Creative Split Toning
March 7, 2011 16 Comments
Capture One Pro 6 allows you to adjust an image with the Levels Tool with individual control of each color channel. This allows you to perform creative split toning where you can tone the shadows and the highlights individually.
The above are examples of images with split toning via the Levels Tool in Capture One Pro 6. Only the upper left image is without toning.
Work with split tones in the Levels Tool
Start by making a neutral white balance for the image. This will help you later if you want to achieve the same look for another image by reusing the adjustments. Remember, you can always save the tool adjustments in a tool preset.
For an easier overview, I rearrange the tool layout by adding a total of three Levels Tools to the exposure tab. Doing so, I can have one Levels Tool for each of the three color channels.
To tone the shadows with, for instance, more Red, increase the Red Shadow target level. To decrease the Red in the shadow, increase the Red Shadow levels.
In the highlights, it works the opposite way. To tone the highlights with more Red, decrease the Highlight levels slider. To decrease the Red in the highlights, decrease the Highlight target level slider.
When toning via the R, G and B levels, it is good to remember the color circle. For instance, if you want a yellow highlight you will have to work with the color opposite yellow in the color circle which is the Blue color. So decreasing Blue means more yellow.
The figure above shows the color circle with the position of the primary colors R, G and B and the complementary colors C, M and Y opposite the primary colors. Having this color circle in mind, it is obvious that Yellow is less Blue, Magenta is less Green and Cyan is less Red.
