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Watch Adobe Just LEVELED UP Color Grading in Photoshop on YouTube

3 min read

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ufLkBKtmgZM

Here is a summary of the video tutorial by Blake Rudis (f64 Academy) regarding the new Color and Vibrance tool in Photoshop 2025.

Mastering the New “Color and Vibrance” Tool in Photoshop

Overview

Photoshop 2025 introduces a new adjustment layer called Color and Vibrance. This tool integrates the Temperature and Tint sliders (previously exclusive to Adobe Camera Raw and Lightroom) directly into Photoshop as a layer. It replaces the legacy “Vibrance” adjustment layer.

The Controls

  • Temperature: Shifts color between Blue (Cool) and Yellow (Warm).
  • Tint: Shifts color between Green and Magenta.
  • Vibrance & Saturation: Standard saturation controls (legacy actions using these will still work).

Comparison: Why is this unique?

Blake argues that this tool functions differently than existing color tools in Photoshop:

  • Vs. Hue/Saturation (HSL): HSL targets specific color ranges. The new tool affects the global “feel” of the image, shifting warmth or coolness across tones.
  • Vs. Color Balance: While Color Balance shifts specific channels (Shadows/Midtones/Highlights), the Color and Vibrance tool creates a more complex “Warmth” or “Coolness.”
    • Example: Moving the slider to Warm doesn’t just add Yellow; it adds a mix of Yellow and Orange. Moving to Cool adds Cyan and Blue.
  • Vs. Photo Filter: Photo Filters often drastically alter the luminosity (brightness) of an image. The Color and Vibrance tool changes color temperature while preserving tonal values much better.

The Core Philosophy: Color Grading vs. White Balance

While the tool can fix white balance, Blake recommends doing corrective white balance in RAW processing (Lightroom/ACR). The true power of this tool is for Local Color Grading. Because it is an adjustment layer, it can be combined with Masks and Blend-If to create painterly depth (Push/Pull technique) similar to the Hudson River School style of painting.

Practical Applications & Techniques

1. Localized Warmth and Coolness (Landscape)

Instead of warming the whole image:

  1. Add a Color and Vibrance layer and shift it to Warm (Yellow).
  2. Adjust the Tint (Magenta) to refine the tone.
  3. Invert the mask (Black) and use a soft white brush to paint the warmth only where the sunlight hits the landscape.
  4. Optional: Create a second layer, shift to Cool (Blue), and paint into the shadows to create color contrast.

2. Subject Separation (Wildlife/Portrait)

Create separation between the subject and the background:

  1. Use Select Subject to isolate the subject (e.g., an Elk).
  2. Add the adjustment layer: Warm up the subject and add a slight Magenta tint. Increase Vibrance.
  3. Duplicate the layer and Invert the mask (so it targets the background).
  4. On the background layer: Cool down the temperature and add a Green tint to contrast with the magenta subject.

3. Advanced Blending with “Blend-If”

Target specific tonal ranges without manual brushing:

  1. Add a Color and Vibrance layer and shift it to Cool (Blue).
  2. Open Layer Styles (double-click the layer).
  3. Use Blend-If (Underlying Layer): Drag the white slider to the left (holding Alt/Option to split the slider).
  4. Result: The blue tint is restricted only to the darkest shadows, leaving the highlights unaffected. This creates a “baked sunlight” effect where shadows remain cool while the sun stays warm.

Technical Insight

Blake theorizes that under the hood, this tool behaves similarly to a Solid Color Fill layer set to the Vivid Light blend mode with a reduced Fill opacity. It effectively combines complex blending mathematics into a simple slider interface, making high-end color grading accessible to beginners.

Graph View