I had the honor of doing a collaboration with Jo O’Brien
Please also check out her portfolio it is amazing!!
I have also had lots of questions how I do this.
She had an image that we worked on together and I did some post processing using selective coloring. Its a technique that I would suggest everyone try or learn.
Go Here
if you have not yet seen it.
There are several ways to achieve this.
I use photoshop elements and find it the easiest to use for doing this.
- Trace the images that I want to leave color using the lasso tool (Can take a long
time but its worth it)
- After you have traced everything you want to leave color goto select and click inverse.
- By clicking inverse you are now on the outside of the images that you traced.
- Click on enhance and adjust color then adjust hue/saturation.
- Turn the saturation all the way off to achieve the black and white.
- Then you can go to enhance and click on adjust lighting then goto shadows and
highlights to adjust your black and with levels.
- Click on select then click deselect and you image should be finished.
From there you can go in and play with the saturations to bring out more color or whatever you want to do.
Its a technique that you would be surprised can save any image you take if you are creative.
So if you like go check out the Image and leave a comment of what you think.
I am here if anyone has any questions I would be happy to help anyone out if I can.
Richard Veal, 4 months ago
Thanks Jeff. You make it seem so easy.
Andy Harris, 4 months ago
great advice Jeff….! Not tried a lot of this before – might have another go at it…!
Keeli, 4 months ago
Interesting technique. Not the one I use.
Craig Shillington, 4 months ago
You can also use software that lets you convert the photo to black and white and then paint the original colour back in … which I actually prefer to the lasso tool in PS. Still gets you to the same place though :) Just a different technique :)
BuddyH, 4 months ago
Great Jeff! I’ve been working on one for two evenings now. Buisy day today, and I’ll try to finish tonite. The difference is, I’m working this one in levels because the image is complicated. Please check out “Ragtop” for the origional. I’ll explain in detail when I’m finished.
pryere, 4 months ago
Thnaks Jeff, very helpful.
Lam Tran, 4 months ago
Great description of the process Jeff!
Mia1, 4 months ago
Thanks Jeff, Your awesome.
Norman1616, 4 months ago
I did 1 on Facebook with a tut I wrote using different feathers and flow on the erasor tool this creating a sc but also a hdr effect
Norman1616, 4 months ago
Pic in my portfolio. 2 Girls selling Ragmag
coffeebean, 4 months ago
Thanks for the great description Jeff, will try this cool effect now I know how it’s done. Cheers for that! :))
Simon Gladwin, 4 months ago
I do it this way….........
copy image to another layer (cntrl+j)
convert copy to B&W using channel mixer
use eraser (soft edged) to rub away mono layer and expose coloured layer underneath
the flatten the image when its done
Lois Romer, 4 months ago
great Jeff, that is the method I used on my red falcon pic. have read of another way but that involves extra layers etc and more involved so am plelased im not the only one who tried it this way.
StacyLee, 4 months ago
Excellent Jeff!
Jen Whyte, 4 months ago
Checked it out and that was a fabulous collaboration … well done to both of you!
Nicole Ryan, 4 months ago
oh great ! big help thanx .. although, i just did it for first time and i have smudging around the outside of the coloured areas .. guess i need to be more careful with the lassoo part of the project? more precise?
cheerishables, 4 months ago
Hey Jeff, wonderful tutorial. As you know, I edit my sc photos pretty much the same way. A lot of people ask how it is done, so It is so thoughtful of you to share with everybody.
KevinH, 4 months ago
THANKYOU!!! i’ve been wondering how to do this forever! =D
LjMaxx, 3 months ago
A very helpful and easy to understand explanation of selective coloring. I will try it and see how I do.. Thanks Jeff.