Changing color of certain element in an image.

[bobo]

Hello,

Is there a newbie friendly way to change the color of the light gray structure in the attached images to very dark gray / black ? I tried using the color replacement tool, but it sort of works with more vibrant colors and not with the darker ones. The general hue/saturation only affects the brushes and the red top.
Thank you for any advice.

 

[IamSam]

Hello bobo and welcome to PSG.

Here is one way........

First add a Brightness & Contrast adjustment layer and lower the brightness and increase the contrast. Notice that this will also add a layer mask. The mask will be white, hit cmd/cntrl + I to invert the layer mask to black.

Use your Pen Tool to select the areas you wish to turn black, highlight the Brightness & Contrast layers...layer mask, fill the selection with white. (I just did one side.)





Then, add a Color fill adjustment layer set to black.
Hold alt/option + drag the Brightness & Contrasts layer mask to the new Color fill adjustment layers mask and drop. You will get a message asking if you want to replace the layer mask say YES.

Now lower the Color Fill adjustment layers opacity to where you like it.

 

[bobo]

Dear Sir,
Thank you alot for the clear instructions i managed to followed them with no problem. One last question, how can now smooth out the edges so theres no light grey small line leftovers, like on the sides and near the brushes. Attached below is what i got. Thank you again for help.

 

[IamSam]

This is caused by your selection.

If you used the technique I described, you will have to select the Brightness & Contrast mask...

Select/highlight the layer mask, the white bracket will appear.



Right click and select 'Refine Mask'...





Once you have adjusted the Brightness & Contrast mask, you will again have to at/option + click and drag the newly refined mask to Color fill layer mask to replace the old one.

 

[IamSam]

The Refine Edge and Refine Mask are two separate functions that work the same. You need to use Refine Mask.

Here are some tutorials on both: http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=Photoshop+refine+mask+tutorial

These will help show you how to use the function.