10 Essential Color Editing Techniques in Lightroom

For me, color is easily one of the most frustrating and challenging aspects of digital raw photography. I still struggle with it, but along the way have learned some useful tips and techniques to get better color when editing raw files in Adobe Lightroom, Lightroom Classic and Camera Raw.

✍️ Blog post version of this video:

📦 PRODUCTS MENTIONED

Adobe Lightroom

📕 CHAPTERS

0:00 Intro
0:58 Color profiles
2:53 Edit color separately
4:46 Editing white balance
9:05 Creative calibration
14:01 Avoid global saturation
15:43 Auditing color
17:01 Use negative luminance
19:07 Reduce color complexity
22:10 Mix complementary colors
24:19 Refine saturation slider
26:31 Outro

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[moozarksphotos]

I've been using Lightroom since it's inception, and this is one of the best videos I've come across. I'm a retired civilian army, photographer, and I really enjoyed this video. You can teach an old dog new tricks.

[geek]

Hey Todd, I rarely comment on YouTube and tutorial in general but I’ve been doing photography for two years and have watched hundreds of videos on the subject. I’ve experimented with all these options in Lightroom, but the way you explain them really stands out. It’s better than TikTokers who just repeat what they’ve seen without truly understanding it, and it’s less technical than some overly complex tutorials. You’ve helped me see these options in a new light, and I’m sure it will improve my editing in Lightroom. Thanks!

[danevarkevisser]

Todd, what a great video! Agree, colour is one of the hardest things to come to grips with in RAW editing, and you have just made it a good bit easier. Thank you.

[bahichoulfakir]

you're video is refreshing from the typical youtube videos. thanks for the advice they are really useful

[edwardkinney]

If I could download this video into my head I would. This has been hands down one of the most informative and educational/helpful videos on color I have ever seen. You have a very unique talent for teaching, it’s spectacular. I wish there was a second like button because I went back to the video a second time to like it and realized I already had.

[danicatala]

Love when people REALLY share their way of doing things. Amazing insights in color grading. Thanks Man.

[doronnadav]

WOW - after more than 10 years of working with Lightroom realized a lot of new things through your video. Great tips, very well explained. Thank you!

[rogalaphotography]

I switched to linear profiles and not switching back! I used them with my EOS R and now with my R5….it’s completely changed how I edit in Lightroom! Put the linear profile on and click Auto to get my starting point! Saves so much time! I’ll be doing a basic video on them soon!

[melissahall]

I LOVE your editing videos. One of the best I’ve found out of watching hundreds over the years. Love the tip about bending the colors together. Thank you!

[parkerwillis]

Without a doubt the most useful video I have watched on color science. I have been taking and editing photos for about 3 years and have watched dozens, probably hundreds of videos on color correction in Lightroom and have yet to find anything 1/10th as valuable as this. Thanks for the very thorough tutorial!

[harrypearce]

How does this video not have more views!!! One of the best educators on this platform 🙌

[sf]

Excellent video. I personally prefer editing photos on a white background, because I find judging colours, tones and especially brightness much easier. Most of my images end up being presented surrounded by white. Lightroom and other editing software allows you to easily set your own background colour.

[EmanuelRamneantu]

Great tips! It addresses quite a few issues I have seen over the years in my photos and did not know how to fix

[josephearl]

Has anyone told you you’re an amazing teacher? That’s a college course on color in less than 30 minutes……. I will be watching this many more times! Thanks so much for sharing.

[ralphpayne]

Great to watch and think of different approaches to try. Can't wait to see your video on the new point colour tool in LR!

[CuDerRaGer]

This is the best damn video on color editing I’ve ever seen.

[jordanking]

These are excellent tips, Todd. Thank you so much. I almost NEVER use Saturation in my photos and use Vibrance instead, because as you pointed out, when you use Saturation it applies it to EVERYTHING regardless of whether it's already saturated or not, but when you use Vibrance, it only applies it to the dull parts of the image. Love the tip especially about bending the colours together. Keep up the great work Todd.

[dreamship]

Really good explanation. Hands down this is one of the best🙌 very informative, defo will watch many times and make notes. Very good job👍

[Matthaeus]

Those were some hell of a lot of very good tips sir! Despite editing in LR since around 2009, this might have changed the way I work with color editing a whole lot. So: Thank you very much!

[luisjg]

This video along with 10 Step RAW Photo Processing / Where to Start, What To Do Next, Where to Finish, are very helpful. Sometimes I think that if you master the techniques well, plugins or programs related to luminosity and chromance are not necessary. Particularly sometimes I start from a neutral profile and Adobe's is better than Canon's neutral profile in my opinion.👍👍