10e20 Blog

Selective colorization can be a useful and effective technique to isolate certain elements within a photograph or give your work that artistic effect similar to a silkscreen.

The most basic way to do this is by duplicating a color image. Then desaturate one of the layers and increase the contrast- white whites and black blacks! Then make shapes of the elements you would like to colorize, like the eyes, lips and hair, and finally make a layer mask and paint out the areas.

Andy Warhol is the most obvious art icon that comes to mind when playing with this “silkscreen-like” technique. Check out some of his silkscreen paintings for inspiration. Warhol didn’t bother to clean up the imperfections of the print: those slips of the screen, uneven inkings of the roller, and general graininess. What they suggested was not the humanizing touch of the hand but the pervasiveness of routine error or chaos.

1. Start by isolating the images subject from the background. Use the polygon lasso tool or magic wand to get a clean silhouette. Then duplicate the layer and convert the top layer to a black and white version by opening the hue/saturation palette and bringing the saturation all the way down.

2. Then go to Image/Adjustment/Levels and use the sliders to make the highest level of contrast and render most of the face white.

3. Hide the black and white layer and create a new layer that will be used to create a shape for the eye. Using one of the lasso tools isolate the eye and fill that shape with any color. Set this layers blending mode to overlay. Do this same procedure for any other elements.

4. When your various elements are completed, make the black and white layer visible (the top layer) and apply a layer mask to it. You will see a mask layer at the right side of the black and white layer, when you select the mask layer and paint with white, then you erase, and paint with black then you bring things up. Load the selection from each element one by one or select all the elements by clicking on the appropriate layers while holding control (check your keyboard shorts). While still on the black and white layer begin to paint with black to bring the colors from the layers underneath to the surface.

5. Final adjustments and fine tuning the density. To complete the image go back into the various layers to tweak the color and adjust the contrast or levels/curves. Don’t hold back- go for some real saturated colors.

Tips: Sometimes adding a slight Gaussian blur to the shape layers can make up for any areas that are a bit off the mark. Add some basic filters to achieve a vintage feel-graininess and dust can make your work seem old and worn and give it that “factory” feel. Use family photos and print them out on some matte photo paper or rougher pulp paper and use a small frame to set it off nicely- they make for great presents, and who knows maybe Sothebys will be auctioning them off one day!