How to Colorize a Black and White Photo in Photoshop

This tutorial will teach you how to add color back into an old, black and white photograph. It's a lot of fun scanning and colorizing old family portraits, or bringing vintage photos into the modern world.
There are a few different techniques to colorize a black and white image, but the methods in this tutorial will be 100% non-destructive, meaning your original image stays intact, and you can go back and make adjustments without having to start from scratch.
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Пікірлер: 819

  • @NewLayer
    @NewLayer4 жыл бұрын

    Check out more photo editing tutorials for Photoshop here: kzread.info/head/PLEjFMg29XlSzqND5thD-JbG99lVZKp_oW

  • @mwtfrooo6098

    @mwtfrooo6098

    4 жыл бұрын

    I need help Im trying to change the color but its not working. If I select green it shows dark red on the screen. How do I fix this?

  • @NewLayer

    @NewLayer

    4 жыл бұрын

    Its Will B. It’s hard to say without seeing you do it. Check your blend mode and make sure you’re in RGB color mode in Photoshop.

  • @mwtfrooo6098

    @mwtfrooo6098

    4 жыл бұрын

    New Layer Sorry I’ll try to be more detailed. After I do the refine edging step I select a solid color and I want that solid color to be green it chooses a whole different color like very light red.

  • @lucutes2936

    @lucutes2936

    4 жыл бұрын

    great job!!

  • @NewLayer

    @NewLayer

    4 жыл бұрын

    @@lucutes2936 Thanks, sorry for blowing your eardrums out with the intro, the newest videos don't do that :)

  • @AnGhaeilge
    @AnGhaeilge8 жыл бұрын

    Thank you sir! This helped me turn a photo of my great grandfather into colour for my grandmother. It's the only photo she has of him. It was torn, ragged and in black and white. I removed all the flaws and this tutorial helped me finish it :D She's going to love it!

  • @qualityroofingmadras

    @qualityroofingmadras

    8 жыл бұрын

    +Sean Ó Briain Do share the before and after :D

  • @najma9857

    @najma9857

    8 жыл бұрын

    Show us in a social media platform!

  • @qualityroofingmadras

    @qualityroofingmadras

    8 жыл бұрын

    only if there is some one to reply back!

  • @WetWillie67

    @WetWillie67

    7 жыл бұрын

    I need a reply, did she love it?

  • @AnGhaeilge

    @AnGhaeilge

    7 жыл бұрын

    Yes - she loved it :) Her memory is very poor these days so she doesn't remember who I am anymore. But she remembers that I made a photo for her.

  • @number4230
    @number42308 жыл бұрын

    Great video, but I do regret watching it at 12 at night. I've ended up staying up late just colorizing pictures.

  • @heinrichpreussen

    @heinrichpreussen

    8 жыл бұрын

    same

  • @Vexdon

    @Vexdon

    7 жыл бұрын

    thats what im doing right now lol

  • @mcbarnemb

    @mcbarnemb

    7 жыл бұрын

    Number 42

  • @elysianfieldsphotography3528

    @elysianfieldsphotography3528

    7 жыл бұрын

    It's 2am where I am right now and yep, same issue...

  • @WiWillemijn

    @WiWillemijn

    7 жыл бұрын

    Number 42 ikr

  • @jennhoff03
    @jennhoff039 жыл бұрын

    I love that you just did a straight-forward video for more advanced users. I hate wading through 10 minutes of "and this is what a layer means, and this is your brush palette..." I know a lot of the users here are asking basic questions, but I appreciate that you just show how to do it without a bunch of extra talking about basic features. Great tutorial!

  • @picklewart5382

    @picklewart5382

    8 жыл бұрын

    +Jenn Hoff I like this too. I'm not advanced, but he explained what needed to be explained like the shortcuts and junk. I can figure out what the layers, masks, and everything else is just by watching.

  • @AARON12895

    @AARON12895

    6 жыл бұрын

    To properly learn this, you ought to write a step by step note by pausing the video at every step, then you do it all over according the note. You won't learn anything if just by watching.

  • @ObscuredByTime

    @ObscuredByTime

    6 жыл бұрын

    I've actually found that these sorts of tutorials are actually the best for nearly every level of user. The ones that keep it super basic don't make you think as much about what's actually going on, and so you're not as likely to actually learn from it.

