Colorize project

[Graphics23]

Originally Posted by JoaJoa

Hello,

if I understand this correctly you chose the A channel, do an Apply Image on it, then select the B channel and do a second Apply Image on it, right?

Yup, that is correct.

So if a colorization is to strong in one channel you just overwrite it again with a lesser opacity to correct a cast, e.g. an orange skin. Right?

Regards,
Joa

I would Undo a blend that was too strong and blend again or use the Fade command.

I also found that it's better to do many slight blends rather than try to hit the color I want in one shot.

Good luck,

Michael

[Mamta]

good coloring....

[sergio2263]

Originally Posted by unimatrix001

Learninglady
I am not sure if you saw this tutorial but it is a very good one on colorizing. I uses a different method to add color to the image.
http://www.worth1000.com/tutorial.asp?sid=161015

I use this method for all my colourizing, it takes a lot to get use to but if you stick with it you'll get there, it took me 2 years to get this far and I am happy so far.


helen

[sergio2263]

Originally Posted by learninlady

Ok, I tried and tried. needed something else. I did a search and found this step by step so much simpler. I do better with narratives and visuals.
http://www.michelespaintshop.com/psp...ustrations.php

although I now know better what I'm doing after completing, I wanted to display the original that I did with this tutorial.
I can see the mistakes and will more than likely go thru it all again, I have now for the first time used layers! whoo hoo!





Whew, this is a long one, so get comfortable!

I like the way michelespaintshop give detailed explaination for colourizing but her choice of colour appear more green and give a finish of copper colour skin, faces have many colours on them, perhaps if you compare the colouring with a real colour photo you will see the vast different anyway I had a quick go with her tutorial photo using the worth100 primary colour to show you example, the primary colours only use 3 layers, just a little tips study the tutorial and get use to photoshop and it's tools that's what i did and find it more easier to follow tutorials.

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3314/...43aff552_o.jpg

[MBChamberlain]

I use sort of a mix of the methods described here. Michael(the other one)'s alpha channel creation technique is similar to the one I use, but for the coloring I still use gradient maps in good old RGB.

Unimatrix, I think you are one of the few others who uses gradient maps, and I'm happy about that. When I first mentioned them here a few years ago, a lot of people didn't even know what they were. I however take a slighly different take on building them. I make all of mine from actual color data from real people's photos. They are easy to make, but somewhere I have a file that has a fairly large collection of skin tones that I've already made. I'll see if I can find it and post it here. I rebuilt my computer recently, so its a matter of finding the right backup disk.

The other tip I have, and one you'll need to know if you use my gradient file, is that I oversaturate the color about 30%. It makes it much easier to see the edges when you're fine-tuning your mask, then I just back it off. This also serves to give some room to adjust saturation to match the lighting of the image.

Here is a quickie of this one. The masks are a bit sloppy, so please ignore that.

Cheers,
Michael

[learninlady]

Originally Posted by sergio2263

I use this method for all my colourizing, it takes a lot to get use to but if you stick with it you'll get there, it took me 2 years to get this far and I am happy so far.


helen

Im sure it is, I tried several times and I have no clue as where to fine the tools etc of what they ask for. I get so far and then I have no idea of what is being asked of me.
Either I am not getting enough information or complicating it.
The tut I use didnt come out looking very good because I was more involved with following the steps than getting the colors exact. It was simple to follow but I wish there were a readers digest version as ive not tried it since due to the time it takes to get thru it. I guess I will have to give it another try. thanks.

[unimatrix001]

MB I actually started using them by accident, I was coloring a pic for a friend and after i made the masks i went to the gradient map by accident and i liked the color blends it gave me, I have been using it ever since.

[MBChamberlain]

I found them in a similar way, I was working on a particularly troublesome piece and had all ready gone through every type of color adjustment layer I could think of. Then I had a sort of "Duh" moment: since brightness affects hue and saturation, why not use brightness to automatically blend a whole bunch of colors into a realistic skin tone? So naturally gradient map was suddenly the obvious answer.

Cheers,
Michael.

[sergio2263]

Originally Posted by learninlady

Im sure it is, I tried several times and I have no clue as where to fine the tools etc of what they ask for. I get so far and then I have no idea of what is being asked of me.
Either I am not getting enough information or complicating it.
The tut I use didnt come out looking very good because I was more involved with following the steps than getting the colors exact. It was simple to follow but I wish there were a readers digest version as ive not tried it since due to the time it takes to get thru it. I guess I will have to give it another try. thanks.

