Bright Colouring Tutorial
I will be showing you how to get a certain bright, colorful, image coloring -
I am using Adobe Photoshop CS5
Step 1 - Use this or whatever glorious picture you have handy. I did not crop this image, because it was already a size and positioned in a way I liked (I do believe it was however originally cropped from a large previous existing scan). Cropping and image resizing (the two go hand in hand - ALWAYS -) is largely about experimenting with your picture, I usually go through around 3 or more cropping/resizing sessions on a single picture. Try to find a position in your picture that looks as interesting as possible, closeups (as this picture) can be done well, as well as pictures that are farther away. Try to keep your image simple in nature, crop out whatever things that may make your icon look busy, and keep your focus on your subject, rather than the surrondings (there's so much space on an icon and a small banner after all) simplicity is key to many graphics.
This picture was initially appealing to me, because of a couple things - The subjects were clearly in view, and the background around them was not very busy. I also liked how the faces were slightly cropped from view, I've always seen icons were a slight cut off of a face/head/body part to be appealing, especially for closeups.
Step 2 - Open up a LEVELS layer (Layer>New Adjustment Layer>Levels). I normally do this first on many of my pictures, especially ones that have slightly duller
Settings - 32>1.26>190 [This adds a nice contrast between the lights and darks, I like using this tool more than putting a duplicate layer on screen because I like the contrast. The curves tool is also gives similar effects if you swing that way, as I do at times.]
Step 3 - Time for our fist Selective Color layer =D (Layer>New Adjustment Layer>Selective Color)
Reds
-100, 0, +100, 0
Yellows
-100, -39, +100, 0
Cyans
+100, -100, -100, +100
Blues
-39, -31, -100, +46
Magnetas
-100, -100, +100, -100
[My image has very complimentary colors (the shades of oranges and blues), this usually attributes to a more colorful brighter looking picture. Never over do it though, it will look like a mess and be taxing on the eye if you've made it look to colorful, it would also look rather muted, as the colors will expand and blend in with the surrounding. Don't try to make the whole image into two different colors exclusively (though it does look good in certain pictures) r-e-s-p-e-c-t the other colours!]
Step 4 - DUPLICATE the layer, and add then change that layer's transparency to 50% fill
[I've got it looking a little more bronze-yellow right now thanks to the duplicated SC layer. The colours will pop more. This step may not be entirely needed, and really depends on the colouring your amaing for. I might suggest playing with the SC colours for a more pink-brown tone, anothering colouring for images that I think works really well, especially with greens]
5. Add a HUE + Saturation layer, under the settings > Saturation = +47
[Bringing out the colors more now]
6. Proceed to add a Brightness/Contrast layer [Does exactly what it says] under these settings - Brightness = -1, Contrast = +5
7. NOW add a color balance layer [I'm adding more contrast here] -35, -2, +15 - Midtones
8. Now DUPLICATE all the layers and then MERGE those duplicated layers. Change the setting to Soft Light 100%. [Contrasting images, bringing out the colors a bit. Not every image will need so much contrast though]
9. Duplicate that layer and DESATURATE that layer. Keep it at soft light 100%. Bringing out the blacks just a tad. It's not to noticeable, but I like adding a bit more contrast to my images, no matter how small it may be.
10. Now add another selective layer
Reds = 50, 0, 0, 0
[This brings the reds down a bit]
And your finished! Hoped you liked the tutorial (it's my first as well) If certain images of the picture are too bright for you, you can probably change that by lowering the Levels layer, (or not using it at all. If your picture already has good contrast, you can probably skip that step even)
* I actually think I've gotten the colours on the image a bit to overt. I would fix that by duplicating the final image, desaturating that image, and lowering the opacity to whatever shade you would think to look good. I do this on my icons quite often.
I am using Adobe Photoshop CS5
Step 1 - Use this or whatever glorious picture you have handy. I did not crop this image, because it was already a size and positioned in a way I liked (I do believe it was however originally cropped from a large previous existing scan). Cropping and image resizing (the two go hand in hand - ALWAYS -) is largely about experimenting with your picture, I usually go through around 3 or more cropping/resizing sessions on a single picture. Try to find a position in your picture that looks as interesting as possible, closeups (as this picture) can be done well, as well as pictures that are farther away. Try to keep your image simple in nature, crop out whatever things that may make your icon look busy, and keep your focus on your subject, rather than the surrondings (there's so much space on an icon and a small banner after all) simplicity is key to many graphics.
This picture was initially appealing to me, because of a couple things - The subjects were clearly in view, and the background around them was not very busy. I also liked how the faces were slightly cropped from view, I've always seen icons were a slight cut off of a face/head/body part to be appealing, especially for closeups.
Step 2 - Open up a LEVELS layer (Layer>New Adjustment Layer>Levels). I normally do this first on many of my pictures, especially ones that have slightly duller
Settings - 32>1.26>190 [This adds a nice contrast between the lights and darks, I like using this tool more than putting a duplicate layer on screen because I like the contrast. The curves tool is also gives similar effects if you swing that way, as I do at times.]
Step 3 - Time for our fist Selective Color layer =D (Layer>New Adjustment Layer>Selective Color)
Reds
-100, 0, +100, 0
Yellows
-100, -39, +100, 0
Cyans
+100, -100, -100, +100
Blues
-39, -31, -100, +46
Magnetas
-100, -100, +100, -100
[My image has very complimentary colors (the shades of oranges and blues), this usually attributes to a more colorful brighter looking picture. Never over do it though, it will look like a mess and be taxing on the eye if you've made it look to colorful, it would also look rather muted, as the colors will expand and blend in with the surrounding. Don't try to make the whole image into two different colors exclusively (though it does look good in certain pictures) r-e-s-p-e-c-t the other colours!]
Step 4 - DUPLICATE the layer, and add then change that layer's transparency to 50% fill
[I've got it looking a little more bronze-yellow right now thanks to the duplicated SC layer. The colours will pop more. This step may not be entirely needed, and really depends on the colouring your amaing for. I might suggest playing with the SC colours for a more pink-brown tone, anothering colouring for images that I think works really well, especially with greens]
5. Add a HUE + Saturation layer, under the settings > Saturation = +47
[Bringing out the colors more now]
6. Proceed to add a Brightness/Contrast layer [Does exactly what it says] under these settings - Brightness = -1, Contrast = +5
7. NOW add a color balance layer [I'm adding more contrast here] -35, -2, +15 - Midtones
8. Now DUPLICATE all the layers and then MERGE those duplicated layers. Change the setting to Soft Light 100%. [Contrasting images, bringing out the colors a bit. Not every image will need so much contrast though]
9. Duplicate that layer and DESATURATE that layer. Keep it at soft light 100%. Bringing out the blacks just a tad. It's not to noticeable, but I like adding a bit more contrast to my images, no matter how small it may be.
10. Now add another selective layer
Reds = 50, 0, 0, 0
[This brings the reds down a bit]
And your finished! Hoped you liked the tutorial (it's my first as well) If certain images of the picture are too bright for you, you can probably change that by lowering the Levels layer, (or not using it at all. If your picture already has good contrast, you can probably skip that step even)
* I actually think I've gotten the colours on the image a bit to overt. I would fix that by duplicating the final image, desaturating that image, and lowering the opacity to whatever shade you would think to look good. I do this on my icons quite often.