How to Hand Color Black and White Photographs

While black and white photographs are beautiful, you might have one or two that need a little extra something. Hand-coloring photographs give you a great deal of creative control, and has an overall pleasing aesthetic quality. If you've ever seen old, hand-colored photos of relatives, you know that this process adds color in a soft, dreamy way. Here's how to hand-color your own black and white photographs.

Things You'll Need

• Matte-finished black and white photographs
• Cotton balls or cotton craft piping
• Small, wooden sticks (toothpicks or cuticle sticks work well)
• Photo oils kit
• Art-quality colored pencils (soft lead)
• Art pastels
• P.M. solution (found at specialty stores) if using something besides photo oils
• Small, disposable plastic palette (if using photo oils)

Instructions

Coloring With Photo Oils

1. Prepare the painting tools. Large swatches of cotton can be used for coloring large areas. To paint small areas, twist a small piece of cotton and wrap around a toothpick or wooden skewer.

2. Use the palette to put dabs of whichever photo oils you will be using. Don't begin by squeezing out large amounts, as you will find that a little goes quite a long way. Create custom colors by mixing two or more shades of photo oils together.

3. Start with the large areas first, as they will be the easiest. Dab a section of cotton into the photo oil and blend into the photograph. Start with a thin layer, gradually layering the color until the desired shade is reached.

4. Use the cotton skewers for small areas and areas that require additional detail (faces, lips, etc.). Use only a tiny amount to avoid having the colors run off into other areas of the photograph.

5. When all areas are colored and blended, place the photograph in a safe, open place and allow to dry thoroughly.

Coloring With Colored Pencils or Pastels

1. Begin by prepping the photograph. Soak a piece of cotton with the P.M. solution. Rub the cotton over the entire photograph. Use a clean piece of cotton to wipe off the excess. Allow to dry. This step allows the picture to better grip color from the pencils or pastels. It also allows for better blending.

2. Color sections of the photograph using faint, light strokes. Use a piece of cotton or a cotton skewer to blend the color and eliminate stroke marks.

3. Create shading or different colors by layering. After allowing colored sections to dry a bit, use a different color or the same color to darken shades.

4. Allow the photograph to dry thoroughly in a safe place.

Tips & Warnings

• Mistakes can be corrected by dipping a cotton skewer into a small amount of turpentine or Marlene solution and rubbing over affected area to remove the color.

• You can apply a base coat of a single color to the entire photograph. Allow to dry, then color the photograph as usual. This can create mood and effect to some pictures.

• As with the photo oil method, color can be removed by using a turpentine-soaked cotton skewer.