split toning tutorial

 

6. Or this with a more golden cast.

Photo Example for split toning tutorial

 

 

 

 

Debi Boucher
Real Estate Showcase Photography - Woodland Park, CO
"Realtor Showcase" - Real Estate Photography/Virtual Tours

LOL Rich - But SO NOT TRUE! If you have the tools - it's easy :) But then, if you don't have PS it gets a bit trickier.... :) You crack me up, you know that? So glad to have you as a friend :)

Debi

May 05, 2010 01:28 PM
Myrl Jeffcoat
Sacramento, CA
Greater Sacramento Realtor - Retired

Debi - Your effects add amazing results!  I've always prefered sepia to black and white in some older photos.  But I like your split tone yellow and blue best of all!

May 05, 2010 04:18 PM
Vic Steele
Vic Steele, Broker CA DRE 01349863 - Anaheim Hills, CA
Broker/Consultant

Wow, that is amazing!  I have got to figure out how to use Adobe half as well as you do Debi.  Maybe I'll call on the Video Professor??

May 05, 2010 07:49 PM
Robert Hammerstein
Christie's International Real Estate - Hillsdale, NJ
Bergen County NJ Real Estate

Debi - Very cool tutorial.. Thanks for sharing. Now I have to go look at my program Paint Shop Pro to see if I have that tool.

May 06, 2010 03:51 AM
Ann Allen Hoover
RE/MAX Advantage South - Hoover, AL
CDPE SRES ASP e-PRO Realtor - Homes for Sale - AL

I love the purple and gold in the sunset photo under step 3!

May 06, 2010 03:55 AM
Rebecca Gaujot, Realtor®
Lewisburg, WV
Lewisburg WV, the go to agent for all real estate

Debi, thanks for this great tip, I am going to download the plugin today.  Love how you can make a small change to a photo to make it look greater.

May 06, 2010 04:40 AM
Jenny Kotulak
RE/MAX Real Estate Centre Inc., Brokerage - Oakville, ON
Broker - Oakville Ontario Real Estate

Hi Debi, thanks for another great tutorial.  Google's Picasa has some nice tools to play with also and it is free.  I'm just getting used to my new Lumix FZ 35 with the 18x zoom. 

May 06, 2010 05:30 AM
Debi Boucher
Real Estate Showcase Photography - Woodland Park, CO
"Realtor Showcase" - Real Estate Photography/Virtual Tours

ThanksEveryone! I'm glad you liked it! 

Vic - Let me know if I can help:) I'm actually going to be teaching a Photoshop Workshop on the 22nd here in Woodland Park - if anyone wants to fly in for it, LOL

Bob- let us know if Paint Shop Pro has it - others may be interested :)

Debi

May 06, 2010 08:07 AM
Michael and Cheron Lange
Solutions Real Estate - Chandler, AZ
Associate Broker, GRI

Another great tutorial!  You have a wealth of information to share...keep it coming! :)

Cheron

May 06, 2010 08:51 AM
John Mayer
Oikos Realty, Cape Canaveral, Cocoa Beach Florida - Cocoa Beach, FL
Your Beach Area Expert

Debi - I love your tutorials and photos. You really know what you're doing!

May 06, 2010 05:07 PM
Lisa Hill
Florida Property Experts - Daytona Beach, FL
Daytona Beach Real Estate

It's free!? You said the magic word! YAY! I'll be downloading this ASAP! Thanks for the tip.  I'm just a wannabe. But I enjoy playing with my pictures =)

May 06, 2010 05:44 PM
Karen Kruschka
RE/MAX Executives - Woodbridge, VA
- "My Experience Isn't Expensive - It's PRICELESS"

Debi  There you go again - getting me all excited to try Camera Raw  Split Toninh just when I finally got Orton Effect down  :)  Karen

May 07, 2010 02:51 AM
Debi Boucher
Real Estate Showcase Photography - Woodland Park, CO
"Realtor Showcase" - Real Estate Photography/Virtual Tours

Hey all - if you try it, share your successes!

Go for it, Karen!

Debi

May 07, 2010 03:33 AM
Gerry Khatchikian
Red Lodge, MT
ASA, TRC, SFR

Debi,

One picture, so many possibilities (especially when you have PS), so many ways you find to wow us!   The sky is the limit with your expertise and excellent photo skills.    Thank you for sharing your wealth of knowledge here on AR.

May 07, 2010 05:14 AM
Debi Boucher
Real Estate Showcase Photography - Woodland Park, CO
"Realtor Showcase" - Real Estate Photography/Virtual Tours

Hey Gerry - Thank you, and thanks for visiting!

May 07, 2010 06:14 AM
Karen Fiddler, Broker/Owner
Karen Parsons-Fiddler, Broker 949-510-2395 - Mission Viejo, CA
Orange County & Lake Arrowhead, CA (949)510-2395

Beautiful....I can't decide which I like best, maybe the really blue one.

May 08, 2010 07:35 AM
Georgie Hunter R(S) 58089
Hawai'i Life Real Estate Brokers - Haiku, HI
Maui Real Estate sales and lifestyle info

You are very creative, and I love how you share your knowledge.  

May 13, 2010 02:39 PM
Jim Frimmer
HomeSmart Realty West - San Diego, CA
Realtor & CDPE, Mission Valley specialist

It gets to the point where one can be really deceptive in creating a sunset photograph that really wasn't taken at sunset. And much more.

May 14, 2010 04:16 PM
Robin Rogers
Robin Rogers, Silverbridge Realty, San Antonio, Texas - San Antonio, TX
CRS, TRC, MRP - Real Estate Investment Adviser

Nice primer, Debi! I'll have to give it a go. Photoshop has so many methods to achieve different effects--I get set in my ways and I'm always glad to learn another one.

Cheers,

Robin

May 16, 2010 10:39 AM
Not a real person
San Diego, CA

I've been having a lot of fun using the RAW images with my handy dandy Canon Rebel XSi. I've been using the Canon software, but I think I might be ready to spring for Photoshop CS5. I can't wait to see what the upgrade price is from Photoshop 8 to CS5. Might be thousands of dollars, making is less expensive just to buy a new copy rather than an upgrade copy.

May 30, 2010 08:53 AM