  • @JK-gh9ej

    @JK-gh9ej

    5 жыл бұрын

    I learned from it just by watching but I don't have a clue what the command to soften the coulorized edges is so I was forced to do it manually

  • @jerryleigh9272
    @jerryleigh92723 жыл бұрын

    As a retired physics laboratory system instructor/director and enthusiast level cs6 going cc student of Adobe, I say Hear! Hear!. You have done an outstanding job of giving us, the unwashed Adobe-loving public, a step-by-step tutorial that we can actually follow. It excuses us from the lofty demands of professionalism and allows us to learn with simple and trusted tools. However, I do agree with one commenter who asked you go slow down just a little for those of who learn slowly and even need to write down the steps ad you reveal them. With wholehearted gratitude: THANKS!

  • @cesardireyes6083
    @cesardireyes60839 жыл бұрын

    As a teacher you're very good. You go step by step and show the tools you're using, unlike others that just want to show what they know, but don't have a clue about teaching. Thanks for the coloring tutorial. I'm going to color a black and white picture of my mom taken about 40 years ago.

  • @ShiftingDrifter
    @ShiftingDrifter8 жыл бұрын

    This is outstanding. Thanks for the quick and dirty version without inundating with a lot of verbose commentary. Short and sweet does it.

  • @simons.collins925
    @simons.collins9259 жыл бұрын

    This is, by far, the best coloring video I can find anywhere.

  • @Hogram82
    @Hogram829 жыл бұрын

    Dude. Awesome tutorial. Perfect instructions. Perfect speed. I nailed colourisation in a different pic just by working step-by-step with you. Thanks heaps.

  • @Diederikk

    @Diederikk

    9 жыл бұрын

    Not sure if you're still interested, but for anyone else that has the same problem: If you go to Image > Mode > ............, you need to select something other than grayscale.

  • @tima1443
    @tima14435 жыл бұрын

    Thank you! I am barely learning how to use the tools in Photoshop, and it's a little overwhelming knowing theres different tools for EVERYTHING, so finding the right ones for what I want to create is very tricky. You made it simple and well done!

  • @jennygoring5736
    @jennygoring57369 жыл бұрын

    Thank you! You demonstrated exactly what I was looking for without my having to skim through tons of content. I was stuck on this one specific problem and you solved it in no time at all. Thanks again!

  • @MichaelMarteens
    @MichaelMarteens8 жыл бұрын

    Thanks a lot. I just colorized a portrait of my grandpa after he graduated college in Spain. I can't wait to show it to him tomorrow, I think he will be so happy.

  • @AidanROTF
    @AidanROTF8 жыл бұрын

    Watching this in the background and at about 4:00 I heard "next we need to remove his eyes"

  • @icebear8100

    @icebear8100

    5 жыл бұрын

    Really

  • @arwenkoesmapahlawan

    @arwenkoesmapahlawan

    4 жыл бұрын

    haha

  • @orcasea59
    @orcasea597 жыл бұрын

    This is very cool. Thank you for making this, as i am about the digitize a huge quantity of family archival pictures, many B&W, that will need this. Consider it 'Liked' and me, 'Subscribed'!

  • @TimXMan1000
    @TimXMan10003 жыл бұрын

    this guy makes photoshop look easy. i wish i could do what he can

  • @lou5368

    @lou5368

    3 жыл бұрын

    that's why constant practice is important, to sharpens skills.. even this guy as great as he is now was in our position when he was starting. Your dedication on the medium dictates the rate of how you'll master it. Good luck and have a great day!

  • @ritzescarpe
    @ritzescarpe5 жыл бұрын

    Wow, very quite and helpful tutorial, this proves that you dont need a very long video just to show some tutorials, very precise and informative, Thank you very much 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻

  • @digitallair3425
    @digitallair34252 жыл бұрын

    Excellent! You have the perfect cadence and your attention to speeding up the little stuff (but labor intensive) is really good. Thank you.

  • @KelvinClone
    @KelvinClone8 жыл бұрын

    You're a wiz. Thanks for the useful video, Photoshop master.

  • @roses-of-the-romanovs
    @roses-of-the-romanovs2 ай бұрын

    The tutorial that got me started! Coloring photos is so much fun and therefore I thank you for starting me on my journey!

  • @ajb9444
    @ajb94449 жыл бұрын

    Thank you so much. I am a photography degree student and i must admit i was struggling with this (How to make my colourised photographs look realistic). Your tutorials are so simple and easy to follow. Thank you once again.

