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Old Photographs, Recognition, Handwriting Deciphering => Free Photo Restoration & Date Old Photographs => Photograph Resources, Tips, Tutorials => Topic started by: kizmiaz on Tuesday 06 September 05 00:23 BST (UK)
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Right, as I've been asked to do a tutorial on colourising (sorry to any Americans out there, but that's how I am going to spell it, except when talking about the Photoshop commands), here goes.
Apologies for long-windedness, repetition and obviousness. (This is my first time using Photoshop so the obviousness is for my benefit. I'm finding my way around the program as I go, so hope this works out!)
Start with a clean, repaired picture. Its far easier to repair a b&w or sepia picture and then colourise it than to repair a colour picture.
Open the picture and make sure it is in RGB mode (Image -> Mode -> RGB Color)
Next we need to create a duplicate layer to colourise.
Go to Layer -> Duplicate Layer. It doesn't matter what its called. Press OK. This will create a new layer (called Background copy in the Layers toolbox). This will be the "skin" layer.
To colourise it, go to Image -> Adjustments -> Hue/Saturation, or press CTRL and U. Make sure "colorised" box is ticked. (For the skin tone in this, I used Hue = 22, Saturation = 19, Lightness = 0). This will colour then entire layer.
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Now use the Lasso tool to select an area close to but not inside the face area. It doesn't matter how rough this bit is as long as you don't go too near the face. Go to Select -> Inverse and hit the Delete key. This should leave a roughly face-shaped and coloured area. Right-click and choose Deselect.
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Now use the Eraser tool to carefully remove all the rest of the unwanted area around the face. It is probably worth adjusting the size and hardness in the Brush drop-down box. This will soften the edge slightly and make the overall effect more natural.
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We now have a rather blank looking face. Some colour is needed to bring it to life. Select the Lasso tool and set Feather to 12. Now draw around areas on the side of the face down the temple, around the eye, over the cheek-bone and around the mouth and chin. Go to Image -> Adjustments -> Hue/Saturation, or press CTRL and U, making sure "colorised" is ticked, and set the Hue = 14, Saturation = 25, Lightness = 0. This should redden the cheek and side of the face and make it look more natural. Repeat for the other side of the face.
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That's pretty much all there is to it. The mouth can be selected with the Lasso set to a lower Feather level and coloured. The eyes can be done with a Feather of about 2, and low Saturation, and the iris can be coloured the same way. Its just a matter of experimenting with the Hue and Saturation to get a pleasing colour balance.
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Each layer is built up exactly the same. For this picture, I used a layer for the face (as above) another for the jacket including the medals, another for the hair, and a final layer for the background.
***NB. Before creating a new layer, make sure you click on the Background layer in the layers pallet. If you don't you will just create a duplicate of the last layer you were working on, not the whole picture. (Thanks, and apologies Keith)***
The nice thing about doing it this way is that if a layer looks too bright against the other colours, it can be softened by simply reducing the Opacity in the Layers toolbar. It saves a lot of hassle of re-selecting and re-colourising. Or conversely, the saturation can be increased to make it brighter without affecting everything else.
Once everything looks okay, go to Layer -> Flatten Image and then SAVE IT. Many's the time I've coloured a picture and got to the last stage, thinking "Phew, thats done!", closed the program and not accepted the changes! I think that is the situation swear-words were invented for!
Any questions, please let me know.
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Hi Kiz,
I couldn't locate "colourize",under image adjustments.
I assume "Elements" doesn't have the feature.
Merv
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Hi Merv,
I really am a complete novice at Photoshop. Tonight is the first time I've actually done anything at all with it so don't really have much clue what it does and doesn't do.
I only have Photoshop CS so I can't say which functions are not available, but I would think it highly likely that Elements does have a colorize function somewhere.
Hopefully someone else will be able to point us in the right direction.
Don't know if this is the right thing
http://www.webworksite.com/colorize_photo.shtml
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I've added it into faves, and will work my way through it.
Amazing stuff though many thanks.
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I've added it into faves, and will work my way through it.
