Adding a red tint to a picture can be a useful technique for creating a particular mood or aesthetic. With the rise of photo editing software, it’s easier than ever to tint photos red. There are a few ways to go about doing this, depending on the program you’re using. In this article, we’ll provide an overview of some of the most common techniques for adding a red tint in various photo editors.
Using Filters in Photoshop
Adobe Photoshop provides several filters that can be used to easily add a red tint to photos. One of the quickest ways is to use the Photo Filter adjustment layer. Here’s how:
1. Open the image you want to tint red in Photoshop.
2. Click on the Adjustment Layer icon and select Photo Filter.
3. In the Photo Filter properties, select the Warming Filter (85) preset option. You can also create a custom filter by choosing a red color and adjusting the density.
4. Set the density level to adjust the intensity of the red tint. The higher the density, the more saturated the red will become. Start around 20-30% and adjust as needed.
5. Click OK to apply the red tint.
The warming filter adds a nice red/orange tone. You can also try the cooling filter (80) and choose a magenta color instead to add a more pure red tone.
Another option is to use the Color Balance adjustment layer. Here’s how:
1. Add a Color Balance adjustment layer above your image layer.
2. In the properties, shift the sliders toward red in the highlights, midtones, and shadows sections. How much you shift each slider controls which parts of the image get more or less red.
3. Lower the opacity of the adjustment layer if the red is too intense.
Using adjustment layers gives you flexibility to tweak the red tint intensity. You can also apply them selectively using layer masks.
Tinting in Lightroom
Lightroom has a few different ways to add a red tint look.
One method is using the Split Toning panel in the Develop module. Here’s how:
1. In the Develop module, expand the Split Toning panel.
2. Select a deep red hue for the Highlights. This adds red to the lightest parts of the photo.
3. Adjust the Saturation of the highlights to control the intensity. Try starting around 10-20.
4. You can also add a red tone to the shadows by choosing a dark red hue and adjusting the saturation.
Split toning provides a nice way to tint the highlights and shadows separately. You can also use the HSL panel to target reds more selectively.
To use HSL:
1. Go to the HSL / Color panel in Develop.
2. Select Reds and raise the Saturation to intensify existing reds.
3. Use the Luminance slider for reds to brighten or darken the red areas.
4. Adjust other HSL sliders to fine-tune the red tint. Lowering orange and yellow saturation helps make the red stand out more.
You can also try using one of the B&W filter presets in Lightroom, like the Infrared effect. Many of these add a dark red tint to emulate infrared film.
Tinting in Snapseed
Snapseed is a great mobile photo editing app with lots of filter options for tinting photos. Here are some ways to use Snapseed to add a red tone:
– **Double Exposure** – Use one layer with a red gradient overlay blended with the original image. Adjust the opacity and positioning to taste.
– **Drama** – This filter posterizes images and applies an adjustable color overlay. Shift the color toward red/magenta for a bold red tint.
– **Grunge** – Use a subtle grunge effect and slide the saturation toward red. Can provide a nice dusty red look.
– **Vintage** – Use the Vintage filter and choose the fade type “Red” to add an old-school red toned look.
– **Tonal Contrast** – Increase the shadows and dark tones while making highlights more yellow to produce contrast between red lows and yellow highs.
– **Center Focus** – Add a central radial vignette, and use the tint slider to make the vignette area red. Darkens the edges and adds focus to the center with red tones.
Snapseed makes it easy to quickly experiment with different effects and filters to find the right red tinted style you want.
Using Lunapic
Lunapic is a free online photo editor with some handy effects for adding red tones to images. Here are some of the tools it includes:
– **Overlay** – You can add a red overlay layer on top of your photo and adjust the opacity to control the intensity.
– **Tint** – Use the Tint tool to select a red color and saturate the whole image with the chosen color.
– **Colorize** – This effect allows coloring areas of the photo based on brightness. Choose red tones for the shadows and midtones while keeping highlights neutral.
– **Gradient Map** – The gradient tool lets you map tonal ranges to a color gradient. Selecting a red gradient adds red coloring to the darker areas of the image.
– **Color Temperature** – Use this tool to adjust the photo along the blue-yellow spectrum. Sliding toward yellow adds warmth and can give a nice red boost.
– **Black and White** – Convert to B&W then use the Tint slider to add subtle red hues to the black and white version.
Lunapic provides an easy online editor for anyone looking to quickly add some red tinting effects to an image.
Using Pixlr
Pixlr is another capable free online photo editor with a few options for adding red tones. Here are some methods:
– **Color Overlay** – Add a new color overlay layer and fill with a red tone, then adjust layer opacity.
– **Color Splash** – Keeping the photo black and white and color splashing just the red tones creates vivid red accents.
– **Focal B&W** – Choose the warm tone setting which adds punchy red filter effects to specific areas.
– **Sunrise/Sunset** – Use the Sunset filter option to cast a reddish warm glow, like sun shining at dawn/dusk.
– **Cross Process** – This creative style effect gives photos a retro cinematic look with punched up reds.
– **Color Balance** – Boost the reds and yellows using the color balance adjustment tool, while reducing blues for contrast.
With its broad selection of filters and color effects, Pixlr makes it easy to find the right red tint transformation for any image.
Using the GIMP
GIMP provides powerful editing tools that can be used to add red coloring to photos in various ways. Here are some techniques:
– **Gradient Map** – This converts an image to grayscale then maps tonal values to a color gradient. Choosing a red gradient will add red hues throughout the image.
– **Colorize** – This tool directly applies a color tint to the entire image. Pick a suitable red shade.