  • @TheCrew-pt4hd
    @TheCrew-pt4hd4 жыл бұрын

    Wow, that is exactly what I was looking for. So helpful.

  • @lhawkins40
    @lhawkins408 жыл бұрын

    Best tutorial ever thank you for making it simple and wonderful to learn!!!!

  • @shawnzayn
    @shawnzayn8 жыл бұрын

    Amazing! Thank you, I subscribed :)

  • @papodemarketing
    @papodemarketing5 жыл бұрын

    Outstanding! Thank you so much for the instructors and tips! 👍🏻👍🏻

  • @rosettaarchie169
    @rosettaarchie1697 жыл бұрын

    This is more than amazing and I just LOVE IT!!!

  • @salahoua1
    @salahoua17 жыл бұрын

    Straight form the pros. thanks a lot John for this amazing tutorial!

  • @se5442
    @se54427 жыл бұрын

    Thank you for this clear, concise tutorial. You helped me.

  • @ronreagan8854
    @ronreagan88549 жыл бұрын

    John, thank you very much! You make the difficult so much easier than I imagined.

  • @xilefx
    @xilefx10 жыл бұрын

    Your pace in the tutorials is perfect for me

  • @nizamuddinshaikh3185
    @nizamuddinshaikh31855 жыл бұрын

    Straight forward, concise and useful video. Thank you very much.

  • @robpetrullo
    @robpetrullo6 жыл бұрын

    This is perfect, I would never have done it with solid colour layers but this is fantastic

  • @SwapnilSangkalpa
    @SwapnilSangkalpa9 жыл бұрын

    the best tutorial i have ever found in youtube simple and effective..thank you for posting your idia.....

  • @louislouis2525
    @louislouis25258 жыл бұрын

    really appreciate the video man, it's people like you that have essentially taught me all i know about photoshop. Obviously still got a lot to learn, until now i was just using an almost transparent layer with the colour i wanted but it obviously never looked quite right.

  • @jenniferodonnell6815
    @jenniferodonnell6815 Жыл бұрын

    brilliant tutorial! Thank you so much. because of this video, I was able to give my mum a colour photo of her and all her siblings when they were children! Thank you!

  • @mourningmolasses1975
    @mourningmolasses19755 жыл бұрын

    Thank you so much mister! This is the only video that truly made me comprehend how the work's done. Again, thank you :))

  • @shivonneross8879
    @shivonneross88794 жыл бұрын

    Thanks for posting this tutorial. Very well done and easy to follow.

  • @Amaleigh2024
    @Amaleigh20246 жыл бұрын

    Needed the perfect video to help with my photoshop course assignment and this helped me tremendously! Thank you for posting these videos

  • @dandy2365
    @dandy23659 жыл бұрын

    I thought it was a great tutorial for the beginner. Thanks for taking the time to post it. Much appreciated.

  • @corystajduhar
    @corystajduhar4 жыл бұрын

    Nice. Very simple, but you gotta know the steps. Thanks.

  • @gets0410
    @gets04107 жыл бұрын

    Fantastic! The instructions couldn't be more clear. Thanks.

  • @peggystaley4776
    @peggystaley47767 жыл бұрын

    Best tut I've seen on colorizing. Thanks

  • @davehaughton
    @davehaughton6 жыл бұрын

    Thank you for that.. just what I was looking for. GREAT tutorial

  • @kenkid15
    @kenkid154 жыл бұрын

    Thanks so much. Very helpful and easy to follow

  • @michellecarlson3202
    @michellecarlson32024 жыл бұрын

    Just discovered your channel! You make it so easy, even though you are pretty fast haha. I have been playing around with photoshop for months and have learned more in one day with your channel than in all of that time. Thank you!

  • @NewLayer

    @NewLayer

    4 жыл бұрын

    Thank you! I'm happy to hear that. If it's ever too slow or fast, you can change the playback speed directly on KZread or the KZread app to make it easier to follow along.

  • @kjamison5951
    @kjamison59515 жыл бұрын

    Thank you for showing this. I have several images I will be experimenting with. Oh, and I subscribed to see more tips and tricks in Photoshop!

  • @theawesomist677
    @theawesomist6776 жыл бұрын

    Hey man! Thanks for the tutorial! I tries three other ways of doing this beforehand and this is my favorite!

