Creative photography

[poohster]

hi i would like to have a go at greating b&w photos with an item in the photo in colour is there any such software that does this? If not how can it be done?

[ShutterbugGail]

There are probably several ways to go about this but I'd do it using layers.

You'd make a duplicate layer of your color photo and desaturate it (ie, make it black and white). Then you'd carefully erase the desaturated layer on the areas you want in color, so the color from the layer below would show through.

Do you have a software program which has layers such as Adobe Elements or PaintShop Pro. If so, are you familiar with working with layers?

[poohster]

Hi ShutterbuGail

yes i have fireworks and Adobe photoshop and image ready, did try to do that layers thing in adobe but it just changed both layers to b&W, was hoping there was a simpler way around it  :-/

[ShutterbugGail]

was hoping there was a simpler way around it  :-/

There may be, though I'm not personally familiar with it.

Try this method, which prevents both layers from becoming grayscale.

Open a copy of your color image in Photoshop and change it to "grayscale." Then save a high-quality copy and give it a new name, eg. image_bw.

Next, open a copy of your original color image. Next, open the grayscale copy, select and paste it onto the color copy. The grayscale copy should be on top. Erase the areas where you want colors to show through.

Although this tutorial isn't about your topic, it will give you some information about using layers and the eraser tool:

http://www.digicamhelp.com/how-to-create-depth-of-field-using-layers/shallow-dof-with-layers.htm

[Mike54]

Using PSP 9 but I'm guessing there must be similar tools/features in PS. Using the selection tool I selected the eyes only then inverted the selection and using channel mixer set the image to monochrome. This changed everything to greyscale but the areas that weren't selected (the eyes). FTR when I tried just using greyscale it changed everything. Greyscale is just that, greyscale. If you want greyscale in a color image use the channel mixer. I don't have PS available right now but if needed I can play with it when I get home.

[poohster]

thanks mike i also have psp 9 and it worked a treat, thanks again to you both for all your help and advice  

[ShutterbugGail]

I recently learned a another way to go about it using Photoshop:

1- Desaturate the photo (image>adjustments>desaturate);

2- Use the history brush to paint back in what you want.

Enlarge the image for detail work.