Photo 11

Sue Leith

Handcolor b&w Exercise

1. Open the image ‘Window Box’ in Photoshop

2. Change the Mode (Image > Mode) to RGB

3. Sepia tone the image, making it a soft, light tan.

Use a hue/saturation adjustment layer. Make sure to click “colorize” .

4. Color the flower leaves green.

Create a new, blank new layer.

Click on the color picker to choose a green you like. Paint on the new blank layer over the flowers. Name this layer LEAVES.

Change the blend mode (located in the top of the layers palette) from Normal to either multiply, overlay or color, whichever you like best.

Lower the opacity of the layer to make it look more realistic.

Go to Filter> Blur> Gaussian Blur and gently blur the layer IF NECESSARY

to give it a more realistic appearance.

5. Color the flowers any color you want.

Create a new, blank new layer.

Click on the color picker to choose any color you like. Paint on the new blank layer over the flowers. Name this layer FLOWERS

Change the blend mode (located in the top of the layers palette) from Normal to either multiply, overlay or color, whichever you like best.

Lower the opacity of the layer to make it look more realistic.

Go to Filter> Blur> Gaussian Blur and gently blur the layer IF NECESSARY

to give it a more realistic appearance.

6. Color any one other thing you want, for example the bricks or the light or the window box.

Make sure to know which layer you are working on. If you make a mistake, grab the top eraser tool (the regular not magic eraser) and erase the color away. Sometimes you may find it easier to change the blend mode before you start painting

Save as yourname.bw.psd and drop in the classroom drop box.