My first try with Selective Coloring.

[Weaving Wax]

This isn't the best pic I'm sure, for this technique, but I thought I'd give it a try anyway. Tell me what you think and what I can do to make it better.

 

[meotter]

i think this picture isn't the proper venue for selective coloring.

there should be something you are trying to highlight, thus the reason for removing color from everything else, so that the most significant thing in the photo automatically JUMPS right out at the viewer!

there is somebody who did it with children eating popsicles, very clever use.

another suggestion, choose something where people know color is missing. i.e. a field where the only thing that is in color is the blue sky or perhaps the red leaves, but the ground, bark, sky are all B&W.

your pic could just be heavy shadows on an otherwise very well lit wall.

 

[Weaving Wax]

Yeah, it really isn't the best picture to do it with. I think I just wanted to know how to do it and know that I can. I was hoping to get the red of the bricks out, but that didn't come out right. Thanks for the comments.

 

[xfloggingkylex]

A great example of selective coloring can be seen in a thread on this forum.

http://thephotoforum.com/forum/showthread.php?t=57702

The second image IMO is wonderful to look at.

 

[rmh159]

I wonder how it would look if you only kept the light in color. Like if you made everything B&W and only a small cone coming from the spot light in color. Just an idea. You could feather the selection to blend it into the B&W.

Something to consider is that even if it's the wrong pic it's good to practice these techniques.

 

[PNA]

I would try: crop out the right side, B&W the bricks and slective color the number and light.......just a thought.

 

[Weaving Wax]

Something to consider is that even if it's the wrong pic it's good to practice these techniques.

Thanks for the suggestions, guys. That was the point of me putting it here was just to practice the technique. I'm happy I did the coloring ok. When I find a better pic I'll try it again..

 

[xfloggingkylex]

While this is good practice, I think you'd have a better experience with a picture with a more defined subject. When I think of selective coloring I always think of eyes. Overly emphasized eyes with everything else being in B&W is my favorite.

And really you can do selective coloring on anything. Go outside and take a picture of the tree. Turn everything but the tree to B&W and then up the "greeness" of the tree to exagerate the rest of the pictures lack of color.


Here is something I just whipped up on the fly, this is without exagerating the paint.

 

[Weaving Wax]

Here is something I did today. This building was colorful and I thought, catches the eye. A better example than my first.

Although, this picture in photoshop for some reason looked more "colorful" than in the jpg.. Is there any way to fix this?

Anyway..

 

[PNA]

Here is something I just whipped up on the fly, this is without exagerating the paint.

Would you please tell me how you pulled the truck out of the original as sharply as you did. I'm struggling with the magic wand and the lasso tools.

It's a great contrast photo......thanks.

 

[xfloggingkylex]

Not sure I understand, but all I did was open the pic in PS (in my case I ran gimp because Im having a problem with PS at the moment). I duplicated the layer, desaturated it (to make it black and white), and did a layer mask (white for full opacity) on it. Then I used a Black brush (to remove the layer mask) and roughtly ran over the car with the brush on 100% opacity. So at this point it looks pretty crappy, there are parts of the background that are colored along with the car and it is in no shape to show to anyone. This is when you zoom in and use a really small brush to clean up the details. On your layer mask white makes it black and white, Black paints the color back in. I make my brush as small as I can while still using 100% opacity. Now the car is starting to look great, but there is still a little barrier between the car and background where the background is colored, creating a halo around the car. Now to fix this, you select your white brush (to make the picture B&W), set the brush width nice and small, and set the brush opacity to 40% or so. This will give you a nice smooth blend and is great for covering minor flaws.

After all is said and done, select all, copy merged and paste as a new layer. Save and enjoy.

I used to try and lasso the object I didnt want B&W, invert and desaturate, which I still do from time to time, but I always layer mask so that i can paint color back in or remove as I need. and a 50%or lower opacity brush is your friend for making it look more natural and flowing.

I hope this has answered your question, if not please let me know, or if you are still having issues let me know and I'd be willing to try and walk you through it in even more detail.

 

[PNA]

Fantastic, tomorrow will be donated to your directions.

Many thanks.

 

[anton980]

If you only left the light cast from the lamp in color - it might create an interesting look. It would be very easy to achieve too.

 

[Weaving Wax]

Are you talking about my photo? There was no cast from the lamp to leave..

 

[anton980]

isnt that a light at the top of the photo above the number? And it's casting light. If you dont mind, post an original here. It'd be interesting to play with it.