3 Easy Tricks to Making Images Pop in Photoshop

February 17, 2022

Have you ever wondered how to get those rich and vibrant colors in photoshop?

photoshop actions

Here are a few easy tips that I use to make my images pop.

The Camera

The first trick to getting rich colors even before the editing process is beginning in camera. I typically underexpose my images by 1 or 2 stops as skin tones are easier to edit as well as getting those rich and bold colors.

If you are not familiar with shooting in manual mode with your camera, I recommend checking out Portrait Photography for Beginners as I cover the basics of camera settings, lighting, etc.

photoshop actions

Editing in Adobe Photoshop

All the steps that can go into editing can seem overwhelming at times which is why I have simplified the process to make editing easier and quicker with actions. Before I show you how I use these shortcuts, I am going to share a quick trick to add a subtle pop of color. .

Open Image in Photoshop
Go to your Layers window (You can do this by going to menu, selecting Windows ,and then scroll down to Layers. )
Double Click on the layer and a Layers Window will open up (below it is shown).
Select the Soft Light blend mode
or
Select your Layer and you can find the drop down menu for the blend modes as well in the Layers window.

Editing with Actions and Sky Overlays

Photoshop Actions

Actions are pre-recorded editing steps that can be used on your images. They are made to speed up the editing process and they are adjustable so each image can be customized.

For bold and rich colors, my two favorite collections that I use often are

Both of these sets include video tutorials on how to apply them to your images. Below is an example of processing an image with one of the actions.