Painting wood cabinets white in CS5

[muffetmd]

Hey guys,

I am completely new to photoshop, we are trying to decide what color to paint our kitchen cabinets, I was able to change the color to black by just using hue/saturation and the magnetic lasso, but I cannot figure out how to make them white. Here is the photo I am trying to change. Can someone help us out?

 

[peta62]

Check http://www.photoshopgurus.com/forum...black-dark-coloured-clothing-items-white.html very similar issue was discussed there.

 

[ibclare]

Good discussion there.
Here's a real quick solution.

Select cabinets. Copy to new layer using ctl/cmd + j. Desaturate the layer: image>adjustments>desaturate.

Make a levels adjustment but do it using layer menu: layer>new adjustment layer>levels; check the box "use previous layer to create clipping mask."

Move the right hand slider - the white triangle - to the left until it gets very white but not screeching the light at you -- about halfway. Now move the middle slider to the left, almost to the black triangle. Next go down to the output sliders and move the left slider to the right some, just into where it gets grey.

Merge the cabinet layer with the adjustment layer (select both by clicking each one as you hold down the ctl/cmd key, the use ctl/cmd + e to merge).

Now duplicate this layer and set the layer blend mode to screen. Reduce the opacity of the screened layer. I set it to about 30%. This step may actually give you a brighter white than you want. Stop at any step that gives you the level of white you want!

I hope this gives you a clear enough color, or lack of, to make your judgement.

This is what I did (very crude selection )

 

[peta62]

ibclare this is exactly the case where invert would not have worked since the light reflection would be darker. Excellent work how you have done it.

 

[ibclare]

I know. Invert was a method someone showed me awhile ago, but I think it's only good for quick checks. It could work for this but it wouldn't look right if that mattered.