People have been inverting the colors in photographs for as long as photography has been around. But back then, inverting the colors meant working with various chemicals and film negatives in a dark room. Today, with digital photography and the technology available, it is much easier to invert the colors. ..
In this article, we’ll look at several color inversion methods. You’ll learn to invert an image’s colors using Photoshop, online web tools, and phone apps. Read on and find out why you might want to invert the colors on a picture.
What Is Color Inversion?
In an image, color inversion can be seen as flipping the colors on the color wheel. The green will become magenta, red will become blue, and yellow will turn violet. The brightness of each pixel will also convert to its corresponding value.
The color wheel is a tool that was created to help people understand the relationships between different colors. It was first created by Isaac Newton in his experiments in optics. Since then, it has been updated to better suit the needs of scientists, designers, artists, photographers, and others. ..
A color wheel is a tool that helps people understand how different colors interact. It is made up of six circles, each representing a different color. The colors around the outside of the wheel are called primary colors, and they are the most important colors to know. The other five circles are called secondary colors, and they are used to create other colors. ..
To do the color inversion on black and white photos, you will need to use a special software called “Photo Invert.” This software will change the colors of the images so that they become dark and light. This is a great way to improve your photography skills since it can make your photos look more realistic.
Why You Might Want to Invert the Colors in Your Photos
Some people find pictures with inverted colors interesting and fun to look at. Inverted colors can also help people who see colors differently. ..
People with color blindness can also use color inversion to see colors that they would not have seen if they were using the traditional vision. This is useful because it can help people see colors that they would not be able to see with the naked eye.
Since color inversion increases contrast and detail, it might be useful for people with vision impairments. Since it darkens the light parts, it can reduce eye strain by eliminating blue light.
How to Invert Colors in a Picture by Using a PC
There are many editing tools, free or paid, that you can use to invert image color. Let’s check some of them and see how to do it on Windows and Mac.
Adobe Photoshop
Photoshop is a great tool for image editing, but inverting colors is as simple as using one keyboard shortcut. Open a picture you want in Photoshop, and press Ctrl + I on Windows or Cmd + I on Mac. The whole photo will be inverted.
If you want to make an inversion of just part of the picture, make a selection by using any of the selection tools, and then create an inversion layer.
To do this, find the Invert Layer at the bottom of the Layers panel. A drop-down menu will appear once you click on it. Choose Invert, and Photoshop will automatically add an Invert Layer on top of your original photo.
When satisfied with the results and you have achieved what you wanted, you can save your image as a jpeg or PNG file.
Microsoft Paint
Microsoft Paint is an image editor that is available for Windows 10 and 11. It has an integrated option for color inversion. Simply open an image either by going to File then Open or by pressing Ctrl + O. Now select the whole picture by pressing Ctrl + A, right-click on the image, and select Invert color. ..
Preview App
Preview is the default app for viewing images on a Mac computer. When you open an image in Preview, go to Tools and select Adjust Color. You will see two white and black point sliders on the color adjustment panel. To invert the colors, drag the white point to the left and the dark point to the right. Once you are satisfied with how your picture turned out, save it. ..
Free Software
There are many free image editing tools available, and most of them are capable of inverting the colors in a picture. Some are more advanced, like GIMP, which allows you to work with layers and invert the colors on parts of the image. Others are simpler and will invert the image with a few mouse clicks. Here are a few simple ones:
- GIMP - This is a more advanced free image editor that allows you to work with layers and inverte colors on parts of the image.
- Paint.NET - This is a simple but powerful free image editor that allows you to invert colors with just a few mouse clicks.
- PhotoImpact - This is another simple but powerful free image editor that also inverts colors with just a few mouse clicks. ..
Paint.Net
Paint.NET is a great free image editing software that has a lot of features. It makes inverting the colors very simple. All you need to do is go to Adjustments and then Invert Colors. You can also simply press Ctrl + Shift + I keyboard shortcut to use the invert color option.
IrfanView
IrfanView is a popular image editing software that has recently gained popularity for its feature called “Negative” which simulates the looks of old film color negatives. When opening a picture in IrfanView, go to the Image menu and choose “Negative” (invert image). Finally, make sure to select all channels when doing so. ..
PhotoScape
PhotoScape is a popular image editor that has many features, such as animated GIF creation, various effects, filters, and editing options. Invert colors can be done with just one click by finding an Invert Negative Effect button in the editor tab. This is where you can find other effects, too, such as sepia, grayscale, or black and white.
Free Online Editing Tools
- Adobe Photoshop - This program is used to create graphics, photos, and videos. It is a widely used program and can be downloaded for free.
- GIMP - This program is used to create graphics, photos, and videos. It can be downloaded for free.
- Inkscape - This program is used to create graphics, photos, and videos. It can be downloaded for free.
Pixlr E
Pixlr is a popular online editor that lets you invert the colors of your image with just a few clicks. Open your image, or choose one from its rich stock library. Navigate to Adjustments and find Invert almost at the bottom of the menu bar. That’s it! ..
Pixelied
Pixelied is a free online editor that lets you easily invert your picture. Either upload an image file or choose one from the stock library offered by Pixelied. Then simply click on Image Effects and Filters on the top toolbar of the editor. Go to Filters, and find Invert. ..
PineTools
PineTools is a powerful online editor that can help you edit pictures and videos. To invert colors, go to Images, find the Invert Colors tool, and click on it.
How to Invert Colors in Your Pictures on Smartphones
There are different apps that you can install on your smartphone to invert colors on your pictures quickly. Different apps work on Android and iOS. Choose the one that will suit your needs.
PhotoDirector
PhotoDirector is the best overall free photo editor for mobile phones. It can also make photo collages. As for color inversion, it will give you great control over it as you can use the color curve to change red, green, and blue (RGB) channels individually. This app works on both Android and iPhone, and it has a PC version. ..
Negative Me
Negative Me is a simple app that can be used to change a person’s photo from being positive to negative, or vice versa. The app has a built-in camera so you can take new photos without having to use another app. It is available for purchase from the Apple store. ..
Negative Image
Negative Image is a negative photo converter that works only on Android devices. It will let you convert your photos to negatives with a simple click, but it will also allow you to convert only a selection of a photo. It also has a built-in camera, but you can also upload some of your older photos. The best part of Negative Image is that you can use it to convert old film negatives into real photos. Just use your phone’s camera to snap a picture of the negatives and run it through the app.