Using LAB Colour to Brighten Up Dull Photos (George Hay)

This technique is best performed on flat and drab photos and requires access to Photoshop or an equivalent. It is not going to make the colours look as they did, just make them look better.

1. Under the Image Menu choose Mode, and select Lab Colour
2. Under the Image Menu choose Apply Image. The Apply Image dialogue appears. It is set by default to Multiply.
3. Change the Blending pop-up menu to Overlay (Soft Light also gives a good result).
4. On the Channel pop-up menu it is set by default to Lab, click on the tab and try a, and b to see which one gives the best result.
5. You can also use the Opacity slider to lessen the effect.
6. When happy under Image Menu choose RGB.

The before image (on the left below) had basic adjustments in Photoshop, Levels and Curves and Unsharp Mask.
The after image (on the right below) was treated using the above steps. The settings used are shown in the settings image.