Amazing stuff though many thanks.
I have done the same - great - look out for my "help" calls tho!!
Keith
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Hi kizmiaz,
Told you I would be back!!
Just a few points - would have saved me an hour or so - if you could have put into the instructions - when you duplicate the second layer - first click on the background layer!!
I know - but mugins did not - :-[ :-[ so perhaps it might save other people some frustration!!
Also is there any way - if you have 3 people in the photo to capture - say their hair in one go - instead of 3 layers?
Otherwise your instrustions work great - no to try another photo without opening this page!!
Cheers
Keith
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Oops, sorry. Thats what comes from writing these things at midnight! I'll go back and amend that as soon as I've posted this reply.
As for the hair. Yes, all the hair can be done as one layer. Select using the lasso tool, and then hold the Shift key down and select the next area around another head. Both areas should be selected, and then just inverse and delete the excess as in Step 2 above. As many areas can be selected as you want using this method.
Hope that helps.
Glen
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Hi Kizmiaz,
If you are using Photoshop elements I would think that
you would use ,Enhance-Colour-Hue/saturation& tick the colorize
box And proceed from there. This is instead of Image- Hue/saturation.
If any body tries this please let us know.
Tomkin
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Hi Glen,
Thanks for that tip - thought there would be a way - the trouble with Photoshop 7 that I have just started with - its that it does everything - so long as you know where to look!!
Off to make sure I can do it !! ;D ;D
Cheers
Keith
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Thank you so much for this tutorial, my first attempt :lol:
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v202/anneymouse/Anne.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v202/anneymouse/coloured2.jpg)
My face went a bit green for some reason!
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Thanks for the instructions Kizmiaz. I've given it a go with a photo with not too much detail and in good condition. Too tired tonight to continue but really happy so far with it. I'll get on to her coat and the background tomorrow. I have had Photoshop Elements for years and have never known how to do this. Just used it for fixing tears etc.
You have truly inspired me to find a class somewhere.
Thanks
Jackie
Before and after shots follow.... progress so far
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Jackie,
I am convinced that you ladies are naturally better than a mere male at this sort of thing, for a beginner you are doing fine. By the way I should be back onto your Irish gaurd tommorow - though you seem to be doing better than I am.
Denn
P.S. but we are better at liftin evy fings!
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Thanks for the tutorial Glen :D
I will defiantly have a bash at it now ::)
Patricia ;)
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Finished now. My husband worrying he is not seeing me... on computer so much this week.!
This is really fun.
Off for a mini break to Melbourne. Pity the computer is not a laptop.
Thanks again for the terrific instructions
Jackie
PS
Finally got back to remove the lipstick from her teeth so I have switched the photos over!! :)
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Can you tell me how which web page so that I can get a tutorial and also the web page for removal of scratches does not work.
I need all the help I can get for restoring my old photos
thanks
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Page One of this topic for colouring
Just noticed that the webpage I used for scratch removal is off line - will see if there is another one for you - shows you I have not used the page for a bit - memory works sometime!
Cheers
Keith
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Thanks
it sure would help. I need to do lots of work to get some of my relatives looking "alive" again. The pics are so dark and the color bland.
Again thanks
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I've just done my first colourising the Kizmiaz way. When I can upload Daisy I will.
I found the instructions easy to follow using elements 3. The main problems I had were getting the correct colour shade for colouring the eyes and lips. Trial and error and still not what I wanted. Is that because it's elements 3?
The other was forgetting to put the layers in the right stacking order so that I could actually see the eyes and lips.
Don't think my first effort is too bad after a lot of changing shades of colour. You'll just have to wait for it!!
Pat
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Brilliant, I knew I should have look here before ordering Photoshop 6 for Dummies
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What a brilliant tutorial by Kizmiaz !
I wish Software houses could also write tutorials than make sense.
I have been wading through 260 pages of technical waffle and then I thought I'd try it the Kizmiaz way - and I have coloured my first photo! It is not brilliant but it is coloured and I am getting the hang of the tools and how to layer for the very first time.
