Photo 11: Introduction to Digital Imaging
Instructor: Sue Leith, sleith@csus.edu                            Office Hours Monday 1 -2 MRP 2011

Steps for Hand-Coloring a Black & White Image

1. Change your image Mode from Grayscale** to RGB.
            Image > Mode > RGB
            If you forget to do this you will NOT be able to add any color as grayscale images cannot contain any color.

2. Add a blank layer for each color. Name your layers.
            Go to Layer > New Layer or use the shortcut (looks like a folded sheet of paper to the left of the garbage can) at the bottom of the layers palette.

3. Use the paintbrush to paint on the empty layers with your choice of color.
            To change color, click on the color picker in the toolbox to bring up the color picker dialog box. Click to choose a color. Remember you are painting on a blank layer, if you make a mistake just erase it, this is no time to use masks.

4. Change the blend mode in the top of the layers palette to either color, multiply  or overlay – or check out some others if you like – then choose whichever you like best for the particular layer you are working on. Different blend             modes give you different effects, some work better on lighter areas of gray, some work better on darker areas.

5. Gently blur the color on the blank layers if necessary using Filter > Blur > Gaussian Blur. Do not blur it too much or the color will spread into other areas around what you want to color or seem to disappear. Remember  blurring works similar to feathering, but can be done anytime. Feathering must be done right after making a selection.

6. Lower the opacity of each color layer (in the top of the layers palette). This will make your color look more realistic.

** If you don’t have a b&w image make a custom one using the channel mixer then flattening. Make sure to watch your histogram and not damage the integrity of your image.