8 COLOR GRADE Tricks To Make Your Photo “Pop” (Look MORE 3D!)

The secret sauce can make your photos "pop" and appear more three-dimensional. With powerful editing software like Luminar Neo, color grading has become more accessible and versatile. This article delves into eight tricks that will help you take your images to the next level, giving them that captivating 3D quality you desire.

We'll unlock the secrets of eight advanced techniques to make your photos "pop" and come to life in stunning three-dimensional glory. From contrast adjustments to intricate split-toning, from precise HSL adjustments to the creative possibilities of gradient maps and color lookup tables, we'll explore each technique with step-by-step instructions and real-world examples.

Whether you're seeking to learn how to color grade, discover color grading tips, or explore the basics of color grading, this guide has you covered.

Understanding Color Grading

Color grading is a core aspect of photography, beyond mere correction to encompass creative choices that elevate and personalize images. This transformative process is pivotal as it can reshape a photograph's aesthetic and emotional resonance. In photography, color grading serves several key purposes:

1. Set the Mood

Diverse color palettes evoke distinct emotions. Warm hues exude coziness and allure, while cooler tones instill calm or a touch of melancholy.

2. Enhance Composition

Skillful color grading directs viewers' focus by fine-tuning the contrast and luminance of specific colors, enhancing the overall composition's impact. This artistic manipulation truly breathes life into photographs, adding depth and character.

3. Tell a Story

Colors can convey a narrative or theme within an image. For example, muted and desaturated hues can give a vintage or nostalgic feel, while vibrant and saturated hues can suggest energy and vitality.

4. Create Consistency

Color grading can help maintain a consistent look and feel across a series of photos, making them cohesive in projects like photo essays or visual storytelling.

A Brief Guide to Perfect Color Grading

Color grading is a pivotal instrument in a photographer's toolkit, elevating their visual storytelling and allowing them to convey their artistic vision precisely. Now, let's figure out how to color grade.

Trick 1: 3D Lighting/Tones

Achieving a three-dimensional appearance in your photographs hinges on mastering the interplay of lighting and tones. Luminar Neo's 3D Lighting/Tones tool empowers you to meticulously fine-tune these aspects, enhancing the depth and dimension of your images with exceptional precision. You can control highlights, shadows, and midtones and even add a touch of HDR-like effect to make your subjects stand out.

Trick 2: Color Contrast

It is a powerful technique for making subjects pop against the background. Luminar Neo provides an array of sophisticated color contrast tuning options, enabling you to adjust the color dynamics within your images intricately. This advanced functionality empowers you to refine and perfect the color relationships in your photos with precision and creativity. Enhance the complementary colors, create striking color contrasts, and make your subjects visually distinct.

Try using the automatic picture color changer from Luminar Neo. It will save you time and give a quality result that you can still adjust in the shades you need. With this software, you can even colorize black-and-white photos in seconds and get perfect and true hues on any picture you want.

Trick 3: “Saturation” Subject Separation

Selective saturation can be a game-changer in giving your photos a 3D effect. With Luminar Neo, you can isolate specific subjects independently or areas and adjust their saturation. You can create a stunning visual separation that adds depth to your photos by desaturating the background and boosting the subject's colors.

Trick 4: “Brightness” Subject Separation

Like selective saturation, controlling the brightness of subjects can enhance the 3D look of your images. Luminar Neo's ”Brightness” tool lets you target and adjust the brightness of specific photo elements. Highlight your subjects by darkening the background or vice versa to achieve a compelling separation.

Trick 5: Structure AI

The Structure AI tool within Luminar Neo is a revolutionary asset for enriching the depth and intricacy of your photographs. This intelligent feature enhances textures and refining fine details in your images, imparting a heightened sense of three-dimensionality. Whether you wish to improve the texture for expansive landscapes or introduce depth to your portrait shots, Structure AI emerges as an indispensable tool for photographers aiming to elevate their work's quality and visual impact.

Trick 6: Relight AI

Relighting your photos can create a 3D effect by simulating different lighting conditions. AI Photo Lighting allows you to adjust the lighting in your photos with incredible precision. Add or change the direction of light sources, manipulate shadows, and breathe new life into your images.

Trick 7: Toning Tool

With the Toning tool, you can infuse your photos with distinctive tones that elevate their visual depth and character. Explore the creative possibilities of split toning or craft vintage aesthetics to impart a unique and captivating 3D essence to your images. The art of toning extends beyond mere color adjustment; it becomes a powerful tool for shaping the mood and atmosphere within your photographs, allowing you to create truly evocative and immersive visuals.

Trick 8: Eye Enhancement

The eyes are often the focal point of a portrait, and enhancing them can add depth and dimension to your subject's face. Luminar Neo's Eye Enhancement tool allows you to make eyes sparkle, sharpen eyelashes, and even change eye hue for a mesmerizing 3D effect. Learn how to work with the Portrait Tools to achieve better results in the processing of portrait photos and give volume and depth to the features of your models, creating lively and attractive images.

BONUS Trick: Object Separation

Luminar Neo's Object Separation tool is a bonus trick that takes color grading to the next level. It lets you separate and adjust individual objects or subjects in your photos, allowing for precise and creative color grading. Isolate your subject, change its colors, and easily create stunning visual separations.

Incorporate these eight tricks and the bonus Object Separation tool into your photo editing workflow with Luminar Neo, and watch your images come to life with a captivating 3D quality that will leave viewers in awe.

Advantages of Color Grading

Key reasons why it is crucial in the realm of photo editing are:

• It allows photographers and editors to set the mood and atmosphere of an image. You can convey emotions, from warmth and happiness to coolness and melancholy, thus influencing how viewers perceive and connect with the photograph.
• It helps reinforce the narrative or message of a photo, guiding the viewer's attention to specific elements or evoking certain emotions that complement the story being told.
• It helps achieve visual cohesion within images, such as those from a photoshoot or a project. It ensures that photos share a consistent look and feel, making them more appealing when viewed together.
• It helps optimize photos for various viewing conditions, ensuring they look their best regardless of where they are displayed.
• In a world saturated with images, it can help your photos stand out and gain recognition in photography competitions, exhibitions, and social media platforms.
• It allows photographers and editors to create unique visual experiences that resonate with their artistic vision.
• To stand out from the rest of your colleagues in social media, you need to find your style, hues, and unique techniques. Regular account maintenance using a single hue line will make you easily recognizable to your followers. Learn how to change the Instagram story background color and other tricks to create an attractive and professional accent.

Bottom Line

Mastering the art of color grading with Luminar Neo opens up a world of possibilities for enhancing your photos' visual depth and impact. These color grading tips have explored the basics of color grading and showcased advanced techniques to make your images truly pop and look more three-dimensional. You can transform your photos into captivating works of art by harnessing the power of tools like 3D Lighting/Tones, Contrast, Selective Saturation, and Object Separation.

Remember that it is not just about making adjustments; it's about telling a story, setting a mood, and capturing the viewer's imagination. So, dive into the world of color grading, experiment with these techniques, and let your creativity shine. With Luminar Neo, you can turn your photos into mesmerizing, three-dimensional masterpieces that leave a lasting impression. 

For more editing tips and tricks, visit our YouTube channel. See you!