The distinctive color palette of Stranger Things, with its cool blues, muted oranges, and inverted color schemes, has captivated audiences worldwide. This tutorial will guide you through recreating this iconic look using Photoshop, focusing on the techniques used to achieve that signature inverted color fill, often seen on Tumblr. We'll cover everything from basic adjustments to more advanced techniques, making this accessible for both beginners and experienced Photoshop users.
What You'll Need
- Photoshop: Any recent version will suffice.
- An Image: Choose an image with sufficient detail to showcase the effect. A landscape photo or a portrait would work well.
- Basic Photoshop Knowledge: Familiarity with layers, adjustment layers, and blending modes is helpful but not mandatory.
Step-by-Step Guide to the Stranger Things Color Grade
1. Opening and Duplicating Your Image: Open your chosen image in Photoshop. The first crucial step is to duplicate your background layer. This ensures you can always revert to the original if needed. To do this, simply drag the background layer onto the "Create a new layer" icon at the bottom of the layers panel.
2. Adjusting Brightness/Contrast: Begin by making basic adjustments to the brightness and contrast. Go to Image > Adjustments > Brightness/Contrast. Slight adjustments here can significantly impact the final outcome. Reduce the brightness slightly and increase the contrast subtly to give your image a darker, moodier feel— a key characteristic of the Stranger Things aesthetic.
3. Color Balance Adjustments: Now, it's time to adjust the color balance. Go to Image > Adjustments > Color Balance. Experiment with the sliders. For a Stranger Things vibe, try shifting the midtones slightly towards the blues and cyans, and the highlights slightly towards the yellows and oranges (but keep it subtle to avoid an overly unnatural look).
4. Creating the Inverted Color Fill Effect (The Key to that Tumblr Aesthetic): This is where the magic happens. Create a new layer above your adjusted image. Fill this layer with a color— a deep, desaturated blue or a muted orange works well. This will serve as the base for our inverted color effect. Now, change the blending mode of this layer to "Color." This will essentially overlay the chosen color onto the underlying image, affecting only the hue and saturation, but not the brightness.
5. Using the Gradient Map for a More Complex Invert: For a more sophisticated inverted color, try using a Gradient Map adjustment layer. Go to Layer > New Adjustment Layer > Gradient Map. Experiment with different gradients. A good starting point is a gradient that goes from a dark, cool blue to a warmer, desaturated orange. This creates a more complex and nuanced inverted color effect, moving beyond a simple color fill.
6. Fine-Tuning with Selective Color: Now, we'll use the Selective Color adjustment layer for precise control. Go to Layer > New Adjustment Layer > Selective Color. Here, you can fine-tune the colors individually (Reds, Yellows, Greens, Cyans, Blues, Magentas). For instance, you might want to desaturate certain colors to create a muted effect, or subtly shift the hues to reinforce the cool/warm contrast.
7. Adding a Vignette: To further enhance the cinematic feel, add a vignette. This darkens the corners of the image, drawing attention to the center. You can achieve this with a layer mask and a radial gradient, or by using a filter such as Filter > Distort > Lens Correction and playing with the vignette settings.
8. Final Adjustments and Export: Step back and assess your image. Make any final adjustments you see fit. Once satisfied, export your image in the desired format (JPEG is usually suitable).
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
How can I achieve a more pronounced Stranger Things effect?
Pushing the contrast further, using more saturated (but still muted) colors in your color balance adjustments and gradient map, and adding a stronger vignette will enhance the effect.
What are some good color palettes to emulate the Stranger Things look?
Explore palettes featuring muted blues, oranges, browns, and deep teals. You can find inspiration by searching "Stranger Things color palette" online.
Can I use this technique on other types of images besides photographs?
Absolutely! This technique works well with illustrations, digital paintings, and even video stills.
Is there a way to automate this process?
While there isn't a single button to achieve the exact Stranger Things look, actions in Photoshop can help automate some of the steps, such as the initial brightness/contrast and color balance adjustments.
Are there other software options to create this effect?
Similar effects can be achieved in other image editing software, though the specific steps may vary.
By following these steps and experimenting with the various adjustments, you can effectively recreate the iconic Stranger Things color grade and achieve that distinctive, often seen on Tumblr, inverted color fill. Remember, the key is to experiment and find the balance that suits your image best.
