Colouring tut

ONE_
Take your base ! Do what you usually do :)
Here's mine :


Open a new Curve layer (Layer > New adjustment layer > Curve) and create a new point. My settings are I : 97 ; O : 153, however these are totally subjective ! Just do so that the image is lightened !
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TWO _
So, really really washed out, innit ? Open a Selective colouring layer (Layer > New adjustment layer > Selective colours) and follow approximately these settings (I advise you to do it step by step and to watch what these settings change on your picture) :
- Reds : +100, +100, +100, 0   {adds some contrast}
- Yellows : +22, +6, -33, 0   {I hate when colourings turn greenish. Magenta is green's opposite so I always add a bit of magenta}
- Neutrals : +12, +4, -8, 0
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THREE_
Now add the magic colour layer. Layer > New fill layer, with a dark brown (mine's #250808), set it on exclusion 100%.
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FOUR_
Needs a bit of contrast. Colour balance : Layer > New adjustment layer > Colour balance. Tick "keep the luminosity". Here are my setting :
- Midtones : 0, 0, -16
- Shadows : 0, -4, +16
- Highlights : 0, -2, -6
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FIVE_
We're almost done ! Again, selective colouring.
- Reds : -35, 0, +7, 0
- Yellows : +28, +2, -17, 0
- Neutrals : +4, 0, -3, 0
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SIX_
Last step ! Easy one, we want more contrast, so let's do it with levels. Layer > New adjustment layer > Levels.
My settings : 7, 1,00, 255 (not very much, but you can add more if you want :p).
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>> PSD <<


Remember : it does not work with every image, it needs to be adjusted to the images, and to your liking. I hope you'll learn new techniques and little tricks to improve your own style ;D

* Please do not hotlink !