How to Replace Color in Photoshop? 5 Simple Ways

With its extensive array of tools and features, Photoshop empowers users to transform images in unlimited ways. One of those is the ability to replace colors seamlessly, either in small details, isolated objects or entire images.

Whether you want to enhance the vibrancy of an object or completely change a photo’s hue and mood, Photoshop provides a variety of ways to achieve your desired results. Here, we'll explore the intricacies of color replacement in Photoshop and delve into five methods you can use to master this skill in minutes.

Photoshop's Color Replacement Explained

The photo editing software Photoshop open on a computer. It displays a painting of a small cartoon-like bird perched on a twig surrounded by colorful blossoms. A window titled ‘Replace Color’ is open, and it’s being used to replace a shade of bright pink with a shade of cyan blue. — In the Skillshare class “Edit & Clean Up Traditional Art in Adobe Photoshop the Easy Way! From Photo or Scan,” teacher Yasmina Creates uses Photoshop’s Replace Color dialog box to tweak the accent colors of her artwork.

At its core, replacing colors in the photo editing software Photoshop involves identifying a target color within an image and substituting it with a new one. This task can range from subtle adjustments to dramatic transformations, depending on the creative vision and desired outcome. Photoshop provides a range of tools and techniques to accomplish this, each offering its own set of advantages and nuances.

Why replace colors to begin with? You might choose to do so for creative reasons, to correct unflattering colors while retouching portraits, to align an image’s colors with a brand’s identity, to get better at color grading, or simply to experiment with your work.

But no matter why you want to replace your image’s colors with another, learning to use Photoshop’s many color replacement tools can help you:

achieve more precise and controlled edits;
maintain a seamless and natural look;
preserve the original image and its colors when needed; and
expand your Photoshop skills to include a wider variety of color-related tasks.

5 Ways to Replace the Color of an Object in Photoshop

Photoshop open on a computer. It displays a photograph of an orange-colored classic car parked on the side of a street. A window titled ‘Properties’ is open, and it’s showing a menu called ‘Hue/Saturation’ which is populated with several color sliders. — In the Skillshare class “Recolor Objects without Making Selections in Adobe Photoshop” teacher Helen Bradley uses a Hue/Saturation layer to change the color of a classic car.

Ready to start swapping colors like a pro? You’ll need to choose the best method for the job. Fortunately, Photoshop has numerous ways to replace and tweak the color of just about any object.

1. Apply a Hue/Saturation Layer

Photoshop’s Hue/Saturation adjustment layer is one of the software’s most straightforward and easy-to-use color adjustment tools. The “Hue” slider lets you change the entire color spectrum of an object, while the “Saturation” slider controls the intensity of the applied colors.

Select the object whose color you want to replace: You can use the selection method of your choice, but the Quick Selection tool is a solid choice.
Select the Hue/Saturation icon from the Adjustments panel: Once you do, you selection will automatically become a mask on the adjustment layer.
Choose your color and apply it to your image: Use the Hue/Saturation adjustment layer to select the desired color. Adjust the sliders in the Properties panel until you achieve the perfect hue you’re looking for.
Fine-tune your image: Refine the color replacement by tweaking the saturation and lightness settings. This allows for precise control over the final appearance of the object.

2. Use the Color Replacement Tool

Since it’s specifically designed to replace an object’s color, the Color Replacement tool is one of the quickest and most efficient tools at your disposal. Here’s how to use it.

Duplicate background layer: Create a duplicate of the background layer to preserve the original image.
Select the Color Replacement tool: Choose the Color Replacement tool from the toolbar. You can also access it by holding down the Brush tool.
Adjust the tool’s settings: In the options bar, you can adjust settings such as brush size. Typically, you’ll want the tool’s mode to be set to Color.
Paint your new color: Choose a foreground color to act as your replacement color, then select the color you want it to replace. With the Color Replacement tool selected, paint over the object with the new color, seamlessly replacing the existing hue.

3. Create a Partial Replacement With Layer Masks

Want to play around with more subtle color replacement techniques? Layer masks can help you do so.

Duplicate your layer: Duplicate the layer containing the object you want to modify.
Create your selection: Use any selection tool to isolate the specific area you want to change.
Add the adjustment layer: Apply an adjustment layer (e.g., Hue/Saturation) to the selected area.
Add your layer mask and gradient: Fine-tune the replacement by adding a layer mask and applying a gradient to blend the colors seamlessly.

4. Apply a Color Balance Adjustment Layer

In instances where you want to change an object’s distribution of colors, you’ll want to apply a Color Balance adjustment layer. This will help you increase or decrease certain colors in your selected object, which is particularly useful for achieving a specific color scheme.

Make your selection: Use the selection tool you prefer to select the object you want to modify.
Add a Color Balance adjustment: In the Adjustments panel, select Color Balance. In the Properties or Adjustments panel, choose whether you want the changes to apply to the object’s Shadows, Midtones or Highlights.
Change the color balance: Drag the slider toward and away from the colors you want to increase or decrease in the object.

5. Use the Replace Color Dialog

Since it combines the functionality of multiple tools together, the Replace Color dialog is perfect for making broad color changes with minimal effort.

Open the dialog: Using Photoshop’s dropdown menus, navigate to Image > Adjustments > Replace Color.
Choose a preview option: In the Replace Color dialog box that opens, choose either Selection or Image. Selection displays the mask in the preview area, while Image displays the image in the preview area.
Select the color you want to replace: Use the Eyedropper tool to click the hue you want to replace with another.
Choose a replacement color: Pick your replacement color either by using the Hue, Saturation and Lightness sliders, or by double-clicking the Result swatch and using the Color Picker to pinpoint the color you want.

Boost Your Photoshop Editing Skills

Perhaps you’re new to Photoshop and simply want to play around with an image’s colors, or maybe you’re a seasoned photo editor looking for a new way to recolor your work. No matter the case, the tools and techniques Photoshop provides make it possible to replace any color in exactly the way you want.

And if you’re looking for more ways to leverage Photoshop and strengthen your skills, Skillshare is here to help. With hundreds of Photoshop classes for absolute beginners, experienced professionals and everyone in between, we’ve got you covered.

Written By

Carrie Buchholz

Carrie Buchholz is a freelance writer who lives in Northern Colorado with her husband and dog.