Photo 11: Introduction to Digital Imaging
Instructor: Sue Leith, sleith@csus.edu                            Office Hours Monday 1 -2 MRP 2011

Handcolor b&w Exercise

1. Open your image and check the histogram to make sure it’s a strong image technically. Check the Image > Image Size dialog box. DO NOT resample – evaluate the size of your image. It should be at least 5x7x300.  Call me if it’s not this size or you can’t do this step.

2. Change the Mode (Image > Mode) to RGB if necessary.

3. Sepia tone the image, to see if you like it better than straight b&w. Make the color a soft, light tan.
            Use a hue/saturation adjustment layer. Make sure to click “colorize” then move the sliders to the subtle tan color and lower saturation slider.

4. Color parts of your image.
            Create a new, blank, empty layer for EVERY color.
            Name every layer.
            Change the blend mode (located in the top of the layers palette) from normal to either multiply, overlay or color – try them all and use whichever looks best for the area of the image you are coloring.
            Lower the opacity of the layer to make it look more realistic.
            Go to Filter> Blur> Gaussian Blur and gently blur the layer IF NECESSARY           
            to give it a more realistic appearance.  GENTLY! Don’t blur too much or you’ll lose the color.

           
           
Make sure to know which layer you are working on. If you make a mistake, grab the top eraser tool (the regular not magic eraser) and erase the color away. Sometimes you may find it easier to change the blend mode before you start painting

Save as yourname.bw.psd and drop in the classroom exercise drop box.