Reduce colors in Photoshop

[The Predator]

Hi Everyone.

I´m new at this forum and I work as an artist and have done so since 1995. However I would need some advice and help with a thing.
How can I reduce colors in photoshop and then change the different colors?
I would appreciate all tips.
All the best
the Predator

[Anid Maro]

Hrm... interesting question.

I don't currently have Photoshop at the moment, so I can't tinker to find an answer directly. However going off of memory you should be able to do this with the GIF file format.

Converting your file to GIF format typically involves choosing a certain color depth and then generating a palette for that particular image. From there I think altering the colors in the palette would also change the corresponding color in the image.

There may be a more elegant solution than that, but I can't recall it. Hopefully someone with a few more clues than I can chip in.

A possibly less helpful suggestion is that when you create an image to build it up like an animation cel. That is to have your color flats each on a different layer. But from your original post, it seems like you're working with a pre-existing image so that wouldn't help at all.

Edit: Oh, and welcome to ConceptArt! :)

[stoph]

i think what you are referring to is Posterizing. generally in Photoshop, it should be in Image > Adjustments > Posterize. you then choose the number of colours you wish to have with the slider, or by entering a number. if you wish to change the hue, saturation, lightness, or all of the above of the resulting colours, go to Image > Adjustments > Hue/Saturation, and play around with the sliders there. if you want to effect only one colour at a time, use the Wand Tool to select that particular colour and use the Hue/Saturation menu, or if you want it to be a little more subtle, use the Colour Balance menu (Image > Adjustments > Colour Balance). basically the best way to learn these things is to spend an afternoon or two just messing about and playing with different settings and options. often you'll be surprised by the outcome. failing that, there's always the Help menu's ;)

[The Predator]

Hi Anid Maro and stoph.
thanks for your answers and tips. I will check these methods out and i´m sure it will help me with my little project here.
hope I can help you guys with something in the future.
this is a great forum. I look forward to spend some time here.
Take care and thanks once again.
All the best
The predator

[Anid Maro]

i think what you are referring to is Posterizing...

Yes! Thank you, I knew there had to be a better way but I couldn't recall, this is what you're looking for Predator. :)