# Color Change Photoshop

> Recolor existing product images in Photoshop while preserving protected parts, geometry, lighting, and material details. Use when Codex needs to change a product or component color in JPG/PNG images, especially Amazon listing images such as desk frames, furniture, hardware, or accessories where some areas must stay unchanged, like controllers, motors, screws, chrome parts, or logos.

- Skill: `chengchenox-debug/color-change-photoshop` (Agent Skill, multi-file: 5 files)
- Install (CLI): `npx skillmds@latest add chengchenox-debug/color-change-photoshop`
- Raw SKILL.md: https://api.skillmd.com/api/skills/chengchenox-debug/color-change-photoshop/raw
- Safety review: pending
- Works with: Claude Code, Claude.ai, OpenAI Codex
- Category: Web & Frontend
- Author: chengchenox-debug (https://skillmd.com/u/chengchenox-debug)
- Updated: 2026-09-22
- Page: https://skillmd.com/skills/chengchenox-debug/color-change-photoshop

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# Color Change Photoshop

Use this skill to standardize image recolor requests before editing and to keep repeated product-color changes consistent.

Read [references/intake-template.md](./references/intake-template.md) before asking the user for missing details. Use the template's fields and wording whenever possible.

## Workflow

1. Identify the recolor target.
2. Identify protected parts that must not change.
3. Lock the target finish and reference color.
4. Choose the execution path:
   - Use AI image editing when the user wants you to directly edit a provided image.
   - Use Photoshop masking workflow when the user wants a repeatable manual or semi-automatic process.
5. Produce or request a case card using the template.
6. Verify the result against the checklist in [references/quality-checklist.md](./references/quality-checklist.md).

## Input Contract

Collect these fields before editing:

- `source_image`: local file or attachment
- `target_object`: the part that changes color
- `target_color`: reference image, hex value, or short color description
- `protected_parts`: components that must stay unchanged
- `finish`: matte, satin, glossy, powder coat, metallic, etc.
- `invariants`: composition, angle, shadows, labels, UI, hardware details
- `output_notes`: anything Amazon-specific, such as "main image white background"

If a user only says "change it to white," ask or infer one of these:

- reference image white
- hex or RGB white
- descriptive white such as cool white, warm white, neutral white

## Editing Rules

- Change only the named target object.
- Keep protected parts completely unchanged.
- Preserve product geometry, perspective, crop, shadows, and lighting.
- Preserve mixed materials correctly: screws stay metallic, chrome rods stay chrome, screens stay lit, plastic housings stay plastic.
- Avoid repainting logos, labels, displays, or motor housings unless explicitly requested.
- Match finish as well as hue. A cool powder-coated white is different from a glossy white.
- If protected parts touch the recolor target, treat that seam as high risk and mention it in the result.

## Photoshop Path

Use this path when building a repeatable local workflow:

1. Open the source image.
2. Duplicate the image into a working file.
3. Create a target mask for the recolor object only.
4. Subtract protected parts from the mask.
5. Apply recolor using `Color`, `Hue/Saturation`, `Selective Color`, or painted fill layers depending on the finish.
6. Check seams around protected parts and metallic hardware.
7. Export JPG for delivery and PSD for re-editing.

Use the workspace Photoshop helper at [scripts/basic-edit-tool.jsx](../../../scripts/basic-edit-tool.jsx) for quick masked recolor when the user already has a selection.

## AI Edit Path

Use this path when the user gives an image and wants you to directly edit it:

1. Restate the target object and protected parts.
2. Include the color reference method.
3. Explicitly say "change only" and "keep unchanged" for protected parts.
4. Preserve original composition and lighting.
5. After editing, compare against the quality checklist.

## Examples

- "Change the desk frame to cool white, but keep the motor housing and controller black."
- "Turn the chair fabric beige, but keep the metal legs gold and the logo tag unchanged."
- "Make the cabinet body walnut brown, preserve handles, hinges, and countertop exactly."

## Resources (optional)

### scripts/
- `scripts/build_case_card.py`: convert a loose recolor request into a standard markdown case card.

### references/
- `references/intake-template.md`: exact fields to request from the user.
- `references/quality-checklist.md`: final review checklist for recolor work.