  • @BRANDONLEZZGO
    @BRANDONLEZZGO9 жыл бұрын

    awesome you the man ! I had the same problem below as Maddex glad he asked first! but works fine now !

  • @pescadoresarmados
    @pescadoresarmados7 жыл бұрын

    superb. concise and helpful. thanks a lot!

  • @thanosztitan
    @thanosztitan8 жыл бұрын

    Awesome Thanks for this Tutorial!

  • @SouthernCodester91
    @SouthernCodester919 жыл бұрын

    Awesome video, definitely earned a subscribe from me. Very informational, learned a new technique. Thank you

  • @NewLayer

    @NewLayer

    9 жыл бұрын

    Glad it helped CodyAZ1991! Make sure you subscribe at kzread.info, that's where all the current and new videos will be posted.

  • @SouthernCodester91

    @SouthernCodester91

    9 жыл бұрын

    Alright will do :D

  • @kendrick10601

    @kendrick10601

    9 жыл бұрын

    CodyAZ1991 Thanks... I want to make a surprise to my mother with a picture she did with her deceased father when she was a teenager... great!

  • @TheOriginalLordMike
    @TheOriginalLordMike8 жыл бұрын

    Thank you for taking the time to do this.

  • @annastina4581
    @annastina45816 жыл бұрын

    Had a hard time to understand this technique but now I do, thanks so much for good and and clear instructions!

  • @PPTVBA
    @PPTVBA9 жыл бұрын

    Simple and easy for beginners!

  • @ruthzmcclure7158
    @ruthzmcclure71589 жыл бұрын

    Brilliant - I'll give it a go, you made it look so easy!

  • @BaddaBigBoom
    @BaddaBigBoom7 жыл бұрын

    This is great, thanks for posting. I've been trying to do it by hand, very fiddly. Rated and subbed.

  • @quangthang10d4
    @quangthang10d47 жыл бұрын

    Amazing! The refine edge technique!

  • @googleisshittoss
    @googleisshittoss7 жыл бұрын

    Fabulous tutorial...i've been wanting to do this for a long time...this video had me up and running really quickly..and i've just completed my first one..and if I say so myself, it's rather good. Thank you

  • @TINIK666
    @TINIK6667 жыл бұрын

    Thank you very much, John. Your tutorial really helped me.

  • @wackyfileswug
    @wackyfileswug4 жыл бұрын

    Great help and tutorial! Will try and experiment using this process.

  • @NewLayer

    @NewLayer

    4 жыл бұрын

    Glad it was helpful! Good luck :)

  • @Alyssa-rv1ty
    @Alyssa-rv1ty8 жыл бұрын

    Thankyou so much for this!

  • @vupham880
    @vupham8804 жыл бұрын

    I have learn so much in 7 minutes. Thank you!

  • @NewLayer

    @NewLayer

    4 жыл бұрын

    Happy to help! Glad you learned something new.

  • @inveighn
    @inveighn10 жыл бұрын

    Thanks for posting these!

  • @NewLayer

    @NewLayer

    10 жыл бұрын

    inveighn You're welcome :)

  • @ordaniel7749
    @ordaniel77498 жыл бұрын

    in two words - Thank you! it's been a great tutorial videos unlike the others.

  • @foreropa
    @foreropa6 жыл бұрын

    Wonderful tutorial, easy to follow even for people with no much experience like me. The photo ended being marvelous, I even colored the medals.

  • @carolvarveris175
    @carolvarveris17510 жыл бұрын

    John - you are the BEST !!!!! You helped me individually with something last year and I have to hand it to you - I think you are just great !

  • @NewLayer

    @NewLayer

    10 жыл бұрын

    Thanks! Not a problem, I'm here to help :)

  • @user-vo9lb6iq1v
    @user-vo9lb6iq1v9 жыл бұрын

    I like the tutorial very much! You explained everything very well;)

  • @ryanchristian3977
    @ryanchristian39773 жыл бұрын

    Quick and clear. I like it

  • @rods427
    @rods4279 жыл бұрын

    Thanks for this lesson! It helped me color my grandpa's old photo when he was an marketer.

  • @gsfxmentor
    @gsfxmentor6 жыл бұрын

    Thank you for this tutorial

  • @timodan3410
    @timodan34104 жыл бұрын

    wow that's super . well done and thank you for tutorial

  • @tottirabotti
    @tottirabotti9 жыл бұрын

    awesome tut! thanx!

