Photoshop Tutorial: A drop of color
I have seen this question asked over and over again in most Adobe Photoshop forums: How to accomplish a black and white image where just a part is in color ?
Honestly this is one of the easiest things to accomplish in Adobe Photoshop and requires almost no previous experience.
Here is a step-by-step tutorial on how to do it
1. We obviously start with a colored image and choose what portion of it you want to keep in color
For this picture of my daughter I have decide to keep the hair clip in color just for the demonstration
2. Now copy the background layer, you can do this by just drag and drop it to the create a new layer icon as shown below
3. Let’s convert this picture in the top layer to monochrome” ((”or black and white”))”. There are so many ways to do so, probably the most well known is using the “channel mixer”, however for this tutorial I will just use the desaturate tool by typing Control+Shift+U
N.B.: Notice that this Black and White picture is less appealing than the one in the beginning of this post. That’s mainly because in the latter I have used the channel mixer method for the monochrome conversion.
4. Let’s add a layer mask for the top layer, this can be done by simply clicking the button shown below
5. Zoom in the area you want to have in color, select the “layer mask” you have created” ((”You select a mask by clicking on it”))”
6. Now select the Brush tool, and choose Black as a foreground color. The brush size will depend greatly on the area you are about to paint, but make sure to set the hardness to 100%. Paint carefully on the layer mask in black all the areas you want to reveal.
7. That’s pretty much it, you still have to sharpen your image to taste and you’re done.
- Photoshop tutorial: Layer mask for beginners
- Photoshop tutorial: HDR using layer masks
- Photoshop Tutorial: Tips for creating HDR layer masks using levels
- Photoshop Tutorial: multi color brush video
- Photoshop tutorial: Fix blown skin highlights
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41 comments on this post
i luv this one..simple and most importantly SWEET!
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How to get it?
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i use this allllllll the time! the simplest way to get such a cool effect
*hint* i usually color the eyes while im at it, especially if they are blue or green
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To yon: I’m so glad you liked it
To Audra: I’m sorry but I don’t think I did understand the question
To karli: Thanks for the hint
Here is a tutorial on how to retouch the eye if you want to take a look
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Pretty nifty result, the black and white could be altered to have more depth but cool for nice little touches.
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Very GOOD ;D
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Cool! a great help for me as Graphic designer at work.
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Awesome tip, thanks!!!
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i would love to get more tips from you in photoshop thanks
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Thank you all for your comments, I appreciate your time.
Kevin, check you email
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Thanks it really helped
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i’m very new at all this photoshop thing..can u please give me some ideas how i should exactly start?or do i need to take some classes..?
Btw ur daughter is so cute:-)
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Miyu thank you for your comment, please tell me what is it your not able to reproduce.
Just open Photoshop, load a colored picture and start with the tutorial from step one.
I’d really be happy if you could give us more details on where you’re stuck so I can help out.
Regards,
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HEjj..
Oww,, It’s very Sweet!
(K) Elise
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Hey..
Owwww..It’s very sweet!:D
(K) ELise
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thx 4 publsihing how to do a drop of colour…i am doing alevel ICT now,,,so this helped me alot….thank you soooo much….
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Pretty shitty. WTF? Don’t understand anything!
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Beyellow can you please point out what you didn’t understand?
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Brill tutorial many thanks.
Would love info on other tutorials you have done for photoshop as I found this one very Professionally written.
Thanks again Kyle
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Thank you for your comment Kyle, more retouching tutorials can be found in the Post-processing/Tutorials category (accessible by http://www.adidap.com/category/post_processing/tutorials/) or you could also register to our news letter to get weekly updates
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that’s so cool thx it worked out well! i would love if you made more tutorials for other things and by the way your daughter is soooo CUTE!
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I’m not understanding Step 6. It says to paint the layer mask in black but the colored areas in your picture is coming out pink and green? Please explain this part.
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Hi Lisa, I’ve written a tutorial for you explaining step 6. you can find it here
hope this helps
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good
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I really like this tutorial. It’s easy and straight forward. More power Antoine! Hope to get more tips from you.
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This tutorial seems so simple, but I think I have a different version of photoshop. I have Adobe Photoshop Elements 5.0 (2006) I do not have the “layer mask” button, and am having a hard time figuring this out. Help…..Please!!!
Thanks!
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Hi Rose,
I am sorry for my late reply but I am leading a somehow hectic life in this moment.
Anyway back to your question, here is how you can add the layer mask functionality to your Adobe Photoshop Elements
http://www.adidap.com/2006/08/31/adobe-photoshop-elements-now-can-do-layer-masks/
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piece of cake :/
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Hi, great tutorial! But can you tell me how to do the “Channel mixer method” that you mentioned to get a better looking B&W pic? Thanks for the great work!!!
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Excellent results and sooooooooo easy ………thanxz
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oh thanks alot
now it’s easy
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That is cool, I love that effect…is there a way to do that kind of effect with a black & white photo and add color to only selective spots?
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I understand every thing till i get to 6
like i go to color it in and noting happens
please help me
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DUDE your tutorial rocks and your daughter is beautiful!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Thanks for the tut
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I am really having trouble doing this in Photoshop Elements 5.0. Can you help? Thanks! I am a MAJOR beginner too by the way!
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Wow this helped a lot! Thanks sooooo much!
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