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Photography Question 

Michael E. Quintana 		 

Adding Color To B&W Shots


What is the best way to add color to select items in a B&W Digital Photo??


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July 31, 2005

 

Chauncey R. Huffman 		 
 
  Shirt Change
Shirt Change
No exposure info. Color changed in Photoshop.

Chauncey R. Huffman

  
 
There are a few ways to do it. If you have Photoshop, or any other mid t high level image editing program you can just choose a selection tool (lasso, polygonal lasso, etc.) Then create a path around the item that you want to bring color to. If your image is a true greyscale image then you will need to go to Image-mode-CMYK(if you're printing it, RGB if it's just for screen,) then once the item is selected, you can go to image-adjustments-hue/saturation. Then you can manipulate the hue and saturation to give the image color (hue) and change the intensity (saturation.)
However, if you don't have any image editing programs you can do it by hand. Simply use a very fine piece of sandpaper and lightly scrape away the emulsion of the items that you want to change the color of. Then simply use water color paint to fill in the areas. You will need to make sure that when you are removing the emulsion that you do it very lightly or else you will damage the picture, you just want to take that top coat off so that the paint will stick.


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July 31, 2005

 
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