AboutNeal Ziring Expertise Experienced user of versions 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, and X3 mostly for
web page graphics, some photo retouching, some technical document
illustration. Right now I only have versions 12 and X3 available to me,
so I'll be best at answering questions about those.
Question I would like to know how to take a color photo, make it a B&W then add color to select parts of the photo.
The way I'm doing it now is, open a color photo, copy a color section that will be added back in after I turn the photo to 8 bit gray scale, but this only allows only me to color one thing. Can someone please explain how this is done using layers.
Answer Denny,
> I would like to know how to take a color photo, make
> it a B&W then add color to select parts of the photo.
There are a number of ways to do this, but all of them
involve masks. Some involve layers.
Here are a couple of methods:
1. Select the area of the picture that you want to keep
colorful. Copy it. Then decolorize the picture using
Adjust->Desaturate or the Hue/Saturation/Lightness dialog.
Then paste back the colorful piece as an object. You
may want to fuzz the edges of the object too.
2. Using the mask brush, paint a mask over the entire area
you want to keep colorful. Then invert the mask and
decolorize the picture using Adjust->Desaturate.
This approach allows you to get creative with the area
you choose to keep colorized.
Note that, if you use the Image->Convert->Grayscale option,
then anything you paste in will also be grayscale. You'll do
better to use Desaturate or a Desaturate Lens.
