How to Selective Color using GIMP (or how to add color to a black and white photograph)
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Selective Color a photograph using GIMP
Ever wondered how they get the little bits of color into those black and white photos? Well, I'm gonna show you how.
Most people will go for Photoshop, which is expensive,
but I use a program called
GIMP or the GNU Image Manipulation Program and best of all
ITS TOTALLY FREE!!
First you gotta download it, and install onto your computer. Once you have done that, you're ready to go
The image here is the one I will use for a demonstration
(Please note, these instructions are for GIMP version 2.6.11)
Most people will go for Photoshop, which is expensive,
but I use a program called
GIMP or the GNU Image Manipulation Program and best of all
ITS TOTALLY FREE!!
First you gotta download it, and install onto your computer. Once you have done that, you're ready to go
The image here is the one I will use for a demonstration
(Please note, these instructions are for GIMP version 2.6.11)
Contents at a Glance
Opening Screen
First go into your folders and find the image you want to work on. Right click and select "Edit with GIMP"
GIMP will now open and you should see a screen like this. Double check to make sure the layers box is open on the right, if not go to "Windows" and then "Dockable DIalogs". You may need to set up the "Layers Path Channels" box I mention later.
Here is some feedback I received from Linda Deal that may be of help.
"On the Toolbox. There is a 'Brush Dialog', a 'Pattern Dialog', and a 'Gradient Dialog' all grouped together next to the 'Color Selection Dialog. When I click the 'Pattern Dialog', a Patterns box opens. Then I click the arrow for the menu, go to 'Add Tab', a new menu opens with the 'layers dialog' in it. When I click on that, everything goes along with your instructions."
GIMP will now open and you should see a screen like this. Double check to make sure the layers box is open on the right, if not go to "Windows" and then "Dockable DIalogs". You may need to set up the "Layers Path Channels" box I mention later.
Here is some feedback I received from Linda Deal that may be of help.
"On the Toolbox. There is a 'Brush Dialog', a 'Pattern Dialog', and a 'Gradient Dialog' all grouped together next to the 'Color Selection Dialog. When I click the 'Pattern Dialog', a Patterns box opens. Then I click the arrow for the menu, go to 'Add Tab', a new menu opens with the 'layers dialog' in it. When I click on that, everything goes along with your instructions."
Duplicating
Click on 'Image' on the top tool bar and then click 'Duplicate'. This will then bring up another color image.
Create Your Black and White Image
Go to 'Image' again, then 'Mode' then click on 'Greyscale'. ( To adjust the contrast of the now black and white image, click on 'Colors', scroll to 'Brightness & Contrast'. This will bring up a pop up with 2 sliding scales. Adjust these until you are happy, and click 'OK')
Pasting
Now right click on the image and hover over 'Edit' then move across to 'Copy.' Click 'Copy'. You can now close the Black and White image. Whether you save or not is up to you. Now right click on the Color image, hover on 'Edit' and select and click 'Paste' from the new menu.
You Color image should now go black and White
You Color image should now go black and White
Getting ready to color
On the right you should have a box titled 'Layers Channels Paths Undo' (1) In it will be two "layers" with eyes next to them. (make the small "paper stack " icon is clicked)(2)
One layer will say 'background', the other 'floating selection'. Click once on the 'floating selection' layer. It will come up blue and means you are working on this layer (3). Next go to the 'Toolbox' window on the left of the screen and select the 'Eraser' tool (4)
If you need to adjust the shape or size of the eraser you can do this with the sliding scale marked 'Scale' For a bigger "Brush" click where it says 'Circle' and you can chose a different size "Brush" to use as the eraser (5)
One layer will say 'background', the other 'floating selection'. Click once on the 'floating selection' layer. It will come up blue and means you are working on this layer (3). Next go to the 'Toolbox' window on the left of the screen and select the 'Eraser' tool (4)
If you need to adjust the shape or size of the eraser you can do this with the sliding scale marked 'Scale' For a bigger "Brush" click where it says 'Circle' and you can chose a different size "Brush" to use as the eraser (5)
Coloring
You are now ready to 'Selective Color'. Start to erase the parts of the Black and White image that you want to be in Color. ( I would recommend starting with something that has simple shapes to erase and nothing to fiddly progress as you get used to it. (Remember you can alter the brush sizes for trickier parts.)
Once you have erased all the bits you want, go to the right hand window again and right click on the 'floating selection' layer. Scroll to select 'Anchor Layer' and left click once.
The two layers will now merge to make one image
Once you have erased all the bits you want, go to the right hand window again and right click on the 'floating selection' layer. Scroll to select 'Anchor Layer' and left click once.
The two layers will now merge to make one image
Saving Your Work
Now go to file/ save as/
You can now name your file (Remember to add the file extension .jpg) and select the folder it is to be saved too. When you click save you will get the pop up 'Save as JPEG'. Always move the slide scale to 100 where it says quality. This is to ensure the best quality image is saved
After you click save, the screen will return to your image once it has finished.
You can now name your file (Remember to add the file extension .jpg) and select the folder it is to be saved too. When you click save you will get the pop up 'Save as JPEG'. Always move the slide scale to 100 where it says quality. This is to ensure the best quality image is saved
After you click save, the screen will return to your image once it has finished.
The Finished Image
And now you are all done!!
Poll
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Give it a try?
And there you have it, Selective Coloring. If you do have any dramas with trying this out, please do get in touch and I will see if I can help you.
I by no means an expert, and have had to teach myself by trial and error. But I am more than willing to try and help. Please just try and be descriptive as possible if you send through any problems. Lots of luck and I look forward to seeing some awesome Selective Colored images
I by no means an expert, and have had to teach myself by trial and error. But I am more than willing to try and help. Please just try and be descriptive as possible if you send through any problems. Lots of luck and I look forward to seeing some awesome Selective Colored images
Buy Selective Color Images
Great Stuff on Amazon
If you start to use Gimp, or already do, then check out these great books
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Did you try it? How did you get on? Are my instructions clear enough?
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Tipi
Jul 10, 2011 @ 9:24 am | delete
- You are answering the question for us all, "How do they do that?", with a great tutorial. Well done!
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sysuns
Jun 29, 2011 @ 8:30 pm | delete
- 2 THUMBS UP!!! :)
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grandma_deal
Jun 15, 2011 @ 8:05 pm | delete
- I did it! I am so excited! Your instructions were good. I just took such a long time finding the layers selections. It was different from your picture. I thought it was messed up so I uninstalled and reinstalled twice before finally figuring out where the stuff is. I'm going to go do it again before I forget. It may be too late already. Thank you for sharing this awesome program and the instructions.
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cstronner
Jun 16, 2011 @ 3:30 am | delete
- Awesome!! I'm happy you found this lens useful :-)
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darciefrench
Jun 14, 2011 @ 2:21 am | delete
- Sounds (and looks) like a really fun program. Great job on the lens!
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