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Posted on 10/03/10 01:34:15 AM |
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LonnieK
Diorama Dreamer Posts: 238 Reply  |
Colorizing and comping
In addition to participating in Steve's fun weekly challenges, one of my other passions is colorizing B&W photos of erstwhile movie celebrities, often appending new backgrounds. Here is my latest effort: Polly Bergen. C&C welcome.  _________________ Lonnie |
Posted on 10/03/10 06:22:29 AM |
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salfordnurse
Intensive Illustrator Posts: 207 Reply  |
Re: Colorizing and comping
Beautiful work!!!!!, an area of photoshop I'm interested in myself . Off to work in a minute will try and upload one of mine latter, you can tell me what you think!! |
Posted on 10/03/10 07:30:45 AM |
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Steve Caplin
Administrator Posts: 7012 Reply  |
Re: Colorizing and comping
Great tinting job. This is something I have to do far too often - when a magazine only has a black and white image of a celebrity available - and I know how time-consuming it can be. Just a couple of comments. The skin is skin-toned, certainly, but for me it's slightly too uniform. I tend to use the Dodge tool (set to Highlights) and the Burn tool (set to Midtones), both on a low pressure setting, to boost the colour and bring some variation into the skin. The Dodge tool would also let some highlight and extra colour into her hair. The new background is a good choice, but you should take another look at the perspective. The vanishing point in your image shows us (the viewers) to have our eye line at her breast level - surely we should be at her eye level? Try raising the background, even if it means faking the floor, and it should make for a more comfortable picture. |
Posted on 10/03/10 08:27:26 AM |
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laddition
femme fatale Posts: 585 Reply  |
Re: Colorizing and comping
I love it, it's so hard to do!!!  _________________ Mais je me connais, je lâcherais pas l'affaire.... Je vais piquer de grève comme on pique une colère... Plus têtue que tous les vieil homme et la mer... Pour que continue le combat ordinaire! |
Posted on 10/03/10 11:47:38 AM |
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GKB
Magical Montagist Posts: 3986 Reply  |
Re: Colorizing and comping
Hi Lonnie, What is it about the style of photography in the 40s and 50s that makes these photographs so amenable to this treatment? I think the excellent lighting and a hint of soft focus (with a proper soft focus filter) has a lot to do with it. That and a very attractive lass. Beautifully done. I love the pastel tone of her dress. Wish I could do it myself................Friday Challenge????? Agree with Steve about the perspective. It rather catches the eye and says that something is wrong. Apart from that take a pat on the head for some really nice work. Gordon _________________ Why is there only one word for ‘Thesaurus’? |
Posted on 10/03/10 7:53:41 PM |
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LonnieK
Diorama Dreamer Posts: 238 Reply |
Re: Colorizing and comping
Thank you all so much for your comments and observations. As Steve notes, to be done effectively, colorization is a time-consuming process. Here's another: Fred Astaire.  _________________ Lonnie |
Posted on 10/03/10 7:57:47 PM |
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LonnieK
Diorama Dreamer Posts: 238 Reply |
Re: Colorizing and comping
...and one that combines another passion, hot cars: Ann-Margret. _________________ Lonnie |
Posted on 10/03/10 7:59:08 PM |
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LonnieK
Diorama Dreamer Posts: 238 Reply |
Re: Colorizing and comping
 _________________ Lonnie |
Posted on 10/03/10 9:26:50 PM |
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salfordnurse
Intensive Illustrator Posts: 207 Reply |
Re: Colorizing and comping
As I said earlier beautiful work, really stunning, here's one of my attempts,  |
Posted on 11/03/10 12:23:54 PM |
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Luka
Skilful Snowman Posts: 94 Reply  |
Re: Colorizing and comping
I have never tried this impressive work |
Posted on 11/03/10 2:57:10 PM |
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Mark Goodwin
**** Posts: 261 Reply  |
Re: Colorizing and comping
Some excellent work here! Wow Lonnie I wouldn't even know where to begin. It is so nice to visit this forum and see some of the most wonderful and multi-styled talents of the contributors it is so refreshing and inspirational, thank you Steve not only for the great books but also your generosity and this forum. I have just spent the morning at the University of Wales delivering a lecture to 50, 2nd-year Creative Design students on how to set up and run a business or, how to become a self-employed Designer type person! It was an interesting experience, I may be wrong but I got the impression that they basically felt that their talent was going ensure that they were a raging success! Unfortunately, for me, I take my role very serious and I am genuinely concerned that they will come to financial harm, if they don't learn to take care of business. Then as I was leaving the campus I got a text from my youngest son Oli who his Studio Manager at Harper-Collins telling me to check out the advert he has just produced for Pauline Prescott's new book that is printed in the Daily Mail today. And it had a miraculous effect on me. Suddenly it confirmed everything that I had been preaching, that not only do you have to aim to be the best at your creativity, but you must always have your commercial hat on. _________________ Mark Goodwin If you do what you have always done, you'll get what you've always got! |
