How To Photoshop Black and White With Colour

Introduction.

Adding a pop of colour to a black-and-white photograph is a mesmerizing and captivating artistic technique that can breathe new life into your images.

This process, commonly known as “Color Splash,” “Selective Coloring,” or “Black and White with Color,” allows you to emphasize specific elements within a monochrome photo by retaining their original colours while converting the rest of the image to black and white.

The result is a striking and eye-catching visual effect that draws attention to the subject and creates a sense of drama and artistic expression.

In the world of digital art and image editing, Adobe Photoshop provides the perfect canvas to explore the art of black and white with colour.

By employing simple yet powerful tools, you can create stunning and evocative compositions that command attention and leave a lasting impact on your audience.

In this guide, we will walk you through the step-by-step process of adding colour to black-and-white photos in Photoshop.

From creating a black-and-white version of your image to selectively restoring colour, you will learn the techniques and tips to master this art form.

Whether you’re a seasoned Photoshop user or a newcomer to the world of digital artistry, this guide will empower you to unleash your creativity and transform your black-and-white photographs into captivating works of art.

Get ready to immerse yourself in the world of artistic expression as we embark on the journey of Photoshop black and white with colour.

Discover the magic of selective colouring and unlock the potential to create visually striking and emotionally powerful images that tell stories with a burst of colour amidst the timeless beauty of black and white.

What Is Photoshop?

Adobe Photoshop is a popular raster graphics editing software developed and published by Adobe Inc. It is widely used by graphic designers, photographers, and other creative professionals for various image editing tasks.

Photoshop provides a comprehensive set of tools and features that allow users to manipulate and enhance digital images.

With Photoshop, you can perform tasks such as cropping, resizing, and retouching images, adjusting colours and contrast, removing blemishes or unwanted elements from photos, and creating complex digital artwork.

It offers a wide range of selection tools, brushes, filters, and layer-based editing capabilities that give users precise control over their creative process.

Photoshop supports a variety of file formats, including JPEG, PNG, GIF, and TIFF, among others. It also provides support for working with layers, which allows users to work on different elements of an image independently and non-destructively.

This feature is particularly useful for creating composite images, adding text, or applying special effects.

Why Should I Use Photoshop?

When it comes to image editing and manipulation, Adobe Photoshop stands tall as a powerful and versatile software.

Whether you’re a professional photographer, a graphic designer, or simply someone passionate about visual art, Photoshop offers a multitude of features and capabilities that can elevate your work to new heights.

In this article, we will explore some compelling reasons why you should consider using Photoshop.

1. Unmatched Editing Capabilities.

Photoshop provides an extensive array of tools and features that empower you to edit and enhance your images with precision and finesse.

From basic adjustments like cropping and resizing to advanced techniques such as retouching, colour correction, and compositing, Photoshop offers a comprehensive suite of editing options.

Whether you want to remove blemishes, adjust lighting and colours, or create stunning visual effects, Photoshop provides the tools to bring your vision to life.

2. Creative Freedom and Versatility.

Photoshop is a playground for creative minds. With its vast range of brushes, filters, and layer-based editing, you have the freedom to experiment and explore your artistic ideas.

From digital painting and photo manipulation to designing graphics and illustrations, Photoshop enables you to express your creativity without limits.

The ability to work with layers allows you to easily make non-destructive edits, giving you the flexibility to refine your designs and revert changes if needed.

3. Professional Standard.

Adobe Photoshop has established itself as the industry-standard software for image editing and manipulation.

It is widely used by photographers, designers, and artists worldwide. By familiarizing yourself with Photoshop, you gain access to a common language and skill set that opens doors to collaborative opportunities, networking, and professional growth.

Mastering Photoshop can significantly enhance your credibility and marketability in creative industries.

4. Seamless Integration with Adobe Creative Cloud.

As part of the Adobe Creative Cloud suite, Photoshop seamlessly integrates with other Adobe applications, such as Adobe Illustrator and Adobe InDesign.

This integration allows you to create a streamlined workflow and easily transfer files between different software, maximizing your productivity and efficiency.

It also provides access to a vast library of additional resources, including brushes, textures, and templates, expanding your creative possibilities even further.

