BASIC PHOTOSHOP TECHNIQUES
HOW TO BURN AND DODGE: Choose the History Brush. On the top Menu Bar
toward the far left side click on the Brush Picker and choose a soft round Brush and
set the diameter to the desired size. The mode box to the right of the brush picker
will probably be set at Normal. If you wish to darken a section of the print choose
Multiply and if you wish to lighten an area choose Screen. Set the Opacity Level
between 25% and 35%. Click on the area you plan to darken (Multiply) or lighten
(Screen) and click and drag in the area to the desired value. THIS TECHNIQUE
WILL ONLY WORK ON A SINGLE LAYER, NOT AN IMAGE WITH MULTIPLE
LAYERS.
WHY SHOULD YOU WORK ON ADJUSTMENT LAYERS INSTEAD OF WORKING
DIRECTLY ON THE IMAGE?
When you work directly on the image you are affecting the pixels in the original
image. By working on an Adjustment Layer you are not only keeping the original
image intact but you can easily go back to the adjustment layer later to make
changes. If you are not finished with the image and wish to save the layers to work
on at a later time, save the image as a Photoshop File. When you have finished the
image and want to turn it in Flatten the Layers LAYER>FLATTEN and save it as a
JPEG file.
HOW TO TURN A COLOR PRINT BLACK AND WHITE
Open your photograph in Photoshop. Refer to the hand out sheet “ How to make a
finished “straight” digital image. Size and adjust the photograph for the best image
quality. Go to The top menu bar and choose LAYER>NEW ADJUSTMENT LAYER>
BLACK AND WHITE or click on the half black and white circle at the bottom of the
Layers Palette. It is called “Create a New Fill or Adjustment Layer”. Your image will
turn black and white. Adjust the Red, Yellow, Green, Cyan and Blue sliders to achieve
a black and white print with detail in the highlights, shadows and mid-tones. Close
the dialog box and flatten the image when finished. Go to Layer>Flatten or click on
the down arrow in the top of the Layers, Channels and Paths dialog box located
above your layers.
BRING BACK THE ORIGINAL COLOR WITH THE HISTORY BRUSH
Open your black and white print created by the method above. Choose the History
Brush in the Tools Palette. Choose a soft brush and adjust to the desired diameter.
Set the opacity around 20% to 30% to achieve pastel colors. If you wish the color to
be closer to the original saturation in certain areas, then brush over those areas
more.
COLOR USING HUE AND SATURATION
Open your black and white image. Using a selection tool. Usually the Quick
Selection Tool and select the area you wish to colorize. Go to Layer>New
Adjustment Layer or at the bottom of the Layers Palette click on the circle icon
(New Fill or Adjustment layer) and choose Hue/Saturation. Click the Colorize
box and adjust the Hue and Saturation sliders to the desired color and saturation.
Click Command D to deselect and go to Filter>Blur>Gaussian Blur and move the
slider between 5 and 15 in order to soften the selection edge. Flatten your image
and save it as a JPEG.
USING THE COLOR REPLACEMENT TOOL
Open your color image in Photoshop. Click on the arrow next to the Brush Tool. You
will see several other brush selection tools click on the Color Replacement Tool.
Choose an area in your color photograph you wish to change the color such as
someone’s hat. Click on the Foreground Color (the black square) and choose your
color. Proceed to color in the hat with your color choice.
COLORING A BLACK AND WHITE PRINT WITH LAYER BLENDING MODE
Open your color photograph and turn it black and white following the above
method. Go to the Layer dialog box and click on the icon to the left of the trash icon.
This icon is Create a New Layer. Go to the top of the Layer Dialog box and in the box
(set the blending mode for the layer) scroll down and click on Color. Click on the
Foreground Color Box and choose your color. Select the Brush Tool and set the
opacity. I would keep the opacity below 100% since you will have more control if
you can build up the color gradually. Begin to color in the desired areas. The more
times you brush over an area the more the saturation of color is built up until you
reach 100%.