Hi all,

Here's another quick colourisation I did today. If anyone would like to offer any comments, they would be very welcome.

I found this image much harder to gain a realistic effect with, despite there being less areas in need of colour.

Thanks,
Nick

A few problems I see:
His hair, eyes, and face, look to be the same color.
His teeth and gums aren't colored (gray gums?).

You need more variations in your colors.
As an exercise, load a color image, and use the color picker to select different areas of the face. You'll see that, although they are close in color, there are subtle variations. That's what makes the difference.

Also, perhaps a "quick" colorization won't lend the results you are after.

Hello,

Vikki is right about adding more color. Sometimes in certain pictures you get some very nice effects if you limit the colors you use but with faces, you almost always need to add some blush at least to to cheeks and lips. Likewise hair---seldom is anyone's hair really one flat color, there are highlights and variations.

Starting with your color version, what I did here was add a layer set to color, choose a pink shade, set a soft edge brush to about 30 for both opacity and flow and add blush to the cheeks, chin, neck and forehead. Then I adjusted the layer opacity until it looked right. Did a similar thing with lips. Used a third layer to add some color variation to the hair. Finally I colored the tie a bit brighter, again to vary the number of overall colors. This still qualifies for fast coloring, it took me about 5 minutes.

Bill

Thank you both for your imput. Much appreciated.

I have tried to addess all of the issues.

It's amazing how differently an image can look after a night's sleep. I always seem to find what looked fine the night before, now looks flat and lifeless....

Oh well, here's another attempt. What do you think?

Thanks,

Nick

You'll probably think I'm too critical, but I've spent a good deal of time coloring, and I have to call it as I see it.
but it appears that you've only increased the color saturation.
The teeth and gums are still gray, and the eye color is reddish brown.

I appreciate constructive critisism.

Although It may not seem like it, I have added variations of red, yellow, and blue to the face. I am mindfull of not simply using the saturate tool, not least because I think over-saturated photographs look rubbish.

I would like to see an example of some 'well coloured' eyes. I am struggling somewhat.

Thank You for your imput.

Nick

Here are some examples to look at. Also, open any actual color image and zoom in on the eyes. You should be able to get a reference from that.
http://www.pbase.com/vhansen/image/40183877
http://www.pbase.com/vhansen/image/29897049
http://www.pbase.com/vhansen/image/40182981

Nick,

I really can't add anything to what Vikki said. Her suggested sample images are great examples---far better than I usually manage.

I think changing the eyes will help a lot. I take it you know this person and know the eye color you are going for? Sampling a more recent color picture for the shade might help if one is available. You might try the same thing for skin tones.

Bill

Thank you both again for your help.

Vikki, your colourisations are absoloutly phenomonel! I feel a bit silly having not followed your link sooner.

I am happy to take as much critisism as can be dealt by someone with your obvious talents.

Also, I am now tending to agree that perhaps a 'quick colourisation' can never really be a good colourisation. Apologies for my ignorance in seeming to 'slight' such an in-depth area of resotration. My only defence is that I'm new to this lark.

I have now spent many hours touching, retouching, playing, shouting, screaming etc. with this image and still have nothing to offer that would provoke any new and/or helpfull comments.

However, I'm not one to give up, so bear with me and I'm sure I'll repost with an attachment again (relatively) soon!

Thanks again, both of you,

Nick

Here are some examples to look at. Also, open any actual color image and zoom in on the eyes. You should be able to get a reference from that.
http://www.pbase.com/vhansen/image/40183877
http://www.pbase.com/vhansen/image/29897049
http://www.pbase.com/vhansen/image/40182981

I absolutely love your gallery, Vikki!! Some are born with an inherant skill for such and you certainly have it!

Maureen

i concur with maureen, vikki, those are marvelous!

Craig

i concur with maureen, vikki, those are marvelous!

Craig

Oh, Craig, I'm gonna try my darndest to become that marvellous!! :wink:

Maureen

get in line :)

Craig

Thanks everyone!
Blaart, give yourself some practice time to get the hang of this. After all, this is only your second one. Also, you've got a difficult image to work with. Coloring men is more difficult (in my opinion).
Attention to detail is what makes these colorings work. Little things can make it or break it. Important features such as the eyes, mouth, nose, and hair, really need the attention. You'll find the rest of it looks so much better, once you have those parts right.

Had some time to do some coloring.
I'm showing this side by side, so you can see the differences. Notice the teeth and gums.