The quick how-to video below from Photography Together will prove to be a real gamechanger the next time you decide to clean your library, culling duplicates and those that didn’t meet expectations. This new instructional YouTube channel is quickly gaining attention for its beginner-friendly post-processing tutorials.

Here’s how our unnamed instructor describes this image-saving episode: “Color grading a dull photo into a perfect sunset tone is easier than you think, and you can apply this method to any image captured outdoors. Today I’ll guide you through a step-by-step technique that’s perfect for beginners and anyone who loves photo retouching.”

The process begins by expanding the canvas so that you can view both the original and a reference on the workspace. Next, select the Crop tool, drag out the frame, and arrange the two images next to one another. Then drag the reference image into Photoshop and position it to the right of the original.

This initial setup makes easier to compare and choose colors with precision. The typical approach is to go directly to Match Color, select and apply the reference, and consider the job done. The problem with this familiar approach is that it often results in images with uneven brightness and an unwanted color cast that simply isn’t realistic.

This point is painfully obvious as you view several examples clearly illustrate the dilemma. The remainder of the straightforward lesson ignores this image-killing method and demonstrates a foolproof technique that’s just as easy to accomplish while delivering significantly superior image quality for believable sunset transformations.

Once you’re done watching head over to the Photoshop Together You Tube channel where you can pick up more solid advice for editing your work.

We also recommend watching an earlier tutorial we featured with an Australian post-processing expert who discusses a handful of popular Lightroom sliders that you’re probably using wrong, with straightforward solutions so that the images you edit appear natural and intentional.