Photoshop Elements >

Other Hand Coloring Methods

In Hand Coloring a B&W Photograph, selections were filled in with colors.

There are other ways you can hand color a photograph.

Erase Tool

You must start with a color photograph.

1) Select the Background copy layer and press Ctrl + j to copy it.

2) Rename this new layer as B&W.

B&W

Background copy

Background

3) Convert the B&W layer to black-and-white.

4) Make sure the B&W layer is active (highlighted).

5) Use the Erase tool to erase parts of the B&W layer.

As you do so, the color of the Background copy layer emerges.

You'll probably want to use a feathered brush.

If you haven't already done so, go to Feathered Brush.

Or, make a selection, and erase the area inside the selection.

Option #1

You may want lower the opacity of the Erase tool in the options bar.

By doing so, not all of the B&W layer is erased.

When you're finished using the brush, return the opacity of the brush to 100%.

Then, when you use the brush again, you won't be wondering why it's not performing as expected.

Option#2

Before creating the B&W layer, transform the Background copy layer.

For example, lower the saturation of the Background copy layer.

Select the Background copy layer, create a Hue/Saturation adjustment layer, and lower the saturation.

Or, go to Filter at the top of your screen, or to Window > Effects.

Color Replacement Brush Tool

The Color Replacement Brush tool is a member of the Brush tool family.

Options Bar Settings

In the options bar, make sure:

• Mode is set to Color.

• Limits is set to Discontiguous.

You click and drag on the image with the Color Replacement tool brush.

When you do so, two things happen.

1) The tone under the brush is sampled

2) The sampled tone is replaced with the foreground color.

Discontiguous replaces the sampled tone wherever it occurs under the brush.

Contiguous replaces tones that are contiguous with the tone immediately under the brush.

• Tolerance is set to the default, 30%.

A low value replaces tones similar to those under the brush.

A high value replaces a broader range to tones.

Experiment.

• Anti-alias is selected, for smoother edges.

Are you starting with a black-and-white photograph or a color photograph?

Starting with a B&W Photograph

1) If you already have a black-and-white photograph, check if it's in the RGB Color mode.

Go to Image > Mode.

If RGB Color isn't checked, click RGB Color to convert to the RGB Color mode.

Click and drag the Color Replacement Brush tool brush to add color.

You'll probably want to use a feathered brush.

Or, make a selection, and add color to the area inside the selection.

Starting with a Color Photograph

If the Background layer and Background copy layer are a color photograph, do the following.

1) Select the Background copy layer and press Ctrl + j to copy it.

2) Rename this new layer as B&W.

B&W

Background copy

Background

3) Convert the B&W layer to black-and-white.

4) Make sure the B&W layer is active (highlighted).

5) Click and drag the Color Replacement Brush tool brush to add color.

You'll probably want to use a feathered brush.

Or, make a selection, and add color to the area inside the selection.