Graphics Programs Reference
In-Depth Information
Sponge Tool
The Sponge tool is very elegant and efficient.
This toning tool can be used to make subtle
adjustments in color saturation or grayscale
contrast. It can also be used during conversion
processes to prepare images for commercial
printing or television. The Sponge tool allows
you to gently desaturate (or saturate) areas by
brushing over them.
1.
Close any open files, and then open the file
Ch11_Sponge.tif from the Chapter 11 folder.
2.
When converting RGB images into CMYK,
there is often a shift in colors. This is because
RGB has a wider color gamut than CMYK,
and it can display more colors. Photoshop
allows you to highlight the areas that are
“out of gamut” or will shift when you convert
modes. Choose View > Gamut Warning. The
gray areas represent out-of-gamut areas.
3.
Select the Sponge tool by pressing O to
cycle through the tools, or choose it from
the Tools panel.
4.
Adjust the brush to a large size and set it to
have soft edges.
5.
Set the tool to Desaturate and adjust the flow
to a lower value. It is generally better to use a
slower flow and make several applications.
6.
Paint over the gray gamut warning areas with
the Sponge tool until they disappear.
7.
If needed, you can switch the Sponge tool to Saturate to boost
areas. If you see a gray gamut warning, you've gone too far.
Tip
Gamut Warning Color
If you'd like to change the gamut
warning color so it stands out more,
open your Photoshop Preferences.
In the Transparency & Gamut con-
trols, click the swatch next to Color
to set a new warning color.
8.
When you're done, you can convert the image to CMYK by
selecting Image > Mode > CMYK. CMYK conversion is cov-
ered again in Chapter 16, “Printing, PDF, and Specialized File
Ty p e s .”
9.
To complet e t he i ma ge, choose F i le > S ave A s , pick a new
destination, and rename the file to Ch11_Sponge_CMYK.tif.