5. Abundance of Learning Resources.

Photoshop’s popularity has led to a wealth of learning resources available online. Whether you prefer video tutorials, written guides, or interactive courses, there is a vast community of Photoshop users and experts ready to share their knowledge.

You can find tutorials on specific techniques, tips and tricks, and inspirational artwork to fuel your creative journey.

Embracing Photoshop opens the doors to a supportive community where you can learn, grow, and collaborate with fellow creatives.

How Do I Photoshop Black and White With Colour?

Adobe Photoshop, the ultimate tool for digital art and image editing, offers a range of powerful features to master this artistic process and transform your photographs into captivating works of art.

In this step-by-step guide, we will walk you through the process of Photoshop black and white with colour.

From converting your image to black and white to selectively restoring colour, you’ll learn the techniques to breathe new life into your monochrome photos and make them stand out with a burst of vibrant hues.

Whether you’re an aspiring photographer, a seasoned digital artist, or someone looking to add an artistic flair to your images, this guide will empower you to unleash your creativity and create impactful visual stories.

Step 1: Open Your Image in Photoshop.

To begin, open your black-and-white photograph in Adobe Photoshop. If you have a coloured image that you want to convert to black and white, you can do so by using adjustment layers like “Black & White” or “Hue/Saturation.”

Step 2: Duplicate the Background Layer.

To preserve your original image, create a duplicate of the background layer. Right-click on the background layer in the Layers panel and choose “Duplicate Layer.” This ensures that you always have an untouched version to revert to if needed.

Step 3: Desaturate the Duplicate Layer.

With the duplicate layer selected, desaturate the image to convert it to black and white.

Go to “Image” in the top menu, then select “Adjustments” and “Desaturate.” Alternatively, you can use adjustment layers like “Black & White” or “Hue/Saturation” to fine-tune the black and white conversion.

Step 4: Select the “History Brush” Tool.

The “History Brush” tool allows you to selectively restore colour to specific areas of the black-and-white image. Locate the tool in the toolbar on the left side of the screen, or press “Y” on your keyboard to select it.

Step 5: Set Your Brush Options.

In the top options bar, customize your brush settings. Adjust the brush size and hardness to suit the area you want to colourize.

Choose “Normal” as the blending mode and set the opacity to control the intensity of the colour.

Step 6: Restore Color to Specific Elements.

With the “History Brush” tool selected, paint over the areas where you want to restore colour. The original colours will be revealed, creating a striking contrast between the coloured elements and the rest of the black-and-white image.

Step 7: Refine with Layer Masks (Optional).

To create a more seamless and controlled effect, use layer masks to refine the selective colouring. Click the “Add Layer Mask” icon at the bottom of the Layers panel to add a mask to your colourized layer.

Use a black brush to hide or erase any colour spillage or unwanted areas, making the colourization more precise.

Step 8: Adjust Hue and Saturation (Optional).

To fine-tune the colours of your selective colouring, consider using adjustment layers like “Hue/Saturation.”

This allows you to change the hue, saturation, and brightness of the colourized areas to achieve the desired effect.

Step 9: Add a Vignette (Optional).

For an artistic touch, consider adding a subtle vignette to your image. Create a new layer, select the “Elliptical Marquee” tool, and draw an oval selection around the central subject. Go to “Edit” > “Fill” and choose black to fill in the selection.

Adjust the opacity and use a layer mask to blend the vignette smoothly with the rest of the image.

Step 10: Save and Share Your Artistic Creation.

Once you’re satisfied with your black and white with a colour masterpiece, save your work in an appropriate file format (e.g., JPEG or PNG) and share it with the world.

Whether you showcase it on social media, incorporate it into your portfolio, or print it as wall art, your unique creation is ready to make a powerful statement.

Conclusion.

Photoshop black and white with colour is a fascinating and expressive technique that breathes new life into your monochrome photographs.

By selectively adding colour to specific elements, you create captivating visual stories that draw attention, evoke emotions, and leave a lasting impression.

Adobe Photoshop offers an array of tools and features to perfect this artistic process and unleash your creativity.

Whether you’re a seasoned digital artist or a photography enthusiast, this guide has equipped you with the knowledge and skills to explore the world of black and white with colour and create impactful and memorable images.

Embrace the artistic journey and let your creativity flourish as you transform your photographs into works of art that showcase the power of selective colouring.