Just picked up a copy of CS and was wondering if anyone could help me with How-To. I was wondering how you take a color picture and retaing the color of the focus object but make everything else B&W. I know it can be done but I can't locate a step by step anywhere. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Jason

 

here's a simple answer....

step 1: outline the item you want to keep in color

step 2: convert that outline to a selection - depending upon the item you are outlining, you may want to soften the edge some.

step 3: copy and paste the item to a new layer... keeping it in position

step 4: turn the background image into gray scale

there are a few different ways to do it. this is how i would do it.

if you would like me to take a shot at it, email me the pic.

mike

 

Thanks for the quick reply. I will try it and if I can't get it to work I will shoot you the file.

jason

 

1) load your color picture
2) duplicate the layer
3) convert one layer (preferrably the foreground layer) to B&W by your method of choice (greyscale, desaturate, channel mixer)

NOTE: now you have two layers, one color, one B&W

4) Working on the top layer (B&W in this example) use the lasso tool to carefully trace around the B&W car. Once the car is traced use Edit / Clear to delete out the B&W car, and let the color car show through from the other layer.

That's the basics of it. You can work in smaller sections and delete out parts of the car.

 

I'd do it with a layer mask.

1 Hue/Saturation adjustment layer

2 Paint in the mask channel

3 Done

 

Image
Adjust
Desaturate
erase tool with check box set to erase to history
erase over what you want to return to color

 

hehe i do all my picture editing in paint

 

Why?

 

You've been doing all this in paint! Get yourself a copy of Photoshop Elements and you'll be blown away how much easier it is to do things and how many more editing options you have. Elements sells for less than $100. If you're a student you can get the full blown Photoshop CS for about $250 (otherwise full retail is $640 ). You can go to the Adobe website and download a free 30 day trial copy of either elements or CS.

 

its easy, ive got it all down now after manifulating many images. PS i'm D/L photoshop from Limewire right now lol lets see if i can work this as much as i work Paint


Dave, i'll email you something tonight if i can get photoshop to work for me lol, i'm gonna decide what picture of yours to do next.... got any ideas for a new headline for me?

 

Oh, oh . . . we didn't see this.

 

thats right, you didnt see anything......

 

so, now that i have a copy of photoshop, what should i know about it? ive never used it before, so is there anything i should know?

 

Here is the finished product!



Thanks for viewing.

Jason

 

Nicely done with the B&W background conversion.

 

Jason/jbing,
That is a nicely done conversion, not to mention the DoF.

 

First time around...you must be a quick study. Good job.

 

It took me about an hour this morning to complete this, if I could do it again I would start with an easier subject. I am very pleased with the finished product though.

 

looks great. Soooooooooooo how'd you do it?

 

here are some ive done previously (not perfect) but give the result i wanted :D

that lasso has a mind of its own at times !!

is there not a free-hand function like pencil or sumthing similar??

 

I pretty much did exactly what DiD suggested, duplicated the layer, converted it to greyscale, and then used the lasso tool to slowly select and cut out the flower little by little. The difficult part was cutting out the flower and leaving the holes in the flower so the B&W ground below shows through. Did I do it perfectly, absolutely not, but that is my obsessive personality coming through. Next, I flattened the color layer and the B&W layer to make the image you see above.

I will be getting my D70 kit at the end of March and I can't wait to get a good macro lens so I will have a lot more control over the picture taking process. I really would have liked to see a little more bokeh in the photo but this isn't bad for only using a piece of s... Kodak DX4330 point and shoot digital camera.

Photoshop CS is a very compliicated program to use for an inexperienced person like myself but I couldn't pass up the education price, being a teacher, so I got it instead of Photoshop Elements.

 

I like perspective on those. Nice and low. Could you post the full color versions?

Yes, there is a pencil tool, but my preference is for the lasso. To each their own.

 

ive gotta post one or two of my first photoshops up here.... what the hell, heres opne or two of them...tell me what you guys think

PS the accord was a joke for a friend

 

photoshop is your friend

 

how can i get the grayscale not to effect the seperate backround and the image i want to keep in color?