There are many ways in Adobe Lightroom & Camera Raw (not to mention Photoshop) to correct or adjust the color of an image. Here I will show you how a tool you might not have used before can boost or correct color.
The Split Tone tool adds a specific color to the values defined as “highlights” in the image and another to the tones defined as “Shadows”. It is easiest to see how it works when it is applied to a black and white image. Split Toning gives a sepia or tinted effect and adds interest even to the extent of adding opposite tones to the highlights and shadows. Applied to a full color image it can correct color casts or intensify color.
This lion cub image has great qualities, but is lackluster in the color.
First things first. I have made adjustments to sliders to bring out proper balance in the midtones, shadows, and highlights. To do this I used a combination of the sliders in the Basic Panel and under the Curves. I also added a touch of Clarity, but not too much now: I can always add more later. As for color, it does pop a little more with the added contrast. I moved the Temperature slider under White Balance to add a bit of warmth and to bring out the yellow and orange tones.
In the Split Tone tool I selected a light yellow orange color for the Highlights and a more burnt orange tone for the shadows. In choosing these colors I was thinking what tones the darks and lights of the lion’s fur should be. I used the Balance and saturation sliders to adjust to my liking. The tool takes all the light tones and applies the chosen color tempered by the Saturation value. Balance changes the definition of what is light vs dark.
The final treatment would be a bit of sharpening and some dodge and burning of the eyes.
These settings also make a good sepia black and white. To see, leave everything and push down the Saturation Slider in the Basics panel to remove all color leaving only the tones from the Split Tone tool.
