Split Toning

The Lightroom Split Toning panel is where I head if I want to add warmth to a black and white image or to create a cross-process effect on a colour image.

What is Split Toning? In layman's terms the Split Toning tool allows us to introduce colour into the highlight and the shadow regions of an image which are then gradually blended across the entire tonal range - with the crossover point set by the ‘balance' slider. It's easy to understand when working with a black and white image, watching how the histogram changes as you introduce colour. Have a play and you'll soon grasp the concept and will quickly realise how to create warm black and whites, deep sepia tones or duo tone images.

Split toning doesn't only work on black and white images of course and with a colour image it's possible to create some very interesting looks. One of my favourites is to combine Split Toning with the Tone Curve tool to create a warm toned image with muted blacks. Here's how I would do it.

The image below is pretty much straight out of the camera with only a small adjustment to colour temperature and exposure.

Next, remap the black and white point by using the Tone Curve tool. To achieve this switch to ‘Point Curve' mode and drag the black point up (indicated as BLK on the diagram below) and drag the white point down (WHT on the diagram). This will result in remapping the black point to a dark grey and the white point to a light grey.

The resulting image will look muted and soft. Within the Basic panel now adjust the Blacks, Contrast and Clarity to suit. Here is my image after these adjustments.

Now add a split tone with yellows and oranges to warm the image.

Here are my settings which resulted in the following final image.

In Part 3 I'm going to take a look at some of the new features in Lightroom 3 and show how we've been able to further reduce our workflow overheads to create stunning blog composites and slick slideshows with ease. I'll also take a look at the new development tools and the massively improved watermarking feature.

Biography

Stewart is one of the most tech-savvy social photographers in the UK and a rising star in wedding photography.  After graduating from the Annabel Williams CPT Bespoke Programme six years ago Stewart left the corporate world to start his own business - Randall Photography.

Stewart has an instinctive grip on how photography can benefit from technology and successfully runs his business using highly effective workflow solutions, social networking tools and business processes.  Now an Annabel Williams CPT Bespoke Trainer himself, he regularly teaches other photographers on digital photography techniques, workflow, colour management and Photoshop, as well as photographing weddings at prestigious venues all over the UK and abroad.

For more information on Stewart and his photography business:
www.randallphotography.co.uk/blog

For more information on Stewart and his photography training:
www.annabelwilliams.com

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