  • @bawagrafix
    @bawagrafix9 жыл бұрын

    I have seen 3-4 videos on B/W to color, but your approach is awesome!

  • @tamannakalyani
    @tamannakalyani7 жыл бұрын

    Very nicely described. Thanks

  • @heugene
    @heugene8 жыл бұрын

    Awesome tutorial. Thank you for sharing this

  • @princegupta93

    @princegupta93

    8 жыл бұрын

    hiii

  • @AndyGreasleyUk
    @AndyGreasleyUk9 жыл бұрын

    Great guide, thanks for this - subbed!

  • @TheJamSpring
    @TheJamSpring10 жыл бұрын

    Really great tutorial! You explain to the point and nicely! I am learning a lot from your tutorials! Thanks :)

  • @dejanvizant3822
    @dejanvizant38223 жыл бұрын

    Thank you, great video !

  • @NewLayer

    @NewLayer

    3 жыл бұрын

    You're welcome, thanks :)

  • @Stellifant
    @Stellifant2 жыл бұрын

    Great tutorial John. Thank you!

  • @mrnk7911
    @mrnk79113 жыл бұрын

    Thanks heaps for this video!

  • @omidarmat3786
    @omidarmat37864 жыл бұрын

    This is amazing, thanks.

  • @mylefkadacreativestudio4666
    @mylefkadacreativestudio46664 жыл бұрын

    Thank you for your helpful tutorial!

  • @NewLayer

    @NewLayer

    4 жыл бұрын

    You're welcome, we've got plenty more in the works :)

  • @vivianamor2176
    @vivianamor21763 жыл бұрын

    Great tutorial!

  • @elmermorales308
    @elmermorales3083 жыл бұрын

    Amazing tutorial I have learned a lot about colorizing black pictures

  • @jennalrice
    @jennalrice4 жыл бұрын

    Great, informative video. Thank you so much!

  • @NewLayer

    @NewLayer

    4 жыл бұрын

    You're welcome!

  • @user-us6hr9tp1b
    @user-us6hr9tp1b5 жыл бұрын

    Thank you for everything my brother

  • @DrUndies
    @DrUndies6 жыл бұрын

    Excellent tutorial. Thank you very much.

  • @barbarabui5495
    @barbarabui54957 жыл бұрын

    The simplicity itself! Great :)))

  • @karinawoodbury9760
    @karinawoodbury97609 жыл бұрын

    Thanks!!! awesome tutorial!!! I used it and it turned out amazing! :)

  • @timittheminit8462
    @timittheminit84622 жыл бұрын

    Thanks just what I needed

  • @seanhomar5945
    @seanhomar59455 жыл бұрын

    Brilliant tutorial, thankyou.

  • @marielwolters
    @marielwolters9 жыл бұрын

    This is great! Very clear tutorial :)

  • @00ssu
    @00ssu9 жыл бұрын

    Superb!!!! I never expected this kind of tutorial. First when i saw the thumbnail of this video, i thought you are going to change color image to black and white. But it is marvellous.

  • @covancide
    @covancide3 жыл бұрын

    Thank you so much, this was so helpful!

  • @GertrudeQRichardson
    @GertrudeQRichardson6 жыл бұрын

    Well done. Thank you.

  • @cynthialuo5229
    @cynthialuo52299 жыл бұрын

    Thank you! Very helpful :D

  • @krishanoberoi
    @krishanoberoi5 жыл бұрын

    This was super helpful for adding a little splash of color to a B&W photo- only took me about 15-20 minutes to get it done, and it looks awesome. Thanks!

  • @l0kaltpsykf4ll34
    @l0kaltpsykf4ll346 жыл бұрын

    thank you for the tutorial. i colorized and cleaned a photo of my dad when he was 16. now it looks like the photo was taken yesterday

  • @eliasgirma7220
    @eliasgirma72206 жыл бұрын

    One of the best tutorials; and to the point

  • @duygunundesteleri
    @duygunundesteleri9 жыл бұрын

    Thank you so much that was really helpful

  • @cakestalker
    @cakestalker9 жыл бұрын

    To get closer to how the original looked in color, you need as much information as possible, so you can get as possible in accuracy. Like finding out if he really had blue eyes, shades of hair color (since it fairly dark one can assume he was not blond and lastly how that uniform of the time period looked.