Posted on 11/03/10 4:37:40 PM |
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LonnieK
Diorama Dreamer Posts: 238 Reply |
Re: Colorizing and comping
Nicely done, salfordnurse. There seems to be two very distinct preferences concerning colorizing old B&W photos. Some lean toward the soft-tint style like you've done with this lovely Paulette Goddard photo (c1939). These are made to look like actual hand tinted photos of the era. Others, like me, tend toward coloring as though a full color photo was taken of the subject just yesterday. Each approach utilizes a different set of specific techniques. It would be interesting to hear what style others prefer. _________________ Lonnie |
Posted on 11/03/10 4:55:00 PM |
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GKB
Magical Montagist Posts: 3986 Reply |
Re: Colorizing and comping
That's like asking if you prefer tea or coffee. I like both as they both have something to offer. As a photographer I like the saturated style but the other technique is very nice in its restraint. _________________ Why is there only one word for ‘Thesaurus’? |
Posted on 11/03/10 11:11:43 PM |
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Paul 2007 thru 2010
Lego Legend Posts: 361 Reply |
Re: Colorizing and comping
Each to their own
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Posted on 12/03/10 08:45:23 AM |
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Nick Curtain
Model Master Posts: 1768 Reply  |
Re: Colorizing and comping
Lonnie I think your images are outstanding, although I also like the subtle effect created by Simon. When repairing and tinting B&W photos, I've erred towards the muted tone, but I do love the 'punch' you have created with these. I normally paint on a number of layers in colour mode, usually one for each colour, so the effect can be erased or masked easily. Would you mind sharing how you approached the images? Nick |
Posted on 12/03/10 7:03:52 PM |
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LonnieK
Diorama Dreamer Posts: 238 Reply |
Re: Colorizing and comping
Thank you for the compliment, Luka and Mark. It's interesting that you mention business, Mark. I consider myself a relatively proficient image manipulator, but I don't have an ounce of marketing prowess. I tell myself I just enjoy the work, but it would be nice to earn some extra cash from my efforts now and then. Though I've won a few contests, I've never made a red cent. Is there any hope for practitioners like me? _________________ Lonnie |
Posted on 13/03/10 00:19:52 AM |
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Mark Goodwin
**** Posts: 261 Reply |
Re: Colorizing and comping
There is always room for talent Lonnie! However if you want to charge people for using your skills, you will have to identify the benefits they will gain from purchasing your skills. People only buy BENEFITS, even if it's a piece of art, they will buy because they gain some kind of benefit from the purchase. Either as an investment, where the benefit will bring them a handsome return or, just because looking at the art gives them immense pleasure, the benefit of which is putting them in a nice 'place' and frame of mind and maybe makes them a better father, husband, boss etc. If you would like to send me a private a message, I will be more than happy to provide some start-up tips. Regards _________________ Mark Goodwin If you do what you have always done, you'll get what you've always got! |
Posted on 13/03/10 03:37:54 AM |
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tooquilos
Wizard of Oz Posts: 2890 Reply  |
Re: Colorizing and comping
Lovely work Lonnie and Salford. Ive done a bit of recolouring in the past with average results. I can certainly appreciate the work and time that goes into this. _________________ Wicked Witch of the West: I'm melting! I'm melting! |
Posted on 13/03/10 4:05:08 PM |
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LonnieK
Diorama Dreamer Posts: 238 Reply |
Re: Colorizing and comping
I appreciate the compliment, Nick. My workflow is straight-forward, but time-consuming. Without getting too detailed, the gist of it is: Prep for colorization is 75% of the battle. - Gather elements, research colors. - Complete retouch/restoration of source image. Proper tone prep is essential (low contrast). - Make and refine lots of masks. Background, clothing, skin, hair, lips, eyes, etc. I use several different masking methods (e.g. channels, quick mask, pen tool, calculations, apply image -- you name it!) Many overlap others. I find working with masks is more versatile than working with cutouts. - Create a group with each mask. - Add adjustment layers to each group: Solid color, Hue/Sat, Gradient Map, etc. for color; Selective color, paint layers, etc. for color adjustment and accents; D&B, styles, etc. for tonal adjustment. Curves, levels, etc., etc. - Merge visible for a detailing layer, global adjustments, D&B, vignette, texture, etc. Each image is different, of course, so there are lots of variables. I try to learn at least one new technique with each new project. _________________ Lonnie |
Posted on 13/03/10 4:07:18 PM |
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LonnieK
Diorama Dreamer Posts: 238 Reply |
Re: Colorizing and comping
Thank you kindly, Tooquilos. This is how I feel about your awesome animations. _________________ Lonnie |
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