Thank you Kizmiaz
And Rootschat - please keep this editorial at the top of your photo restoration list.
What a super site this is.
Mog
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If you have later versions of Elements there is a liitle known trick worth experimenting with.
Open a new layer and name it what you will (you have to be in colour mode).
There is drop down menu called MODE
Select COLOUR BURN
Make sure it is the active layer and paint away - don't worry if the colour and tone is not right.
Complete the colourising.
You can then return to each layer in turn and on the menu bar go to
Enhance/Adjust colour/Ajust hue-saturation
By plaing with the sliders you can change colour, saturation and lightness.
Of course now I've told you I will have to shoot you/
Have fun
Rog
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I am using quite an old version of Adobe Photoshop that I found in a cupboard under the stairs somewhere - but it seems to have the right functions.
But- so much to learn - I have noticed it has a colour burn 'thingy' and I'll give it a try - but don't shoot me yet - will take me at least three years to get the hang of this !
Do you like my cat with bright eyes - done by my new found layering technique !
As you can see I am no threat to you (not yet anyway).
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I was joking about the shooting bit - just intense physical damage.
Jokes apart the more the merrier and if the software makes it easier the better we all get.
Rog
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Hi
I have just followed the tutorial by Kizmiaz and even though I was using a different program, Serif Photoplus, it was still easy to follow and the result is excellent..
This was my first attempt at colourising a photo but there are plenty more waiting.
Thank you so much I'm off to tackle the next one!
Sharpie
PS I would post the result but hubby is shy (aahh)
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Go on Sharpie
Post it !
I promise I will post my first one if you do !!
Mog
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No - I have decided to do it - here goes:-
(Moderator - you can delete this later if I am cluttering up the site - I understand ;D)
There are some mistakes - some extra blue on the left lapel, a streak of green on the blue jacket and some red on the windows BUT I think I have grasped the concept and will try to do better.
Thank you again Kizmaiz - brilliant tute !
Comments and further tips welcome
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Not one to back down from a challenge but hubby is still playing the prima donna and refusing to have his pic on the net!
Here is my 2nd attempt, it's my mother at my wedding 34 years ago
Sharpie
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Brilliant work Sharpie !
I think you win!
You have chosen a beautiful colour for the costume and very tricky work getting all that white detail on the lapels right.
Have fun !
mog
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I must admit it took me hours to do but I am very pleased with the result.
Trouble is I've now got the bug and I am colouring everything is sight.
What do you think of the new avatar?
Thanks again to all
Sharpie
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I have been looking into colourisation (or colorization, as the USA-ians have it), and there seems to be two main approaches.
1) "Colorise and Mask"
Duplicate the photo to a layer, then create the colour by using "colourise" on the whole layer (i.e. the whole photo), then mask the layer so that only the bit you want shows; this is the Kizmiaz way, I think.
For example, for lips, one would duplicate the whole photo to a new layer, colour the layer red, then mask OUT everything but the lips (or mask IN the lips).
Having done this roughly, the colours can be adjusted by editing the colours on the layer (via HSB adjust) or altering the opacity of the layer, or both.
2) "Paint with transparent colour"
Create a new layer, and set the blend mode to "overlay" . The colour is applied "pure" on to the new layer, either by
a) use a paint tool (e.g. brush or pencil). This is quite intuitive, in that you're literally painting on the colour (but not the shades, this comes from the photo).
b) creating a selection (magic wand, lasso etc) and just flooding it with pure colour. This use of a selection is more similar to technique(1).
The tuning of the shades is then done using exactly the same approaches as in "colorise and mask"
This "paint on the colour" technique is well described here:
http://www.gimpinfo.org/tuts/colorizing-black-and-white-photos/
I think this technique may be better than the (1) way, since it's easy to paint in TEXTURED or varied colour (such a tonal variation and highlights in the hair). It feels much more like using transparent water colour on a real photo.
However, I have only been googling colorizing techniques prior to doing it - I would welcome comment from people with experience.
BugBear