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[ 81 ]DAY TO NIGHT
Regardless of your final skyward creative direction, here’s
a great effect I use all the time for turning daytime scenes
into nightscapes. In short, three things need to happen: the
scene needs to be darker; there needs to be a more limited
color palette; and there needs to be more blue in general.
Fortunately, there’s a LUT adjustment layer preset that gets
us in the ballpark of all three, so let’s start there!
Step One: With your chosen daytime scene (with a plain
sky) open in Photoshop, go to the Adjustments Layer panel
(Window>Adjustments), and select the Color Lookup adjust-
ment (it’s the grid icon at the end of the second row). In the
Properties panel (Window>Properties) of this new adjust-
ment layer, c lick on the top 3DLUT File pull-down menu
and choose NightFromDay.CUBE. Bam! Just like that the
night has arrived. So let’s refine this to taste.
Step Two: The color lookup table often makes things
a bit too dark and a bit too blue, so let’s add another
adjustment layer to compensate. Create a new Curves
adjustment layer (the middle icon in the top row of
the Adjustments panel) above the Color Lookup layer
to fine-tune the lights, darks, and general contrast.
Definitely check out my KelbyOne class, Advanced
Photoshop: Pro Curves Techniques, if you need a
refresher on this feature.
In short, keep the shadows crushed and mysterious,
while letting those highest brights come through a bit
more, as our eyes pick up these more easily in low-light
situations (at least compared to the animals likely lurking
in the shadows!). Make sure not to overdo the effect at
this point; keep the adjustment more of a nudge in the
right direction for now.