Selective Color On A Black and White Photo

Directions

1. Open the image you want to alter!  (image one)

   Make a copy of the layer/background (ctrl+j).  (image two)  I always do this, and then edit the layer copy rather than the original, so I have something to reference as I work, if I need to.  It's not necessary, but I find it makes life easier to compare the before/after of an image, so I don't have to have 2 of the same file open at the same time.  For this tutorial, I will be working with Layer 1, leaving Layer "Background" hidden for now.

2. Make any desired tweaks to brightness, contrast, etc., in the Adjustments window.  In this image, I turned up the brightness and contrast slightly, to really make the colors pop.  (image three)

   I also altered the saturation & vibrance a little as well.  (image four)  Feel free to play around with some of the other image adjustments to get the picture the way you want it. 

3. Now, you need to select all of the "adjustment layers" AND Layer 1, and merge them together.  To do this, click on one layer, and hold ctrl while selecting all other desired layers.  (image five)
   
   Right click, on a selected layer and choose "Merge Layers."  Rename this layer to Layer 1 (if desired). (image six)

4. Make sure Layer 1 is selected.  In the Adjustments window, click on the Black/White icon.  Your image should have turned black/white!  (image seven)

   Merge the black/white layer with Layer 1, and rename it to Layer 1 (if desired).  (image eight)

5. Zoom in to the portion of the picture you want to make color.  In this case, we'll do the flower in the girl's hand. (image nine)

   Select the History Brush tool in your toolbar.  (image ten) Adjust the brush master diameter to approximately 10.  (image eleven

6. Using the history brush, color in the flower, starting with the edges.  Adjust the size of the brush as needed for tiny or large areas.  Pro tip: If you do not have a steady hand, or are not confident in your outlining skills, use the Lasso tools (Magnetic is my favorite) to select chunks of area at a time, then use the history brush inside the dotted line.  You'll only be able to color inside the lines, making it much easier!  (image twelve)

   Voila!  Don't forget to save often so you don't lose your work if your computer crashes!

   NOTE: you can click here to download this tutorial as a printable PDF with full size screenshots
   
   *special thanks to Tiffani for the use of her cute little girl as our model!