PhotoShop: Colorize a Black & White Image

Today we will be learning to colorize a black and white image.  The image we are starting with, however, is already in color.  What we will do is take this image into PhotoShop, convert it to black & white, then colorize it.

1.  Click on the image (below) to view it full-size.
2.  Right-click and save the image to your folder.

3.  Open the image in PhotoShop.
4.  Convert it to Black & White by going to:  IMAGE > MODE > GRAYSCALE
5.  Balance it by going to: IMAGE > ADJUSTMENTS > AUTO CONTRAST
6.  Convert the image back to RGB Color by going to:  IMAGE > MODE > RGB COLOR
7.  Create a new layer:  LAYER > NEW > LAYER
8.  Pick a bright color (pink, blue, red, etc.)
9.  Choose a soft (feathered) brush and paint on your new layer over an object (hat, pants, overalls, etc.).  Don't worry about the bright, ugly color because we're going to adjust that in the next step.
10.  Next, adjust the opacity (transparency) of your painted layer by clicking the arrow next to OPACITY above the Layer.  Drag the arrow left or right to adjust the opacity. 

Here are a few examples of adding color to a black & white photograph to create different effects:

If [for some reason] you don't see your layers, click F7.


Also, if you have access to YouTube you can check out this video tutorial that I put together a few years ago.  It's on a Macintosh, but the concepts are the same:

Photoshop: Recoloring an Image with "Replace Color"

Today we will be playing with the "Replace Color" tool:

Step I: Getting Started

1. Click on one of the sample images below to view it full screen
2. Copy the image
3. Open PhotoShop and create a New Document
4. Paste the image

Step II: Making a "Warhol Grid"

1. Go to IMAGE > CANVAS SIZE
2. Change "Inches" to "Percent"
3. Change BOTH Width and Height to 200 [percent].
4. Click the "Upper-Left" Arrow
5. Click OK
6. Click VIEW > FIT ON SCREEN
7. Paste another copy of your picture
8. Use the arrow to drag the picture to the upper-right corner
9. Paste another copy of your picture
10. Use the arrow to drag the picture to the lower-left corner
11. Paste another copy of your picture
12. Use the arrow to drag the picture to the lower-right corner.

Step III: Changing Colors

1. Select the layer that you want to adjust (top-right, bottom-left, and bottom-right)
2. Go to IMAGE > ADJUSTMENTS > REPLACE COLOR
3. Use the Dropper tool to click on one of the bright colors
4. Hold Shift and select other shades of that color
5. Drag the "HUE" slider left or right to adjust the color
6. Repeat steps 1-5 for the other two squares.

Step IV: Finishing

1. Add your name to your image
2. Save your image to ThawSpace as a PSD
3. Save your image to ThawSpace again -- this time as a JPG
4. Log in to your portfolio (Blogger) page
5. Create a New Post and insert your JPG picture
6. Write a quick summary of the project and what you did to get the look you came up with

If you have access to YouTube you can watch the following video tutorial explaining this process: