Making color adjustments to a layer

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The version of Sketchbook you are using will determine the tools available for color adjustment. In some cases, there will be tools within the Layer Menu for this.


Making color adjustments in Sketchbook Pro for desktop

In the Sketchbook Pro desktop version, to do color adjustments try the Image > Adjust options to see a preview of your image as you change the brightness/contrast, hue/saturation, color balance, grayscale, or invert values. For another color adjustment option, see Blending layers‍.

In the examples below, the left side shows an Adjust option applied to the original image (right side). Choose from the following options:

Brightness/Contrast

Make colors pop. Increase the contrast to make colors richer. Decreasing it to wash them out for images that text can be placed over top. Increase brightness to bring out details from darker areas. Decrease it to melt away darker aspects of an image and shift the focus to things that are bright.

Brightness/Contrast example

Hue/Saturation

Change the color range, increase or decrease the purity of a color or brilliance of the colors. Adds/subtracts color (hue) or adjusts the relative amount of color (saturation) in each pixel.

Hue/Saturation example

Color Balance

Remove unwanted color casts by lights or inclement weather conditions by adjusting the cyan, red, magenta, green, yellow, and blue in each pixel.

Color Balance example

Grayscale

Change a color image to one that uses black, white, and various shapes of gray by removing all color from the image.

Grayscale example

Invert

Switch the contrast of an image. Change black elements to white and white to black to create an opposite image. Convert color information for each pixel to its complementary color.

Invert example for color correct

Delete

You can also use layer blending to make color, tonal, or effects changes to an image. See Blending layers‍ for more information.



Using the Image > Adjust Dialog

The canvas must contain an image for this option to be available.

Use the Image > Adjust options to color correct an image.

Color Correction dialog


Apply Hue to Grayscale Areas

Only available for Color Balance.

Apply color grayscale areas (areas that are white), when enabled. When disabled, these areas are not affected by the set hue and remain white.

Color Balance dialog


Show All

See all content on visible layers when Show All and Preview are enabled. 


Preview

See real-time changes in the preview to the left as slider values are changed. When disabled, the preview doesn't update as values are changed.


Reset

Return the preview to the original settings, as long as Apply has not been used. If Apply was pressed, Reset restores the values to 0. If Apply has been pressed, the only way to undo the change is to use Undo.



Apply

Apply the settings to the image on your canvas, while keeping the dialog open for making further changes. Use this when setting a value beyond the slider's range. For example, the sliders have a range from -100 to 100. If you wanted to a value of -120, you would set the slider to -100, press Apply, then set the same slider to -20 and press OK when finished to close the dialog.

  • OK - Applies the changes and closes the dialog.

  • Cancel - Closes the dialog without applying the current unapplied changes.



Making color adjustments in Sketchbook for mobile devices

Do you want to make changes to your image, but without redoing the colors? If so, try the two color adjustment tools in the Layer Menu: HSL Adjustment and Color Balance. Use HSL Adjustment to change the hue, saturation, and luminance of a layer. Use Color Balance to tweak the reds, blues, and/or greens of the shadows, midtones, and highlights in a layer.


HSL Adjustment

Use HSL Adjustment to make the content of a layer warmer, cooler, lighter, or darker. Do you want to change the hues? You can do that, as well. As you change the hue, saturation, and luminance, using the HSL Adjustment sliders, your image instantly updates.

Color adjustments with HSL Adjustment in Sketchbook for mobile

  1. Tap a selected a layer or double-tap an unselected layer to open the Layer Menu.
  2. From the Layer Menu, tap HSL Adjustment.
  3. Tap-drag the sliders. The top slider changes the hue, the middle the saturation, and the bottom the luminance.
  4. When finished, tap Done, found in the top right corner to return to your drawing.


Color Balance

Use Color Balance to tweak the reds, blues, and/or greens of the shadows, midtones, or highlights.

Color Balance in Sketchbook for mobile

  1. Tap a selected a layer or double-tap an unselected layer to open the Layer Menu.
  2. From the Layer Menu, tap Color Balance.
  3. Select one of the following options from the top of your screen: Shadows, Midtones, and Highlights. Your selection determines which elements are affected by your changes.
  • If you select Shadows, as you tweak the reds, blues, and/or greens, you’ll notice they are only applied to the darkest parts of the layer.
  • If you select Midtones, as you tweak the reds, blues, and/or greens, you’ll notice they are only applied to the mid tone values of the layer.
  • If you select Highlights, as you tweak the reds, blues, and/or greens, you’ll notice they are only applied to the lightest parts of the layer.
  1. Tap-drag the sliders. The top slider changes the reds, the middle the greens, and the bottom the blues.
  2. When finished, tap Done, found in the top right corner to return to your drawing.