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+--- Thread: Colorization++ - Potatoe's (/showthread.php?tid=271)
Re: Colorization++ - Potatoe's - cbleek - 04-21-2010 07:38 AM
Goodmorning guys; since there are many ways to Rome cons. the colorisation i thought i'd share mine with yous.
Its quick and dirty.
1.Always make sure you save your image RGB color.(menu ;image-mode-RGB)
2.Than copy the image onto a transparent background and save it.
3.Than close the original.
4. Copy the image again to a new file than go to menu; image;adjust;color range;and make it cyan.
save the image.
5. reapeat this step but make it red and save it, than yellow and save it and green (whatever you like)
6. Than open the basic grey image add a layer at appr. 50% and than paste the copy of the colored image.
Now you can remove the parts you dont want to be cyan with your eraser tool.Than merge layers.
7. You can repeat this with the other saved colors;REMEMBER to add new layer 50% and copy your other colored image and remove
what you dont want to be red/ green /yellow .
8. The overlapping can also create new colors (red+yellow=orange
9. The idea is that you create a basicly colored image which you can easily manipulate with the eraser tool.
10 The details you can adjust when you feel the basic is as it should be and when you have merged the layers.
11. play with brightness and contrast too (creates new colors and gives extra depth)
===================
# never flatten your layers
# think ; big~small;what is the biggest part that needs to blue-ish and start with that layer first
===================
This method should enable you to create your basic colored image quickly and give you more time to fuss around in the details.
![[Image: tutocol.png]](http://simonoke.micrographic.eu/images/afs/tutocol.png)
Re: Colorization++ - Potatoe's - libranoelrose - 04-21-2010 08:13 AM
I have so much to learn about colors/levels stuff.
That blew my mind in a good way cbleek!
Re: Colorization++ - Potatoe's - cbleek - 04-21-2010 12:34 PM
libranoelrose Wrote:I have so much to learn about colors/levels stuff.
That blew my mind in a good way cbleek!
glad to be of service!
Re: Colorization++ - Potatoe's - Terrapin Bound - 04-21-2010 03:24 PM
Masking has been my most common method.
A new layer for nearly every color, then add a mask. Then select the area, color it, and mask as necessary where you went out of the lines.
For multiple colors/shades on one layer, I'd adjust the areas of the layer as necesary, using lighten/darken/hue/etc.
Soften the edges of the mask for a nice color-to-color / layer-to-layer blend.
Images tend to get very heavy with layers using this technique, but also allow for a lot of precision and flexibility.
It's a lot of work.
Alternately, I've used a pad.
Add new layer, color with the pencil, erase the mistakes, etc.
I never got real good with pressure for crayon width, but I can see where it is much easier once you get used to it. You can carve a very fine edge with pressure/width adjustment, and it saves the great trouble of making a selection, and adding a mask layer.
But like others, it's a real estate issue. I shall endeavour to persevere.
I never quite figured out how to translate that old tutorial to PS. A step that was so simple in PSP seems so cumbersome in PS, that I must be missing something. (Duplicating a mask layer and applying it to another layer).
The tute was more about selecting fine detail with a mask layer, than masking in general.
Re: Colorization++ - Potatoe's - Laz Long - 04-22-2010 02:05 AM
Terrapin Bound Wrote:Masking has been my most common method.
A new layer for nearly every color, then add a mask. Then select the area, color it, and mask as necessary where you went out of the lines.
For multiple colors/shades on one layer, I'd adjust the areas of the layer as necessary, using lighten/darken/hue/etc.
Soften the edges of the mask for a nice color-to-color / layer-to-layer blend.
Images tend to get very heavy with layers using this technique, but also allow for a lot of precision and flexibility.
It's a lot of work.
Alternately, I've used a pad.
Add new layer, color with the pencil, erase the mistakes, etc.
I never got real good with pressure for crayon width, but I can see where it is much easier once you get used to it. You can carve a very fine edge with pressure/width adjustment, and it saves the great trouble of making a selection, and adding a mask layer.
But like others, it's a real estate issue. I shall endeavor to persevere.
I never quite figured out how to translate that old tutorial to PS. A step that was so simple in PSP seems so cumbersome in PS, that I must be missing something. (Duplicating a mask layer and applying it to another layer).
The tute was more about selecting fine detail with a mask layer, than masking in general.
I've been playing with this image and reading through everyone's awesome feedback. With any luck, they will unchain me from my desk so I can start actually working on it this weekend. A few comments and questions in the mean time:
I think that I've finally found the missing step. Starting with one layer for each color, select the area and use the selections to make the layer mask. (Layer --> Layer Mask --> Reveal Selection) or use the button at the bottom right that says Add Layer Mask. Now you can color on that layer without worrying about the lines. It's actually pretty good practice using various selection methods. A lot of work? No kidding! Then again, the practice with selections is always useful.
My previous attempts were pretty much what you describe about using a tablet... One new layer for each color and try to stay inside the lines. In my own mind, this is sort of like a coloring book. I've got a few going just as a distraction but I've never been happy with the results. I'm probably weird, but this is one of my most relaxing PS tasks. It requires a lot of concentration at one level while allowing my mind to wander at another. Again, I've been getting a different type of practice out of this approach. I'm sort of sneaking in the the stylus pressure and angle features as I play with colorization. So far, I'd rather not use those features. The tablet buttons and zoom ring seem more natural.
You say it so casually.... Soften the edges of the mask for a nice color-to-color / layer-to-layer blend. Any tips or hints for those of us less familiar with blending?
I've only responded to the latest post, but everyone that has shared their particular approach has helped me tremendously. Thank you all!