– **Photo Filter** – Provides filter effects like warming and cooling that can add red/magenta casts similar to Photoshop.
– **Curves** – The Curves tool allows you to selectively boost red tones by targeting the red channel in the curves graph.
– **Color Balance** – Use this to shift the highlight, midtone, and shadow balance toward red hues for an overall color tint.
– **Selective Colorization** – For more advanced editing, you can use Hue/Saturation, Colorize, or Color Balance on specific areas masked with layers or selections.
With its high degree of control over color adjustments, GIMP is ideal for adding precise red tint effects.
Using Canva
Canva provides templates, icons, images and simple design tools to create social media graphics, posters and other visual content. Here are some ways to use Canva to add a red tint to photos:
– **Duotone Filter** – Add this filter effect to any photo, then select a red shade from the color palette swatch to tint the image.
– **Instant Filters** – Browse the various filters to find red tinting effects like Pink, Sunrise, Mars, Bordeaux, etc. Adjust filter strength as needed.
– **Photo Tint Overlay** – Place a shape or graphic over your photo and fill it with a semi-transparent red tint at low opacity to act as a colored overlay.
– **Blend Modes** – Set a red shape to “darken” or “multiply” mode so it darkens the image beneath and shifts it towards red tones.
– **Red Frames/Borders** – Framing the photo with a vibrant red border is an easy way to add a subtle overall red tint.
Though not a complex editor, Canva is great for simple tinting and filters to generate eye-catching graphics with a red tone.
Tinting Portraits vs Landscapes
The approach you take to tinting an image red may vary depending on whether it’s a portrait or landscape photo.
For portraits, you typically want to retain skin tones as naturally as possible. Try applying the red tint selectively to the background using gradients, overlays, or adjustment layers masked to affect just the background areas. Too much red on skin can look unnatural.
For landscapes, you can be bolder with applying a red tint overall to create a dramatic sky and mood. Increase saturation of red and orange tones in nature (e.g. flowers, plants, desert rocks) to make those colors pop. Don’t overdo it though or the image will become unrealistic.
Subtlety is key for realistic results. Use low opacity layers and filters at 20-50% strength so the red blends naturally with the photo. Build up the effect gradually.
Choosing a Complementary Color Palette
To make the red tones really stand out, choose complementary colors that accentuate the red rather than clashing with it.
Some color palettes that work well with red:
– Red, yellow, blue – Primary colors provide high contrast
| Red | Yellow | Blue |
– Red, orange, green – Warm and cool analogous colors
| Red | Orange | Green |
– Red, pink, purple – Shades of red for mono colored tinting
| Red | Pink | Purple |
– Red, cyan, black and white – High contrast B&W with red as focal point
| Red | Cyan | Black | White |
– Red, ochre, umber – Earthy desert-like color scheme
| Red | Ochre | Umber |
Choose hues that harmonize with and enhance the red rather than clashing. Related warmer tones of red, orange and yellow help the red pop.
How Color Temperature Affects Red Tones
When tinting photos red, pay attention to the color temperature to determine how the red will be perceived.
Warmer color temperatures (2400-3400K) make red appear more vibrant and intense. The warmth emphasizes red’s fiery qualities.
Cooler temperatures (5500-6500K) can mute the vibrancy of reds, shifting them toward maroon/burgundy hues. This may benefit some images where pure intense red would overwhelm.
You can adjust the white balance in your photo editor if needed to fine tune the color temperature and desired look for the red tinting.
In general, lean into the warmth and complement red with yellows, oranges and pinks. Counter the warmth with contrasting blues and greens as needed for balance.
When to Use Red Tinting
Red tinting works well for all kinds of photography subjects and moods. Here are some examples:
– Landscapes – Enhances sunrises/sunsets, fall foliage, desert scenery, weathered barns, red rocks
– Portraits – Conveys moody emotion, romance, dynamism, intensity
– Urban scenes – Gritty street photography with fluorescent neon signs
– Black and white – Subtle red toning adds extra visual interest
– Food – Makes red foods like tomatoes, chili peppers, and meats pop
– Nature – Draws eye to red flowers, birds, ladybugs, cardinals, poppies
– Seasonal – Works for Valentine’s Day, Christmas, bold autumnal looks
Red works in vibrant, highly saturated shots as well as muted, faded looks like antique film. It pairs well with many themes and subjects. Just avoid overdoing it. Subtle application often looks most natural.
Archival Concerns with Color Tinting
When tinting old photos, keep in mind archival concerns. Digitally tinting a copy protects the original.
For physical prints, liquid tints and oils may not age well. Ozone can interact with pigments over decades, causing fading or color shifts. Tinted photos are harder to restore.
For archival tinting, experts recommend:
– Testing tints first on copies before applying to originals
– Using high quality pigmented inkjet prints vs. dye-based prints
– Applying tints with archival pigment inks or pigment pencils rather than oils or liquids
– Storing tinted prints properly, avoiding heat, light, humidity, plastic sleeves, wood frames, and direct contact with other images
Done right, red toning can be safe even for historical and family photos you want preserved for generations. Research best practices to protect irreplaceable prints.
Conclusion
Red tone effects can add bold visual impact or subtly enhance all kinds of photos. Use layers, filters and adjustments tools creatively to find the right red tint style for your images. Complement the reds with oranges, pinks and yellows. Adjust intensity carefully for a natural look. With so many editing options today, it’s easy to make colors pop or emulate vintage tinting techniques. Just take care when editing valuable original prints. With a thoughtful approach, red tinting can take your photos from flat to fabulous.