SUMMARY
Gareth Evans uses Lightroom Classic to edit a sunset photo by treating the sky and water as separate zones, rather than applying a single white balance slider. He employs masks and tone curves to cool the water, warm the middle sky, and reintroduce cooler tones at the top, creating a split-tone effect. This zone-by-zone approach, akin to darkroom dodging and burning, offers more control than global adjustments. The techniques, including tone curve channel edits, are transferable to other editing software and can be applied to various subjects beyond landscapes.
TAKEAWAYS
Split-tone editing treats distinct image zones separately for richer color.
Masking and tone curves offer more control than global white balance sliders.
This technique can be applied to landscapes, portraits, and interiors.
Tone curve channel edits are key to achieving layered color effects.