Re: Colorization++ - Potatoe's - LightGiver - 04-22-2010 02:24 AM
I have a suggestion that may help some people colorize people. Skin tone is important because if the skin tone is not just right it can make the image look funny. A trick I have used is to find a good skin tone chart.
http://www.google.com/images?hl=en&source=imghp&q=skin+tone+chart&gbv=2&aq=1&aqi=g6g-m4&aql=&oq=skin+ton&gs_rfai=#start=0&tbo=1
open a chart pic and use the eyedropper tool to select an appropriate skin tone color. Then you can use that color to fill/brush in the skin tones. :color:
There's always more than one way to push a pixel. :twocents:
Re: Colorization++ - Potatoe's - Laz Long - 04-22-2010 02:52 AM
LightGiver Wrote:I have a suggestion that may help some people colorize people. Skin tone is important because if the skin tone is not just right it can make the image look funny. A trick I have used is to find a good skin tone chart.
http://www.google.com/images?hl=en&source=imghp&q=skin+tone+chart&gbv=2&aq=1&aqi=g6g-m4&aql=&oq=skin+ton&gs_rfai=#start=0&tbo=1
open a chart pic and use the eyedropper tool to select an appropriate skin tone color. Then you can use that color to fill/brush in the skin tones. :color:
There's always more than one way to push a pixel. :twocents:
I think that I'll stick with sampling flesh tones from foobies links
Seriously, that does help. The Swatches library most likely has those values but finding them can sometimes be a pain.
Thank you Sir
Re: Colorization++ - Potatoe's - Terrapin Bound - 04-22-2010 03:27 AM
Laz Long Wrote:You say it so casually.... Soften the edges of the mask for a nice color-to-color / layer-to-layer blend. Any tips or hints for those of us less familiar with blending?Mostly it involves going around the edges with the blur tool. It's not so important when using the pad method, since the brush feathers the edge per the hardness setting.
But when you paint within a selection, it's going to leave a sharp edge, which is typically not very pleasing to the eye. So just go ahead and soften the edges of both adjacent colors/layers with the blur tool to let them blend in to each other a little.
Same thing if you've masked out an area, soften the edges of the mask layer.
The colors will very slightly overlap, and appear much more natural.
I'll post an example later today if I get a chance.
Re: Colorization++ - Potatoe's - grampy - 04-22-2010 04:41 AM
![[Image: taters.jpg]](http://grampyshouse.net/fotoshop/apr10/taters.jpg)
Biatch stole my taters....
Re: Colorization++ - Potatoe's - Terrapin Bound - 04-23-2010 02:14 AM
Here's the unsoftened edge, (bright color for clarity, disregard where it bleeds on to the arm, the focus is the sleeve/sack blend)
![[Image: pot_ex_sharp_edge.jpg]](http://i782.photobucket.com/albums/yy102/TerrapinBound/pot_ex_sharp_edge.jpg)
Screen caps are from PaintShop Pro
Use the soften/blur tool around all the edges. Where the rope has been masked, use the tool on the mask layer.
![[Image: pot_ex_softened_edge-1.jpg]](http://i782.photobucket.com/albums/yy102/TerrapinBound/pot_ex_softened_edge-1.jpg)
One last touch, I duplicated the potato bag color layer and set it to burn.
This adds a lot of contrast and depth. Should also be used for woodgrain, sand, rubber tires, etc.
It usually takes very low layer opacity to do the trick (5-10%), but here the full 100% is shown.
![[Image: pot_ex_burn_layer.jpg]](http://i782.photobucket.com/albums/yy102/TerrapinBound/pot_ex_burn_layer.jpg)
Another effective tips is "Blend If". When used, it would allow the black dots on his shirt to show through.
But that's another tutorial...
Re: Colorization++ - Potatoe's - GbyP - 04-23-2010 06:43 AM
Hey, the thread is still here. Yeah, I changed my mind. After the challenge concludes or wanes awhile - say no activity for 2-4 wks - I'll copy the thread over to the tips and tricks section and delete out the non-colorized entries so that the copied thread will be focused on colorization. The original will remain here with all posts intact.
I really don't want to discourage an exchange of ideas in these types of open challenges. We can always move stuff later. My original thought was to avoid copying threads because it can confuse the bots. But a few copies won't have a significant impact. When we have 10,000 members and are generating threads with 200 pics, then I'll "worry".
Carry on...
Re: Colorization++ - Potatoe's - Laz Long - 04-23-2010 01:44 PM
Thanks GbyP. This thread has been a great help for me. So much useful information (and some that can be applied elsewhere) I'd actually started to write a proposal for a different kind of thread. Sort of an interactive 'How did you do that" with a theme. At the time, I was thinking about something along the lines of "Burn, Dodge, and blend - Show off and discuss your methods"
Re: Colorization++ - Potatoe's - GbyP - 04-23-2010 04:48 PM
Laz Long Wrote:Thanks GbyP. This thread has been a great help for me. So much useful information (and some that can be applied elsewhere) I'd actually started to write a proposal for a different kind of thread. Sort of an interactive 'How did you do that" with a theme. At the time, I was thinking about something along the lines of "Burn, Dodge, and blend - Show off and discuss your methods"
If you want to set up an open challenge along those lines, go for it!
That's a good idea - combining a challenge with discussion of technique. I can follow suit and copy the threads into the Tips and Tricks section well after the challenge wanes, thus preserving the info for future generations of Squirrels.
Re: Colorization++ - Potatoe's - HoboSong - 04-25-2010 01:10 AM
![[Image: Potaotes.jpg]](http://i303.photobucket.com/albums/nn127/HoboSong/Potaotes.jpg)
Re: Colorization++ - Potatoe's - Terrapin Bound - 04-25-2010 02:16 AM
Excellent work, hobo. Very authentic, good job.