Advanced Techniques - Adobe Photoshop Elements 11 for Photographers - page 228

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The Sponge tool can be
used to selectively increase
or decrease the saturation
of parts of the image.
(1) Desaturate.
(2) Saturate.

Sponge tool Tool

modes

Brush selection
pop-up

Sponge
operation mode

Brush size Flow control or rate

of color change

onge t Tool selecti ponge ush size Fl t

Sponge
It is possible to draw a viewer's attention to a particular part of an image by increasing its
saturation. The difference in color (contrast) makes the saturated part of the picture a new
focal point. The effect can be increased greatly by desaturating (reducing the color strength)
the areas around the focal point. The Sponge tool is designed to make such saturation
changes to the color within your photos. It can be used to saturate or desaturate and, in
grayscale mode, it will even decrease or increase contrast. As with most other tools, size and
mode can be changed in the options bar. Changing the Flow settings in the bar alters the
rate at which the image saturates or desaturates.

Sponge workflow:
1 Pick the Sponge tool from the toolbox.
2 Select brush size, type and flow rate from the options bar.
3 Select the mode to use - Saturate or Desaturate.
4 Drag over the part of the image you want to change.