I agree with you there I too was engross with following the tutorial than getting anything right but I sussed out if I learn more about photoshop itself then I would find it more easy to follow most tutorials which I embark and it took me a whole year learning photoshop though I would say i've only touch the tip of the iceberg when it come to photoshop but undertanding it's tools allow me to follow tutorials easier. Check out my gallery below to see sample of my colourizing using the worth1000 primary colours tut.

http://www.pbase.com/mstmart/stmart


helen

[learninlady]

Oh my Helen! those are wonderful. Ok, Im outta here, gotta give it another try.



A in encouragement Too!!!

[sergio2263]

Originally Posted by learninlady

Oh my Helen! those are wonderful. Ok, Im outta here, gotta give it another try.



A in encouragement Too!!!

Thanks Learninlady for your nice comments about my work, please feel free to ask any question if you are following the worth1000 tutorial I am happy to help.


helen

[learninlady]

Thanks Helen. I tried it again and I still just don't come up with all those masks and layers the way its supposed to. I have always had a hard time with masks and layers, gets too much junk on my program to keep it all organized.
The first part I follow, then it all goes bluey. I'll keep trying tho..
layers n such do seem important to everyone here.

[sergio2263]

Originally Posted by learninlady

Thanks Helen. I tried it again and I still just don't come up with all those masks and layers the way its supposed to. I have always had a hard time with masks and layers, gets too much junk on my program to keep it all organized.
The first part I follow, then it all goes bluey. I'll keep trying tho..
layers n such do seem important to everyone here.

Hi learninlady,

please excuse my late reply, I started a detailed explaination of the worth1000 tut for you and I cannot find it, you are correct your photo should go all bluey anyway I give you a little explaination to start with.

1. Copy backround layer press Ctrl J on your keyboard

2. At the bottom of your layer pallette you find a little square with a circle in the middle click on it, you'll find a white quare next to your copied background photo gthat is your layer mask

3. Next make sure you click on the main copy photo next to the white quare

4. Then click on Image, Adjustments, Hue/saturation

5. The Hue/Saturation window will open, on your right hand you'll see colorize and preview underneath click in the little square next to colorize you'll find your photo goes in one colour

6. Hue 225, Saturation 25, Lightness is optional

7. click OK

8. Now your photo should be all blue, double click where is says layer and name it Blue

9. Next change normal mode to colour

10. Next Ctrl J

11 that would give you another copy layer

12 Image, Adjusments, Hue/Saturation

13 Checked colorize you should see a little green tick just like before

14. Hue 0 Saturation 50, Lightness optional your photo shop now be all red rename red by double clicking on layer 2

15. Ctrl J

16. Image, Adjustments, Hue/Saturation

15. check colorize

16. Hue 50, Saturation 50, Lightness optional, your image should be all gold or yellow

17. Next click on the the eye of the yellow copy that would turn it off

18. Click on the Red layer and make sure you click on the white square

19. Edit, Fill, the edit window open click where it says use and look for 50% Grey click on it, Mode Normal Opacity 100

20. Your photo should now be purple


Try and see how you get on an please do not hesitate to come back if you get stuck, then I shall guide you through the next level of the tutorial.


hope this helps


helen

[learninlady]

I am sorry for being difficult and I hate to clog the thread with my ignorance, but what I meant was 'kabluey'. kaput.
I can get as far as changing the photo to the blue then it begins as you did with clicking little square n such that arent there on my program.
Let me copy your instructions down and give it another go. This time when I reach 'that' point I will make a screenshot of it.

[Nan]

Don't feel bad Kate. I'm using PSPX and I can't follow that tutorial either. She even gives instructions for PSP users but I've tried at least 10 times over the past year and get lost. I use layers for every photo I work on and can use masks for things like replacing backgrounds and such but I can't do this tutorial. I would love to finally understand because the coloring I've seen done this way is very realistic.
Nan

[learninlady]

Ah thanks Nan, your words mean a lot to me. My biggest is I stay away from masks/layers/ I get way too confused! I try and try, and I will keep on trying as Im too stubborn to give up! but ah, when Im asked to do this and there isnt anything I can find to do 'this' its frustrating, thats why I like the video as they show you exactly where to find things.
Have you tried this?
Illustrations
theres a couple little downloads but they are useful and free!

