Change the color of a picture

You can adjust the color intensity (saturation) and color tone (temperature) of a picture or recolor it. You can apply multiple color effects to your picture.

Original picture of pink flowers

Same picture with Color Saturation changed to 66%

Same picture with Aqua Recolor effect

Same picture with a Red Recolor effect

Change the color of a picture

1. Click the picture that you want to change.

2. Under Picture Tools, on the Format tab, in the Adjust group, click Color.

   

   If you don't see the Format or Picture Tools tabs, make sure that you've selected a picture. You may have to double-click the picture to select it and open the Format tab.

3. Do one of the following:

   • To change the saturation of a color (higher saturation is more vivid, lower saturation is more grey), click one of the common adjustments offered under Color Saturation.

   • To change the color temperature, click one of the common adjustments offered under Color Tone.

   • To apply a built-in stylized effect, such as grayscale or sepia tone, click one of the common adjustments offered under Recolor.

   Tip: You can move your mouse pointer over any of the effects to see a live preview of how your picture will look with that effect applied before you click it.

4. Optionally, you can fine-tune the intensity of your color change by clicking Picture Color Options, or you can customize your own color by clicking More Variations > More Colors.

See also

Make a picture transparent

Change the brightness, contrast, or sharpness of a picture

Apply an artistic effect to a picture