A splash of color on B&W images

[Dave Smith]

I have seen various pics in B&W that have a splash of color on them (ie: red lips or blue eyes on a person's face). I thought I saw a short discussion on this in a thread here but I sure could not find it.

Can it be done in Photoshop Elements?

Anyone know the thread I am thinking of?

Can anyone help me?

Thanks

[fx101]

Yes you can, although it'll be a bit more difficult. Here's an article that tells you how to do layer masks in photoshop: http://graphicssoft.about.com/od/pse...layermasks.htm.

You need to duplicate the layer with your image (in colour) in it. You turn the second layer into black and white by using whatever method or plugin you like. Then use the layer masking technique shown above to create a mask for the black and white layer. Then use the brush tool to paint white (to keep black and white) or black (to show colour). I suggest using tha paint bucket to paint the mask white (turn it completely black and white) and then using the brush tool on the small pieces you want to make color. Hope that helps!

[jkriminger]

FX..your advice is very informative....please post some pics where I can see your advice more illustrated. Thank you, Rod

[Dave Smith]

FX101
Your info and source was right on. In another section of the site you referenced, I found exactly what I was looking for.

Here is a copy of my first quick and dirty attempt:



Thanks for pointing me in the right direction.

[danic]

Can you please enlighten me too? For some reason, I am having severe difficulty do this

Edit: Never mind, I'm a dumbass... I got it sorted

[Paul F]

There's another technique which is simpler, no need to create layers etc. Simply convert a color image to B&W, and without altering the image in any other way, use the "History Brush" to "paint" the color back into the B&W image! :thumbsup:

(Photoshop has the "History Brush" tool, I have to admit I'm not sure if Elements does.)

Hope this helps.

[readingr]

Paul,

Elements does not have the history brush, but it does have a colour replacement tool which if black is selected will convert whatever you brush into B&W.

The best way in elements is to use Layers.

Roger

[Paul F]

Thanks for the correction Roger, and sorry Dave for the wrong info! Elements has been improving no end since v4, and the History Brush would be a great addition... oh well, maybe in version 7?

[fx101]

Paul,

Elements does not have the history brush, but it does have a colour replacement tool which if black is selected will convert whatever you brush into B&W.

The best way in elements is to use Layers.

Roger

Anyhow, using the history brush to acomplish this effect is a "destructive" editing technique. It's far easier to have layers and masks so as to make it easy to edit the colour and BW elements of the image individually after performing the colour modifications.