colouring gone all wrong

[paulus]

Hi,

I like playing with photoshop and I've been lurking here reading threads about colouring old b&ws.

My mum when visiting spotted a Monroe pic I was working on and now I've been given the job of doing a coloured pic of her.

Its not doing well as you can see - see looks orange!
I've tried to restore the pic and I'm not sure if that is making my colouring more difficult

Any pointers would be great
Many thanks
Paul

[paulus]

When I made such a mess of the skin I stopped working on it because of concern over restoration

[aartist]

I like what you've done.
Desaturate color some and color the lips and eyes.
Your doing fine.

[paulus]

Cheers for the tips.
I've now got a couple of versions but I'd still like to get the skin a bit better
Bit too red?

Problem is these are colour she wants for the outfit - as she remembers it!

[aartist]

Love your latest. Good job!

The colors are great.
I like the skin a bit red, just like you have it.
Show the person's heart is pumping to make those wonderful pink cheeks!

[paulus]

I'm using solid colour adjustment layers with masks but what do you do if you want to paint in black or white?

Cheers

[mistermonday]

To paint black or white try Gradient Map adj layers.
Regards, Murray

[Cupcake]

Here is another color idea.

Good work.

[paulus]

Cupcake - like the hair is that one colour or a couple?

Also wondering how do people feel about backgrounds - do you reckon they look better fully painted in or just the main part of the image?

Cheers
Paul

[Cupcake]

A couple of colors.

[Flora]

paulus,

You are really improving in you colourizing!

Since there are so many of them, you could make a Google search about colourizing techniques and experiment until you find the one, or the combination, you like most.

A few tips to remember when colourizing:

Balance Shadow/Higlights first as, most of the times, pure (or nearly pure) black just as pure (or nearly pure) white can't be coloured.....

As for Coloring, I've collected several of Vikki's excellent tips on colorizing ... whatever method you decide to use:

The following tips are based on viewing a LOT of colorings:

• Pay attention to the details. It really is that important.

• Don't choose colors that are too bright, go for more muted colors for a more natural look.

• Don't leave any areas gray, even if you know they probably were. That goes for black and white as well.

• Nothing is one solid color, unless you dye it, (or make a selection and fill it with color).

• Nothing is ever just one color

• Although you would think teeth are white, they really aren't and have a tendancy to look gray unless they are given some color.

• You might consider applying a light sepia tone to the image before you start coloring. It gives you a head start on the skin tones, and eliminates all the ghostly grays.

• Don't leave anything gray. Even gray has color in it (often from reflected surroundings). If the job looks tedious, apply a sepia tone before you start coloring.

• Desaturate some of the color in the shadows. They have a tendancy to grab the color, and it can look artificial if it's too vibrant there.

• Watch out for high intensity colors. Bright blues, pinks, and such, if not handled carefully can look garish.

[paulus]

Hi Flora,

Thanks for the info - very handy.

I'm now working on a few more images - so hopefully my skills will improve

Cheers
Paul

[Flora]

Thanks for your feedback .. and look forward to seeing more of your work!!

[paulus]

Hi Flora,

Just thought I'd post one of the other images I'm working on.

- I'm still having problems with skin tones but I'm quite pleased with it but nowhere near what I want to achieve. Its the prep work before I start painting I think which is catching me out a bit.

This is a soldier from New Zealand who we think had brief er relationship with my great great great Auntie (I think) who was his nurse in WW1

Its a cut out struck onto a paper frame from a photo firm in Stockport (UK) near a fever hospital where my aunt worked (dealing with Spanish Influenza we think).

Many thanks
Paul

[Cupcake]

Looks good Paul.

[paulus]

Thanks cupcake.

I'm finding soldiers ok to do
Its the close up portraits where they look like they've been under a sun bed for a day - that I'm struggling with

Cheers
Paul

[jeremy1986]

here is my attempt at coloring it. I might have made the hair too dark but i didnt know if she was a brunette and the photo was faded or a blond.

[paulus]

Her hair colour is spot on - looks good

Cheers
Paul

[chillin]

In colorization I would use a color matching tools to find a pleasant overall look.

[paulus]

Hi Chillin,

Which tools should I use to colour match?

Thanks
Paul

[chillin]

I like ColorSchemer Studio

[paulus]

Cheers

I'll have a look

Thanks
Paul

[Flora]

Hi,

Paul,

wow what an improvement!! I really love how you colourized the soldier!!

As for colourizing skin tones, just to confuse you a bit more, you could also try this Tutorial in my opinion, one of the best .... It takes a while to get the hang of it but the results can be incredible!

Colourizing isn't really my cup of tea, but I gave it a go mainly using the method described in the tutorial linked. I kept the colours as close as possible to those you used on the picture of your Mom thinking she might have told you ....

Nice job everybody!!!

[paulus]

Hi Flora,

Showed your pic to my mum and it got her vote from all of the above with mine coming in last!

Thanks for tutorial I'm going to have a good now with my grandads old footie team from 1952.

With the soldier I could sample colours from other photos so it wasn't that hard to do

Cheers
Paul

[Flora]

Hi Paul!

Thank you for your kind feedback and many thanks to your Mom for her vote!!!!

Originally Posted by paulus

....With the soldier I could sample colours from other photos so it wasn't that hard to do...

... still, you did a great job!!!

[paulus]

Hi Flora,

I'm struggling a bit with that technique - people look a bit smurf ish at the moment but I tried the CMYK curve technique as well with my grandads football team from 1953.

My dad is the Mascot

Not perfect I accidentally flattened the blue strip layer - whoops
Interesting to look at colours through CMYK

Cheers
Paul

[Stormy]

Well mine ended up to blurry, but here it is anyway.