Colorization

[Ed Fisher]

Hi folks
I haven't seen anything new on colorization for a while, so I thought I'd post an example of my own and see if anyone would like to comment on it.
Ed

[Swampy]

Hi, Ed. Welcome to Retouch Pro. Well from your photo, it's hard to tell just what you colorized without seeing the "before" version.

[Ed Fisher]

Hi Swampy
Thanks for that. If it's hard to tell which bits, I guess that's a good sign! Especially as I colorized all of it. From greyscale. I'd put the 'before' on, but it looks pretty much like the 'after' desaturated so it wouldn't be much help.
Ed

[Swampy]

Well, in that case, Ed, that is a wonderful job. Colors are very crisp and clean. Excellent job.

[skydog]

I agree with Swamp...it would be nice to see what you had in the first place to see the difference. I've seen some photographers to get such color with just camera and light. I assume from your note that you retouched this photo..if so, what exactly did you do. Posting is nice, but the majority on this site would also like to know how you got there..thanks

[Ed Fisher]

Hi skydog
Thanks for your interest. Here's another colorization, and I'll post the 'before' in a minute.
I did this in twenty minutes, with the monitor set to monochrome for the first fifteen.
I use a new technique, of my own invention, and I will be more than happy to share it, but I'd like to get a bit of feedback on some examples first so that I get it as good as possible before I burden Photoshoppers with yet another weird colorization method!
Ed

[Ed Fisher]

Here's the original.

[Swampy]

Ed, That is just wonderful! I would be interested in a tutorial! :-)

BTW, You can post up to 5 attachments per message... After uploading the first image, go back to the upload dialog and upload another image.

[Dave.Cox]

impressive!

[skydog]

Now I understand...originally I thought you had color and just made the color better...I'd also like to know how you did this...

[hawkeye60]

Here is my version, I tried to duplicate what you did and I think I got pretty close. All except where the hairline and the face meet, as you can see.

I could have spent more time at it, but I thought perhaps you have a special method for that part? I'd be curious to know, and appreciate your sharing it.

[0lBaldy]

I want 2 know 2 !

[xnoiz]

This is my try.

[skydog]

Ed...you were going to show us what you do...

[unimatrix001]

tried to match your image.

[sergio2263]

Hi Ed,

Here is my colourized version of the photo. About colourizing i feel people to tend shy away from it and yes it is not always mentioned it's a very hard task and very hard to achieve as i have found out myself but i do love colouring black and white photos especially vintage one.


helen

[StormFX]

Quick try from me.

[Ed Fisher]

Hi folks
Dorothea Lange's wonderful 'Migrant Mother', from the Library of Congress website. I worked with the over-sharpened 821 x 1024 pixel jpeg, but there is the lovely 55 MB tiff scan there too if you want a broader canvas. Here are scaled-down copies of the 'before' and 'after'.
There are more examples @ www.edcolor.com - all done using the EdColor Colorization Method, as described in the Ed's Color Method pdf. The Ed's Sat Mask Curve upon which the method depends can be saved out of the Ed's Sat Mask Curve psd.
This is all about thinking in HSB and working in LAB, so you might want to set your Info Palette Options accordingly. If you're the forgetful type, like me, tape this note above your screen: 'If it's not going well, you're not in LAB!'
Ed

*I've updated the pdf 'tutorial', correcting a serious mistake in the step-by-step procedure (Sat -100, not 0% - apologies to anyone who wasted time trying to work out what was wrong), clarifying a few other points and adding a bit about incorporating Gradient Maps - if you downloaded it before 27/02/08, please upgrade!*

[myfairies]

Ed Fisher, your colors look so natural..... I'm looking forward to reading and trying your method!!!!

[byRo]

I do have some comments to make - but it's late now.

(Bookmark)

Rô

[sergio2263]

Originally Posted by Ed Fisher

Hi folks
Dorothea Lange's wonderful 'Migrant Mother', from the Library of Congress website. I worked with the over-sharpened 821 x 1024 pixel jpeg, but there is the lovely 55 MB tiff scan there too if you want a broader canvas. Here are scaled-down copies of the 'before' and 'after'.
There are more examples @ www.edcolor.com - all done using the EdColor Colorization Method, as described in the Ed's Color Method pdf. The Ed's Sat Mask Curve upon which the method depends can be saved out of the Ed's Sat Mask Curve psd.
This is all about thinking in HSB and working in LAB, so you might want to set your Info Palette Options accordingly. If you're the forgetful type, like me, tape this note above your screen: 'If it's not going well, you're not in LAB!'
Ed

Hi Ed,

Thanks for sharing your colorizing method. I have visited your website and see your work they are very nice colourings, one thing I've notice I have colourized the Migrant mother as well but in yours i've notice near the baby's head there is a finger and thumb I haven't notice that in my image of the migrant mother perhaps my eyes are not as good as yours, anyway pls see the link below of my colourized version of the migrant mother.

http://www.pbase.com/mstmart/image/88639128/large

thanks

regards


helen

[Swampy]

Ed, thank you so much for that "tutorial". I never have thought of LAB as a coloring mode.

