Colour Match Objects in Photoshop Using Match Color
When you need one object to take on the exact colour of another, Photoshop’s Match Color makes it fast and accurate. In this tutorial, you’ll select a precise source colour region, select your target object, and use Match Color to transfer the hue. You’ll then blend the result with Hue mode and mask out any areas you don’t want affected.
Step-by-step instructions
Select the source colour area
Open both the source image (with the desired colour) and the target image in Photoshop.
Choose the Marquee Tool (M).
Drag a selection around the exact colour area you want to sample in the source image (e.g., the blue on the fish).
Leave this selection active; it will be used by Match Color.
Select the target object by colour
Switch to the target image document (e.g., the car).
Go to Select → Color Range…
Click with the Eyedropper on the object’s colour; use the + Eyedropper to add similar areas. Drag within the object to include all relevant tones.
Adjust Fuzziness down if the selection spreads too far, then click OK.
Refine the selection and isolate it on a new layer
Choose the Quick Selection Tool (W) to clean edges.
Hold Alt (Windows) or Option (Mac) and paint to subtract areas you don’t want (e.g., brakes, lights).
Press Ctrl+J (Windows) or Cmd+J (Mac) to copy the selection to a new layer.
Match the colour from the source image
With the new layer active, go to Image → Adjustments → Match Color…
Set Source to the source document (e.g., the fish image).
Enable Use Selection in Source to Calculate Colors to sample only your marquee selection.
Optionally fine‑tune Luminance and Color Intensity; click OK.
Blend the hue only
In the Layers panel, change the new layer’s Blend Mode to Hue.
Review the result—the hue should match while preserving original brightness and texture.
Mask out unwanted areas
Click Add Layer Mask on the colour-matched layer (Layer → Layer Mask → Reveal All).
Press D to reset colours, then X to set black as the foreground.
Choose the Brush Tool (B), use a soft brush, and paint black on the mask to restore the original colour where needed (e.g., brake calipers, lights).
Paint white on the mask to re-apply the matched hue if you remove too much.
