Selective Colouring

[:: Jon ::]

I've found this to be the quickest way in order to get this effect.

ALL PHOTOS WILL ENLARGE IF CLICKED


Pic 1::

Make a copy of the original image by right clicking it within the layers panel (upper right of screen)



Pic 2::

Then go to > EDIT > IMAGE ADJUSTMENTS > HUE/SATURATION

Make the saturation = 0 (this will give it the B&W look)

Now with the top layer (B&W one) selected within the layers panel start deleting the parts that you WANT in colour




Pic 3::

I carried on and did the yellow part also to give the car something to bounce off.





If you make a mistake and can't CTL Z then just delete the layer and make a new copy.

Shows how quick this is. as this tutorial was just done while creating other things

Job done

[DerekH]

Thanks Jon thats a great help

[Fabio]

thanks for the tip Jon

i find it hard getting the edges right , its never 100% and the can look very square-ish at times

[:: Jon ::]

Quote: Originally Posted by Fabio (original)

thanks for the tip Jon

i find it hard getting the edges right , its never 100% and the can look very square-ish at times

zoom into the image around 300% and use a small brush... gives you a tighter image to play around with.

[Fabio]

Quote: Originally Posted by Jonmorgan (original)

zoom into the image around 300% and use a small brush... gives you a tighter image to play around with.

still a bit shaky , think its my bluetooth mouse

[:: Jon ::]

Quote: Originally Posted by Fabio (original)

still a bit shaky , think its my bluetooth mouse

Show us the original pic and i'll see what i can do with it..

[humph]

As Jon says you need a high res picture that can be viewed at a decent magnification. You then need to set the hardness on the eraser to match the outline of the object you are putting colour back into (not too sharp, not to fuzzy) so that the effect looks clean.

Same effect can be reached using the history brush, again using a suitable brush hardness. Advantage of the history brush is that if your hand slips you can easliy undo it without deleting the whole layer and all the work you've done.

1) Make a duplicate layer and desaturate it as per Jon's post above (call it Desaturated for simplicity). Shortcut to desaturate in photoshop is ctrl+shift+U
2) Enlarge the image to a size where you think you can work with it (200-300%)
3) Select the history brush from the tools pallet. (In photoshop it's right click on the brush with curly arrow icon in the tools pallet, the drop down menu will give you history and art history brush)
4) Select your brush size dependant on your image.
5) Select your brush hardness. (Try a few blobs in the centre of the obkect to be coloured until you find one that looks similar to the edge of the object to be coloured)
6) Paint away. **Ensuring that the "Desaturated" layer is selected.

NB You can move the image around the screen by holding the space bar down and dragging the image around with the mouse.

To correct mistakes:

7) Open the history tab if you haven't got it up already. (It's under the window drop down menu)
8) Select a history itemfrom before the mistake was made by clicking the cursor in the little grey square next to it.
9) Now paint over the error you made, it should return to back and white.
10) Once you've finished correcting you can reselect the original image in the history tab, (in colour at the top of the tab), and carry on painting colour back in.

11) When effect is complete flatten the image and save.

Hope that was simple enough. Sorry if not. Can't put screen pics up because my "Print Screen" isn't working.

[:: Jon ::]

.:: CLICK TO ENLARGE ::.

[rec]

you can also be a bit cheeky and use the wand tools to select specific areas. that's what i do :P

[humph]

Post 7 edited to include clearer instructions

[Paul]

The wands, or using the pen tool to select can give very accurate results for this sort of thing too.

[rec]

i normally use the wands first, then magnetic lasso, it and then manually add/delete using the straight line lasso.

that's how i did that pink Evo pic ;]

[Fabio]

Quote: Originally Posted by Jonmorgan (original)

.:: CLICK TO ENLARGE ::.

Thanks Jon , just saw your mail

[MaTTy_P]

Two techniques to add to this.

Firsty whilst 'Deleting' the top layer, you may find it easier to change it to a brighter colour (ie bright orange or a colour that stands out from your car. This will make it easier to spot areas on your car you have not yet Erased.

Also, whilst using the rubber tool, you can click once (say in the corner of the windscreen) and then hold down SHIFT and click elsewhere. This will then draw a line between the first click and second click - essentially erasing everything in a straight line between the two points.

[MaTTy_P]

Also...try experimenting with other colours and changing the Hue/Brightness etc of the layers below the 'Grey' layer.

Heres a quick 'Pop Art' Pic.