How to Make the Cinematic Matte Effect in Photoshop

Have you ever seen a portrait that immediately evokes a mood in you? Maybe it feels nostalgic or warm, but you can't quite put your finger on why it feels that way. It is probably because the artist used a Cinematic Matte Effect.

Hop onto any stock website and type the word "portrait." You will see this cinematic effect on 7 out of 10 portrait images per page scroll. The Matte Effect makes the blacks look on the gray side and leaves the rest of the tones intact. The result is a wonderfully nostalgic look, free of dark contrast.

The process is pretty simple and can be accomplished with a very simple move on the Curves Adjustment Layer. All you have to do is lift the lower corner of the curve up and make some anchor points on your mid-tones and highlights. You can get pretty creative with it though. You can go into the Red, Green, and Blue channels and add some color to the darks to add a subliminal color that the viewer will feel but may not be able to spot without you pointing it out. This is an excellent way to evoke some emotions in the viewer that they may not have felt if you showed them the image straight out of the camera.

The process can work for Portraits and Landscapes alike. I use it all the time in subtle doses, often dropping the Opacity of the effect below 50%. It is kind of like a vignette. It is highly effective, but best used in subliminal ways.

Watch the tutorial today and enjoy some Actions that do some of the heavy lifting for you!

[monicamelgar]

Huge thumbs up Blake! Such an easy straightforward explanation! Thank you for sharing, been looking for a tutorial on this effect. Subscribed!

[guyivie]

Up until now, all the "matte effect" stuff I've seen just looks like overall low contrast, and that doesn't always work well. What you're doing here -- affecting only the blacks, and not too greatly, and adding a color tone to them -- makes more sense and actually enhances the images. Thanks!

[noelconway]

Thanks Blake, most instructers insist on having a good black point, refreshing to see a different point of view. great tutorial,

[Chetan]

Thank you for this Matte Effect and all your other tone effects... Thanks!! once again : )

[sweet_it_is]

I subs!!! thank u !!!! Been wanting to learn this cinematic matte.

[HikingPines]

Excellent tutorial! Nicely explained and your pacing was perfect! Subscribing to your channel...

[OORVOKKI]

Thank you very much for video and action. superb!

[simfor]

Very useful, Blake! Well done and thanks a lot :-)

[rishipr]

i downloaded the f64 action but how can i get it to open on photoshop.???

[neildewestelinck]

Haha, watching your video here, and when you go to the Pexel site I see portrait I made. Without even knowing it's on that website, never been on it. :-) (the girl with red hair on the 5th row)