How to leave color with Photoshop (selective colouring)

in Tutorials
By luca84/Luca (573) Send mail to this user on September 23, 2006 9:04:54 AM CDT

1. Color Range
There are different ways to select the area of one color. On the Yellow Boat photo I used Select -> Color Range.
Choose color by clicking on the photo with the eyedropper, then move the Fuzziness indicator left or right to define the color range.
For selection preview I chose the Black Matte.

2. Quick Mask
First create a copy of the background with right click -> Duplicate Layer.
Now create a quick mask by clicking on the Quick Mask icon (see the red arrow on the right picture).
Masks let you isolate and protect areas of an image as you apply color changes, filters, or other effects to the rest of the image. When you select part of an image, the area that is not selected is "masked" or protected from editing. You can also use masks for complex image editing such as gradually applying color or filter effects to an image.

3. Gradient Map
Select the background layer.
Go to Image -> Adjustments -> Gradient Map and select the Black, White gradient (see image on the right)

4. Now you may notice that some parts of the photo stayed colored even though you did not want them to. Simply use the Eraser Tool and delete those parts from the mask (select the Background Copy in the layer window while erasing). In pictures below you can see yellow glare on the water, some houses and how I erased it.
Here I will show you how to get from left image to right image.

Leave color is one of my favourite effects, as you can see my gallery.
Best Ragards

If you want to critique that photo click here : Yellow Boat

Luca

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From tvohlone/Tuomas (651) Send mail to this user on September 28, 2006 5:38:25 AM CDT

Thank you, Luca, for very clear instructions.

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