Colorizing an Image Tutorial
written in PS CS3 but should be translatable to any forms of PS.
going from
to
i'll be using this picture of some random model:
[if your picture is B&W already then obviously you don't have to desaturate it (: ]
[click thumbnails for bigger pictures]
desaturate (Shift Ctrl U)
so now that we have our black&white picture, we can start coloring!
Remember that all pictures are different so you should experiment with different colors and blend modes (:
I started with the skin. i used the color b28367 and colored over her skin with a soft brush.
you can always erase it if you go out of line or something.
and you can adjust the color if it doesn't really fit. (use Image>Adjustments>Brightness/Contrast)
so set the layer to Softlight 100%. Duplicate the layer.
now for the rest of the face.
for the lips, i used the color ff1313 and went over her lips.
set the layer to Softlight 100%. that's for red lips.
if you want pink, just choose a dark pink and also set to Softlight.
once again, you can adjust using the Brightness/Contrast settings.
next for the eyeballs. i followed the original pic for light blueish eyes.
i used a turquoise color 0a6578 and brushed over her eyes.
set the layer to Color 100%.(softlight gives you a darker color)
her eyebrows still looked desaturated so i went over them in a brown 623c30.
i set it to Softlight 48% so it wouldn't look too thick.
around her eyes also looked like it needed some eyeshadow so i colored around her eyes in the color ffafdf.
you can choose any color you want for this. just experiment (:
i set mine to Softlight 34%.
now her face is complete:
now for her hair, she looks like some old lady :P
so i chose a brownish color similar to the original picture 875434.
if you want a blonde color you could try using a orangish color.
for black obviously its just black.
for a redhead you could try a dark red.
yeah, so set that layer at Softlight 100%.
also for her clothes. there's this spot that's like grey.
so i just brushed on some cyan color and set at Softlight 100%.
since all clothings are different, i can't help you there.
just remember that the color you choose should be darker than the color you want it to appear as.
that's when your setting at Softlight.
of course you could also try other blend modes.
So looks like we're done but there are still some optional stuff:
the face looked rather yellow.
so i duplicated my base, the desaturated one, and dragged it to the top.
i set it to Overlay 17%. but depending on your picture, change the opacity.
not much difference but now it looks less yellowish.
this step is completely optional:
i thought it was still rather yellow.
so i added a selective color layer.
[after doing red & yellow it'll probably look horrible but keep going! edit stuff only after typing in these values]
Red: -22 | +51 | +15 | -32
Yellow: -100 | +17 | +100 | +14
Neutrals: +37 | +8 | -30 | -6
one more thing i added last:
you know in the middle of your cheek its normally like rosy and stuff?
so use a soft brush and go to your first layer (the skin one).
i used the color d67351 and went over the middle part of her cheek.
so it looked more realistic.
and voila, your done!
Hope you enjoyed the tutorial and please post comments and results (:
please visit my graphic journal: mysweetsolstice.livejournal.com
thanks for viewing!
going from
to
i'll be using this picture of some random model:
[if your picture is B&W already then obviously you don't have to desaturate it (: ]
[click thumbnails for bigger pictures]
desaturate (Shift Ctrl U)
so now that we have our black&white picture, we can start coloring!
Remember that all pictures are different so you should experiment with different colors and blend modes (:
I started with the skin. i used the color b28367 and colored over her skin with a soft brush.
you can always erase it if you go out of line or something.
and you can adjust the color if it doesn't really fit. (use Image>Adjustments>Brightness/Contrast)
so set the layer to Softlight 100%. Duplicate the layer.
now for the rest of the face.
for the lips, i used the color ff1313 and went over her lips.
set the layer to Softlight 100%. that's for red lips.
if you want pink, just choose a dark pink and also set to Softlight.
once again, you can adjust using the Brightness/Contrast settings.
next for the eyeballs. i followed the original pic for light blueish eyes.
i used a turquoise color 0a6578 and brushed over her eyes.
set the layer to Color 100%.(softlight gives you a darker color)
her eyebrows still looked desaturated so i went over them in a brown 623c30.
i set it to Softlight 48% so it wouldn't look too thick.
around her eyes also looked like it needed some eyeshadow so i colored around her eyes in the color ffafdf.
you can choose any color you want for this. just experiment (:
i set mine to Softlight 34%.
now her face is complete:
now for her hair, she looks like some old lady :P
so i chose a brownish color similar to the original picture 875434.
if you want a blonde color you could try using a orangish color.
for black obviously its just black.
for a redhead you could try a dark red.
yeah, so set that layer at Softlight 100%.
also for her clothes. there's this spot that's like grey.
so i just brushed on some cyan color and set at Softlight 100%.
since all clothings are different, i can't help you there.
just remember that the color you choose should be darker than the color you want it to appear as.
that's when your setting at Softlight.
of course you could also try other blend modes.
So looks like we're done but there are still some optional stuff:
the face looked rather yellow.
so i duplicated my base, the desaturated one, and dragged it to the top.
i set it to Overlay 17%. but depending on your picture, change the opacity.
not much difference but now it looks less yellowish.
this step is completely optional:
i thought it was still rather yellow.
so i added a selective color layer.
[after doing red & yellow it'll probably look horrible but keep going! edit stuff only after typing in these values]
Red: -22 | +51 | +15 | -32
Yellow: -100 | +17 | +100 | +14
Neutrals: +37 | +8 | -30 | -6
one more thing i added last:
you know in the middle of your cheek its normally like rosy and stuff?
so use a soft brush and go to your first layer (the skin one).
i used the color d67351 and went over the middle part of her cheek.
so it looked more realistic.
and voila, your done!
Hope you enjoyed the tutorial and please post comments and results (:
please visit my graphic journal: mysweetsolstice.livejournal.com
thanks for viewing!