A method of editing color characteristics of an electronic image includes: a) receiving an original electronic image at a color editing subsystem; b) analyzing the original electronic image to identify original color characteristics and to identify a recommended set of color editing options, the recommended set of color editing options being less than a complete set of color editing options provided by the color editing subsystem; c) presenting the recommended set to a user via a user interface device; d) receiving a color editing instruction from the user interface device in response to the user selecting a corresponding color editing option from the recommended set; and e) adjusting the original color characteristics to form an adjusted electronic image having adjusted color characteristics based at least in part on the color editing instruction. An apparatus for editing color characteristics of an electronic image is also provided.