adding color to b/w?

[crazymommy4]

I've been looking at different styles of photography and one i would like to try is to take a black and white photo and just add some color to it. I have read the help section in the program but it doesn't do anything or it takes the color from the pallete on to the picture. Can i bring back the original color without making it all color. Is there also a name for this style?

thank you

Paula

[Windy]

Paula in most good programs you can make an image coloured. Make sure that you are not in Grayscale Mode first. The set your brush to colourising (this adds transparent colour to the image) and then select colours and paint over areas or the method that I prefer is to create a new layer and set that to colorise and then just paint normally on that with selected colours.
It used to be called Photo Tinting.
The old method http://nc.essortment.com/handcolorblack_rqnq.htm
A tute
http://www.shuttertalk.com/articles/handcolouring/index.php

[crazymommy4]

Hi Wendy, thank you for the links. Very helpful.

Paula

[Windy]

Hi Paula you will have to post some of your attempts :D It is fun.

[crazymommy4]

Hi Wendy, I have tried a few times. Still not getting what i want, but practising lots. I am posting one in the manip forum. Have you done any?

Paula

[Windy]

Hi Paula I have not done any for a while I am afraid.

[graphixgeek]

There is also a way to add color utilizing a snapshot and the history brush in Photoshop (I forget when the history brush was added, I use CS2). It doesn't tint a black and white image, it brings back the original color of a color image.

[crazymommy4]

Thank you Dante, i was checking something like this out yesterday after i read your post. Now i hope i saved the website with info, crazy day yesterday. I saw your website, interesting name. Very imaginative

Paula

[graphixgeek]

Thanks...it's still a work in progress...currently changing it over to CMS where it it easier to manage the portfolio. :)

[Windy]

OK here is the basics
#1 Original Image
http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/images/02-Aug-2006/29406-20060706-007-original.jpg

#2 Black and White Image.
The original image was desaturated and then the brightness and contrast was adjusted (I know this is a very busy image). There are many ways to change an image to Black and White, you just have to make sure that your mode is RGB colour not Greyscale for the next step.
http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/images/02-Aug-2006/29406-20060706-007-mono.jpg

#3 Image Tinting
I added a new transparent layer and changed the mode to Color. I then started tinting the areas that I wanted coloured. To get less colour depth I reduced the opacity of that layer. To get more depth in some coloured areas I added another layer and again made the mode Color and painted over some of the areas again. If you paint on the same layer it replaces the colour rather than adds to the colour.
http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/images/02-Aug-2006/29406-20060706-007-tint.jpg

This image is only partly done as a sample. If some areas in your original image are pure white then the tintiing will not add to it!

To use the History Brush.
1. Do all your colour adjustments and then take a "snapshot" of it.
2. Desaturate your image.
3. Next to the snapshot (up the top of the history pallette) click on the little square to the left of it, a paintbrush will appear.
4. Select the History Brush Tool. (I prefer a soft edge brush)
5. Reduce the opacity of that brush
6. Start painting in the areas you want to bring colour back in. The more you paint the closer it will go back to your snapshot image. (if there are areas you do not want to add colour back to then it may be a good idea to mask them)

http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/images/02-Aug-2006/29406-20060706-007-history_brush.jpg

[crazymommy4]

Thank you for posting the tut Wendy. I like what you did with the flowers, it looks great!!

take a "snapshot" of it.
Wendy What do you mean? How would i do this on the program?
It takes me awhile before it sinks in, thank you
Paula

[Windy]

Ok Paula
The first thing you do is open your image, then do your adjustments.
http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/images/04-Aug-2006/29406-original_adjusted_image.jpg
In the history pallette you will see a little thumbnail with a paint brush beside it.
Down the bottom you will see a little camera icon, click this (it is the snapshot tool)

Remember you are taking a snapshot of a state that you want to go back to. Do not change the size of your image now.

http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/images/04-Aug-2006/29406-snapshot.jpg

You will notice now in the history pallette there is another thumbnail.

You can then do more adjustments to your image.
http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/images/04-Aug-2006/29406-snapshot_and_history_brush.JPG

To start painting back to your adjusted snapshot image. you click on the little square next to your snapshot and the brush will appear there. (if you click on the words then the whole image will revert back to that snapshot state)
Select the History Brush and reduce opacity and start painting back areas. (ok I cheated a bit here I added more adjustments to accentuate what I meant:lol: )

http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/images/04-Aug-2006/29406-painted_back.jpg

The history brush will only work if you have the same number of layers and is exactly the same size as the snapshot.

I hope this explains it.

I find the snapshot tool useful for capturing states as I am working. They do not stay in history after you have closed the image. To retain that information you need to save the versions either as layers in their own right or as new documents.

[crazymommy4]

Wow!! Thank you Wendy for the detail explation.I know it took time to put this together so i appreciate it very much. This is great. I will try it on the weekend. The possiblities are endless:) .

Paula

[Windy]

Paula my pleasure. Have fun, I know I always do :D For an extra bit of fun, use the Art History Brush instead of the History Brush.

http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/images/04-Aug-2006/29406-art_history_brush.jpg