[soulsinsepia]

I am a newbie but am interested in colorizing photos. Have done a bit of it. I tried Ed's method but I am sort of lost, well, actually really lost. I am using CS3, maybe that is the problem. Hue/Saturation adjustment layer comes with a mask automatically. If I follow the instructions for ctrl+Shift etc., I get a selection of the image and if I go to the add layer mask at that point, I get a vector mask. Also, how do you move the Saturation Mask Curve to the mask on the image layer?
Thank you
Karen

[sergio2263]

Originally Posted by soulsinsepia

I am a newbie but am interested in colorizing photos. Have done a bit of it. I tried Ed's method but I am sort of lost, well, actually really lost. I am using CS3, maybe that is the problem. Hue/Saturation adjustment layer comes with a mask automatically. If I follow the instructions for ctrl+Shift etc., I get a selection of the image and if I go to the add layer mask at that point, I get a vector mask. Also, how do you move the Saturation Mask Curve to the mask on the image layer?
Thank you
Karen

Hi Karen,

If you are a newbie with photoshop the best thing to do is to familiarize yourself with layer masks, photoshop can be very tricky but layer masks is very useful too, browse around the board there are good tutorials about layer masks here and you will achieve what you want and soon be able to colourize black and white images. I am pretty new myself with photoshop and getting myself familiarize little by little.


helen


www.pbase.com/mstmart

[OnAir]

Just delete default mask dragging it to small trash icon in layers palette and click 'add new mask' button to add your selection to your mask.

[Ed Fisher]

Hi folks
Helen - I think your Mother colorization is beautiful. Luminous.
OnAir - Thanks: I didn't explain that bit very well, did I? Hope I do better with this one:
Karen - Open Ed's Sat Mask Curve psd - open the Curve adjustment layer, save the curve to your hard drive. When you get to the point where you've just created the Hue/Sat adjustment layer (Sat 0%) and added the luminosity mask as OnAir clarified, then, checking that the mask is selected: Image > Adjust > Curves, load the curve and apply it. Before, the mask should look like a normal greyscale - after, it should look solarized.
Here's a titchy unflattened example.
Ed

[grimby]

Just to say thanks to Ed and all contributors for sharing their knowledge, I am constantly amazed by their skills.......

[soulsinsepia]

Thank you, Ed. I appreciate the additional info. I am definitely going to try it. I love colorization. Some day I will post something I have done or try out a challenge. Everyone here is so talented and generous! Their talent can sometimes be intimidating but I keep studying, reading and practicing

Karen

[soulsinsepia]

Thank you, Ed, for your additional help and I think I am closer but still confused on a key point. I would appreciate just a bit more help

Step 2 says to add a hue/sat layer set to 0, however, the sample you uploaded has the sat set at -100

I understand now that I have to delete the default mask that opens with hue/sat adjustment layer.

By adding a luminance mask, are you getting a selection of marching ants when you do Ctl+Shift+Alt+~ and then that gets added to the layer mask when you “add layer mask”?

I have Ed’s Sat Mask Curve. psd saved and it along with the image I am going to colorize are open. Here is where I am confused. It says check to make sure the mask is selected. Which mask, Ed’s mask or the luminance mask on the colorize image? I have tried both and gone under image>adjustments>curve and there is no option to load

I try dragging Ed’s layer to the image to be colored image and it gets the solarized effect, however, I then have a curves layer sitting above hue/sat layer with the luminance mask.

I can see that somehow I have to get Ed’s Sat Mask Curve applied to the luminance mask on the hue/sat layer of the image that I want to color and I cannot figure out how to do that as I see no options for loading a mask and applying it.

I am getting close but not there yet.

Thank you
Karen

[albatrosss]

Tried, but could not open, Ed's file. All I get is an image with the title and no place to open.

What am I doing incorrectly?

Thanks