STEP 1 : choose the picture
Challenges websites offer many pictures. If you aren't experienced in colorizations, I suggest you to choose a simple and plain picture, like this one.
TIPS:
- If the picture is big, don't resize it: it will be simpler to follow the edges. You'll be able to resize the picture when the colorize is finished.
- Use at least one layer for any different thing you are colorizing and rename them all. This will avoid confusion and allow second thoughts.
STEP 2 : the skin
- Make a new layer and rename it "skin", than change the blend mode to "color";
- Choose a skin colour, a pink non too bright and not too yellow (for the first times, try to pick it from an original picture). For this image I've chosen #EBBD9C;
- Use the "Paint Bucket" tool and fill the layer "skin" with that colour;
- Make a new layer and rename it "skin2", than change the blend mode to "overlay";
- Choose a colour, darker than the previous one, more near to orange but not too much, and fill the layer "skin2". I've chosen #D69B63;
- Change the opacity of "skin2". I've put it on 60%.
- Take the Eraser tool and change its opacity to 15%;
- Choose a rather big round brush with 0% hardness and erase the "skin2" where the skin has to be more bright.
STEP 3 : the hair
- Make a new layer and name it "hair", than change the blend mode to "soft light ";
- Choose a dark brown colour. I've chosen #613E1C;
- Take the Brush tool with a 0% hardness and paint the hair;
- Make a new layer and name it "hair2", than change the blend mode to "color";
- Choose a brown color, lighter than the previous one. I've chosen
#754F14;
- Take the Brush tool with a 0% hardness and paint the hair.
TIPS:
- Notice that these I've chosen aren't absolutely the best colors. It's quite difficult to find the right ones. Every picture needs different colors and different blend modes.
Before
After
STEP 4 : the eyes
- Take the Eraser tool and change the opacity to 10%;
- Go to the "skin" layer and erase the eyes zone; do the same in the "skin2" layer;
- Go to the "Background" layer (or the layer in which there's the original grey picture);
- Take the "Dodge" tool with a 30% exposure and lighten the white zone of the eyes. WARNING: don't lighten too much!
- Make a new layer, name it "eyes" and change the blend mode to "color";
-
Choose a color for the iris and colorize it: I've chosen a green-grey (#6E7048). WARNING: be careful with the edges: theres' nothing worse than a smeared iris...
Before
After
STEP 5 : the teeth
- Often the teeth are left uncoloured. This is a bad error: our teeth aren't grey!
- Take the Eraser tool and change the opacity to 15%;
- Go to the "skin"
layer and erase the teeth zone; do the same thing in the "skin2" layer. WARNING: do not erase all the colour, otherwise the teeth return grey...
STEP 6 : the make-up
- Make a layer and name it "lips", than change the blend mode to "color";
- Choose a color for the lips. In this case I've chosen #CB9167;
- Color the lips and be careful with the edges: don't color over the teeth or out of the edges;
- Go to the "Background" layer (or the layer in which there's the original grey picture);
- Choose the "Burn" tool with a 20% exposure and a little brush: burn around the eyes to add eyeliner and mascara. WARNING: this is a critical step, since if you make an error it's possible you can't go back. So, before you use the burn tool, duplicate the layer in which there's the original picture.
- Create a new layer and name it "eye-shadow", than change the blend mode to "color";
- Choose a color for the eye-shadow and color above the eyes. I've chosen #A77775.
- Create a new layer and name it "cheeks", than change the blend mode to "color";
- Choose a red and color the cheeks. I've chosen #D02020;
- Change the "cheeks" layer opacity to 20%.
STEP 7 : adding stuff
- Before adding any graphic stuff, you can resize the picture.
- Make a new layer;
- Choose a color you've used in the picture or a similar color;
- Add stuff (brushes, textures, patterns) without cover too much the picture;
- Make a new layer and name it "border";
-
Ctrl + A to select all the picture;
- "Edit" => "Stroke..." => width: 5 and location: "inside" => OK!
To see the colorization click on the image on the left ^__^