-------------------------------
This is as far as I got this time. Helen said ctrl J, did nothing.
So I 'layers' 'duplicate' instead
I can get as far as the turning blue part but not with the last instructions as the ctrl way doesnt work for me.

[chillin]

Originally Posted by learninlady

This is as far as I got this time. Helen said ctrl J, did nothing.
So I 'layers' 'duplicate' instead
I can get as far as the turning blue part but not with the last instructions as the ctrl way doesnt work for me.

Did you try this tutorial for PSP.

[sergio2263]

Originally Posted by learninlady

Ah thanks Nan, your words mean a lot to me. My biggest is I stay away from masks/layers/ I get way too confused! I try and try, and I will keep on trying as Im too stubborn to give up! but ah, when Im asked to do this and there isnt anything I can find to do 'this' its frustrating, thats why I like the video as they show you exactly where to find things.
Have you tried this?
Illustrations
theres a couple little downloads but they are useful and free!

-------------------------------
This is as far as I got this time. Helen said ctrl J, did nothing.
So I 'layers' 'duplicate' instead
I can get as far as the turning blue part but not with the last instructions as the ctrl way doesnt work for me.

Sorry Learninlady I've given you instructions for Photoshop CS4, I only ever use photoshop for all my work, I am afraid I haven't got a clue with PSP, but I can see Chillin has given you a link to follow instruction using PSP thanks Chillin for the link I shall browse around there and see what else I can find. The tutorial is written I believe from a well known person an expert on colourization of black and white photo.

I hope you get the helps of how to use layer masks, my personal opinion I still believe the worth1000 is the best tut to follow by far for colourizing.


helen

[learninlady]

Originally Posted by sergio2263

Sorry Learninlady I've given you instructions for Photoshop CS4, I only ever use photoshop for all my work, I am afraid I haven't got a clue with PSP, but I can see Chillin has given you a link to follow instruction using PSP thanks Chillin for the link I shall browse around there and see what else I can find. The tutorial is written I believe from a well known person an expert on colourization of black and white photo.

I hope you get the helps of how to use layer masks, my personal opinion I still believe the worth1000 is the best tut to follow by far for colourizing.


helen

ah thanks I thought I was going bonkers! I do appreciate the extra effort.
I'll try chillins tut.

[sergio2263]

I've had a really quick go at pixeladdict's photo but using the worth1000 tutorial instead just for comparison, sorry when i see a black and white photo i have to colourize it's just my madness lol, i still say thumbs up to the worth1000 tutorial.

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2443/...a9835690_o.jpg



helen

[learninlady]

Originally Posted by sergio2263

I've had a really quick go at pixeladdict's photo but using the worth1000 tutorial instead just for comparison, sorry when i see a black and white photo i have to colourize it's just my madness lol, i still say thumbs up to the worth1000 tutorial.

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2443/...a9835690_o.jpg



helen

Your very good at this! I know what you mean by color crazy. thats where Ive been lately, I even remove the color just to obtain a BNW!

What is your opinion on taking a photograph / turning it to infrared / and then coloring it?


Here is a at best sloppy mini tut using Micheles video. I took a very long explaination and did a readers digest version:

Image
layers promote background layer
effects
lineart whiteout- remove from BW lineart
effects
xero
porcelain
(settings)
softness:110
Strength:75
Brightness:165
RGB: all zero
right click on raster layer and duplicate
go back to raster 1
layers
new raster layer
name it 'skin'
choose color/color skin
layers
new raster layer
name it 'lips'
choose color/color
new raster layer
name it 'eye shadow'
choose color/color
repeat until all is colored
go to skin
effects
3d cutout - there you can change color / add blend / shadow
check preview on image
check fill interior color
blur 12
save preset setting
repeat each layer until you acheive the look you feel best
merge layers

[MiningArt]

I went for saucy.

[Kym Patton]

New to this forum. I like the gradient map.

[printmeister]

Here's my go at this. Done in PS CS2.
Mainly curves adjustment layers.

[Kraellin]

very nice, john. i like that.

[Trollslayer3]

Originally Posted by Graphics23

This was done using Apply Image and Calculations.

First I converted to LAB and used Calculations to create five Alpha Channels, with some minor brush work as needed.

Ok, I know this post is a couple of months old now but this bit lost me altogether. How do you use calculations to create alpha channels. Probably a dumb question, something I should already know, but hey, if ya don't ask, ya don't learn.

Thanks in advance

Brad