Colorizing photos

[Larrister]

Really nice colorizations Alex and Askold!

Here's an action shot, a PAK crew about to fire on a Russian tank. Knocked out and burning tank can be seen by the hand of the observer.

Cheers
Larry

[dennisb]

Could anybody explain how you can colorize photos?
Best is step by step.


Thanks!

[inimicus]

-buy a digital imaging program for your 'puter.
-study hard and long.
-spend hours and hours practicing.
-when you think you've got it, plan to spend at least an hour, prob'ly lots more, colorizing your faves.
- send them here. got it?

[Askold]

Thanks Alex and Larry! I find the portraits to be the easiest to work with - you can put maximum realism in them as they don't have too many details. The open air scenes, trees and landscapes tend to be the hardest.

[dmytro]

-buy a digital imaging program for your 'puter.
-study hard and long.
-spend hours and hours practicing.
-when you think you've got it, plan to spend at least an hour, prob'ly lots more, colorizing your faves.
- send them here. got it?

Unfortunately very true. It is not hard, believe me, but you have to aquaint yourself with the software you're using, (As each piece of software will have it's own way of producing the same end result), it's ability and your own eye for using it. IT DOES take lots of practice until you find a formula which works for yourself. When that happens, you will really find it quite simple, and the results, as shown in the many posts here very satisfactory and realistic. Sorry but like many other things there ain't a quick fix.

As a guide, I specialise in portraits, an average portrait may take me 2-3 hours.
with other scenes, maybe Larry (Larrister) who does cameo scenics could give you a better idea as to the time taken.

If you're really interested, get the software and play around with it, that's what I did before I felt sufficiently confident to post my results, you will find that as time passes your ability and understanding of the software will grow

regards

Alex K

This quicky took 1 hour
http://img410.imageshack.us/img410/5...meiercopy1.jpg

I Honestly don't know if this will work but a pdf is attached showing some of the process

http://img19.imageshack.us/my.php?image=molders.pdf

[Askold]

I think that the major problem with re-color is that once an area is colored it lacks dept or shadow, so I fix it up by using Ulead Photo Express (or any other pait program will do) to dive the photo extra touch up.

[dmytro]

I use Adobe Photoshop V4.0, this is an extremely old piece of software designed for use originally with Windows 95, however it still works with Windows XP (Only just).

It is a very powerful piece of software with no easy built in shortcuts, what you get is what you've learned by using it, the more you use it the more you learn. any brightness balance, contrast or colour shift is down to the end user, as such it gives a tremendous amount of flexibility as to the end result you desire. Additionally with the numerous tools built in, it allows me to recreate many differnet specific facial tones, blemishes and colours etc,

Alex K

[dmytro]

I think that the major problem with re-color is that once an area is colored it lacks dept or shadow, so I fix it up by using Ulead Photo Express (or any other pait program will do) to dive the photo extra touch up.

Quite right colour, contrast, etc does suffer, so you manipulate it artificially, within the software you are using

[Askold]

Had some free time, two more pics.

Sailor from Odessa



German panzerman

[dmytro]

Good stuff

regards

Alex K

[Larrister]

Hi

I try to get a color photo look, as if the photo was taken yesterday.
I don't use the layering technique, see one of my earlier post on how I colorize photos.

Others get a look that reminds me of what color film of the 40's and 50's looked like which is great.

Sometimes a colorized photo lacks depth and the color looks washed out so I play around with the saturation tool, selective color tool etc to get the desired effect. The better the resolution, the better the photo will turn out.

Study uniform , medal and ribbon, vehicle colors and experiment until you're satisfied with the result. Study period and recent photos to see what certain objects look like. This helps when coloring landscapes, trees etc.

Most of all, enjoy yourself and don't be afraid to post your results here.
No-one is going to laugh at you.

Cheers Larry

[dmytro]

Hi


Most of all, enjoy yourself and don't be afraid to post your results here.
No-one is going to laugh at you.

Cheers Larry

I couldn't agree more

regards

Alex

[GaryMJ]

This is a great thread, thought I'd give it a try. My first attempt, I tried to keep it subtle and as natural as possible. Gotta to more of these, better way to pass time than watching TV

[dmytro]

This is a great thread, thought I'd give it a try. My first attempt, I tried to keep it subtle and as natural as possible. Gotta to more of these, better way to pass time than watching TV

First attemp!!!!!!!!! amazing well done


Alex K

[Askold]

Excellent job Garry, very realistic!