Photoshop channel mixer for tone shaping.

[Tristin]

Does anyone else use the channel mixer for contrast/tone shaping?  It is one of the few things I ever do to my photos.  Using a monochrome channel mixer adjustment layer , which I switch to a different blending mode (usually overlay or soft/hard light) and then move the opacity slider around until I find a setting I like.  I find this really does the trick for me and I usually need nothing else.  It can really make photos pop and give tonal gradients a lively look without getting the exaggerated or compressed look the boosting contrast can impart.

[charlie]

Yes, I use that technique and variations of that technique pretty regularly in combination with levels and curves. I agree that it often adds contrast differently than using levels or curves alone. If you set curves/levels blend modes to luminosity you can get close though.

Alternative methods to achieve similar results would be to copy and paste either the red, green, or blue channels and set the blend mode to softlight, or just make a duplicate layer (or stamp visible: ctrl, shift, alt + E), and set blend mode to softlight and desaturate the layer if necessary. Though I think the channel mixer approach gives the greatest level of adjustment.

[Fons Baerken]

I sometimes use a b/w luminosity layer to blend, if thats the question?

[John Geerts]

I think that layer-method does affect the colors, not? 

For post-processing I minimize the use of layers, it's just more work.  Usually Camera Raw and the level-curve settings can do the fine-tuning, if needed.

[The_Traveler]

Any reference to a source where I can see the steps and understand the issues would be very welcome.

[charlie]

To get a quick idea of what we're referring to, open a new channel mixer adjustment layer and turn the layer blend mode to soft light, that alone will give a healthy contrast boost, then try the different color filters in the channel mixer adjustment panel for variations on this effect, be sure the monochrome box is selected if you don't want your colors to be effected. Then reduce the channel mixer adjustment layers opacity to your desired level.

Alternatively, and my preferred method over the channel mixer, is to use this same technique with the black and white adjustment layer. The B&W adjustment layer gives more precise control over the individual colors in the image where as the channel mixer is more of a global effect.

I suspect there are plenty of tutorials on youtube, etc.