Photoshop Tip: Auto Color

Tonight, I utilized a "quick fix" button in Photoshop - the "Auto Color" option.

When I am editing my own family photos, I am not anywhere as nit-picky as I am with my clients' images.  I just look to tweak the images a little or "fix" anything that needs fixed.

I went to the Poconos recently.  With all the hiking, I decided to take my 6 year old Nikon D50 with my 18-200 lens instead of my "work" camera!

Well, that camera is completely erratic.  I got this practically green image of Michael:

EEK.  Well, I wanted to color correct/white balance a bit.  Since I did not take the image in RAW, I felt a bit stumped after fumbling around a bit with Hue/Saturation and the curves sliders.

Then, I decided to go to the "Image" menu and click on "Auto Color."

This resulted in this significantly better image:

Is it perfect?  Nope!  But is it better?  ABSOLUTELY!  The yellow/green cast is gone and his skin tone is a bit more "real."  Also gone is the overall "vintage-y" look of yellowish/green as well on the entire image itself.

So next time you are in a bind with white balance or color, try to the "Auto Color" option in photoshop and see what comes up.  It may help, it may not.  But for 2 clicks, I'm willing to give it a go!

Hope that helps you!
P