How to make photos gray but on one part colored?

Question

How can I make a photograph all grey and leaving something in color? like a colored shirt and everything else black and white?

Answer 1

This is one way that you can do it in Photoshop Elements. It would be helpful to print this out and follow along. It's easy to do, but you must do the steps in order. Perhaps your own image editor has similar commands. If not, you might want to add details or post a new question to tell us what software you will be using.

1. Open the image you wish to alter.

2. Save the image using a different name than the original name so that you don't lose your original.

3. Use any selection tool you wish to outline the object whose color you wish to preserve. The Magnetic Lasso Tool is pretty quick, but the regular Lasso Tool might be more precise.

4. Hit [CTRL]+[C] to copy the selection.

5. Hit [SHIFT]+[CTRL]+[N] to make a new blank layer.
(Name it if you want, but you can accept "Layer 1.")

6. Hit [CTRL]+[V] to place the selection in the blank layer.

7. Move back to the background layer by clicking on that layer in the layers palette.

8. Hit [CTRL]+[SHIFT]+[U] to remove all color.

8-A. ALTERNATE APPROACH No. 1: Hit [CTRL]+[U] and use sliders to desaturate, leaving a hint of color present.

8-B. ALTERNATE APPROACH No. 2: Use a "Convert to Black and White" utility, if your software offers this. In Photoshop Elements, the command is [ALT]+[CTRL]+[B].

9. Hit [CTRL]+[SHIFT]+[E] to merge the layers.

10. Save your work.

Answer 2

What you're trying to do is color a black and white photo.


Google it, the steps are actually fairly simple, but you need a decent program like Photoshop or Paint Shop Pro.

Answer 3

Here is how to do it in adobe photoshop CS2:

1. Open your pic.
2. Select "layer" on top menu bar.
3. Choose "new adjustment layer" then "gradient map".
4. Type the name of new layer and select "gray" in color option and click "ok"
5. Gradient map window will pop up. Select black& white gradient color in "Gradient Used for Grayscale Mapping" then click ok.
6. Select "move tool" in "Tools" and right click on the pic.
7. Click on the name of the gradient layer you entered earlier to select the new layer.
8. Go to "Tools" and click on "eraser" to select it.
9. Start erasing the parts of your pic that you wanted to appear in color. Do it with care.

Hope this gives you an idea.

Answer 4

An alt. to Boo's is the reverse. Shoot the pic in color. Then use your software (I use Paint Shop Pro) and mask the portion you want to stay in color and convert the rest of the pic to B&W. May be quicker this way.

Answer 5

if u have a cannon camera u can. u press the "func.set" button and scroll across until u come to "my colours" then u press the down arrow until u get to the little icon with a paint tube and a letter. scroll accross till u get to colour accent and press "menu". focus on the colour that u want to keep in the photo and press the < button. press "func. set" to exit and take the photo. there u go.

Answer 6

I'd go with Dusty's suggestion - even plain colours will have some variation caused by shadows etc. Starting with a colour image will give a better effect.

Answer 7

I absolutely LOVE Adobe Photoshop. It may be expensive but if you are really wanting to do photography you will LOVE this software.

Answer 8

a good photo program
or a canon camera