Painting with black on "S" channel doesn't increase saturation?

[photoken]

If I use the Painting tool (on a RGB colour image) setting its channels to "HSV" and activating only the "S" channel, painting with black does not increase the saturation. In fact, it will de-saturate the colours. Same happens if I paint with white.

Shouldn't painting with black increase the saturation?

[Gerhard Huber]

no, if you want to increase the saturation, you have to use a color with much saturation like red, green or blue. Colors with less saturation like black and white will decrease the saturation.

[photoken]

Thanks.

[Herbert123]

Ken, I also prefer to paint with greys/black/white to control saturation. See the other thread for my solution: basically a curve adjustment layer in HSV mode, with a curve which increases the the S. Then I invert the mask (alt-I), and I can start painting with white and black to increase and decrease the saturation.

To me, white represents "full" saturation, while black removes the effect.

[Gerhard Huber]

I would prefer this way, too.
I build a video for this (sorry it's in German - Bavarian):
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SAZnGx5tH3M

[photoken]

Ken, I also prefer to paint with greys/black/white to control saturation. See the other thread for my solution: basically a curve adjustment layer in HSV mode, with a curve which increases the the S. Then I invert the mask (alt-I), and I can start painting with white and black to increase and decrease the saturation.

123, I like the use of adjustment layers and their masks, too. There's great control available -- consider that altering the "S" curve using a Curves layer allows targetting specific ranges of original saturation; and using a Hue Editor layer allows targetting specific colour ranges.

There's a lot to be said for PL's flexibility to achieve this effect: In addition to using adjustment layers, painting on the image with a saturated colour on the "S" channel is simple and direct; using the Darken tool on the "S" channel is great for subtle corrections such as when removing complex lens flares.

[Herbert123]

Agreed - so much flexibility: there is a lot to be said in favour of a layer opacity which can be inverted. In the case of a saturation adjustment layer, inverting the effect is easy by just using a negative opacity.

As far as I am aware, only Photoline can do this.

[photoken]

In the case of a saturation adjustment layer, inverting the effect is easy by just using a negative opacity.

Wow! I never thought of doing that. You're right -- it's another technique that could be very useful.

[Herbert123]

In the case of a saturation adjustment layer, inverting the effect is easy by just using a negative opacity.

Wow! I never thought of doing that. You're right -- it's another technique that could be very useful.

I still remember the very first time I loaded up Photoline, and discovering the -200 +200 opacity range: I actually laughed out loud in bewilderment and joy! That, virtual layers, and layer masks behaving like regular layers made me a convert right there and then, and I could finally transition away from PS.

[maxwell]

no, if you want to increase the saturation, you have to use a color with much saturation like red, green or blue. Colors with less saturation like black and white will decrease the saturation.

Using red to increase the saturation (S channel in HSV space) and having a white background generates a tint with different colors. That's in contrast to an increase of saturation by gradation curves (S channel in HSV space). Decreasing saturation works as wanted.

Greetings

Josef