The basic technique is to duplicate the color photograph, convert the
duplicate to B&W, and paste it as a new layer on top of the color
image. Add an opaque layer mask and then selectively paint transparency
into the upper mask, exposing the color photograph underneath.
Giving credit where credit is due: I did not come up with this method.
I adapted it for The GIMP from a reader comment I saw in
a
"hand-coloring" tutorial on photo.net (great web site by the way, I
recommend it).
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Here is the original example image, loaded into The GIMP.
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Duplicate the image (Ctrl+D).
By whatever method suits you best, convert the duplicate image
to B&W. Once you have gotten the B&W version that you
like, change it back to RGB mode (Image/Mode/RGB).
In this example, I tried the
channel
mixer, but ended up in this case preferring a simple
conversion to grayscale (Image/Mode/Grayscale), then back to RGB.
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Open the Layers dialog (Ctrl+L). Make sure that the original
color image is selected in the Image drop down box. Click on
the new layer button at the bottom of the dialog.
Here I've named the new layer "B&W"
Make sure the new layer is selected in the layers dialog.
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Go to the B&W image and select all, then copy (Ctrl+A then
Ctrl+C). Then go to the color image window and paste (Ctrl+V).
The B&W image should be pasted into that layer, obscuring
the color image.
Click the anchor button in the Layers dialog to anchor the
pasted image.
You can close the B&W image window you just copied
from now, if you want.
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In the Layers dialog, right-click on the B&W layer and
select "Add Layer Mask". In the Add Mask Options dialog, select
White (Full Opacity).
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Make sure that Black is selected as the foreground color in the
toolbox. We're going to paint transparency into the layer mask
to reveal the color image below.
Bring up the Brushes dialog (Dialogs/Brushes) and select a big
brush. In the toolbox, select the paint tool ( ). Begin painting the interior of the
parts you want to be in color.
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When you get to the edges of the colored part, zoom in to make
life easier.
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At the very boundaries of the colored image I typically zoom in
to 300% or so. Switch to a small, feathered brush and very
carefully paint the edges.
If you only paint a little at a time it makes it much easier to
use the GIMP's excellent undo feature if you accidentally stray
outside the boundary. If for some reason you can't undo, don't
worry: just switch to white paint and paint opacity back over
your mistake to repair the mask.
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When your all done, go over the colored part carefully to see if
there are any gray (opaque) specks that you missed. Then zoom
out and have a look. Voila!
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).
Text and/or images are available for personal or commercial use
under certain conditions.
For this kind of fine paint work, a pen tablet like this Wacom
one is very useful. For photo retouching you don't need
any bigger than a 4x5 model.
