Match a photo to a reference
Choose the image that needs a color change, then load a second image whose palette and tonal character you want to borrow. The matcher measures both files in Lab color space and remaps the source distribution toward the reference.
The operation is global. It does not identify that a shirt in one image corresponds to a shirt in another, and it does not copy local lighting, masks, or objects.
Mean color and tonal spread
Each image is summarized by the mean and standard deviation of three Lab channels. L describes lightness. a carries the green-to-red axis, and b carries the blue-to-yellow axis. The source values are centered around their own means, scaled to the reference spread, and shifted to the reference means.
This preserves the source structure while changing its global distribution. A dark pixel stays dark relative to other source pixels, but the entire tonal range can move brighter or gain more contrast when Luminance match is raised.
Separate color from luminance
Color match controls the a and b channels. Luminance match controls L. Match strength blends the complete remapped result back with the original.
Set Luminance match near 0% when two product photos already share the same exposure but one has a warmer cast. Raise it when a reference also has the shadow density and highlight range you need. Lower Match strength after the two axes are balanced if the result still feels overcorrected.
Choose the reference by content
Global statistics work best when the two images contain comparable proportions of subject and background. A close portrait matched to a wide sunset may inherit the sky’s orange mean, while a white product shot matched to a dark interior may lose the white background.
Crop or choose a reference that represents the intended grade rather than an unrelated composition. Avoid images with one huge saturated region unless that cast is the goal.
Example: a product image set
Use the approved product frame as the reference and load a later frame as the source. Start with Color match at 100%, Luminance match at 40%, and Match strength near 80%. Compare the background neutral and the product’s main color. If the background aligns but the product loses contrast, lower Luminance match before reducing the color transfer.