How to Create a Black-and-White Hand-Tinted Digital Photo

Using Adobe Photoshop Elements, turn a color photograph into a black & white, hand-tinted photograph. Using just a few tools, add soft color to selected areas of your photo to get this beautiful effect.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Adobe Photoshop Elements
• Digital photograph

1. 
   Original Color Photo - Snowman Ornament

   Select a color photograph with a central subject with various elements that will lend themselves to being tinted. Open in Photoshop Elements.

2. 
   Desaturated Photo

   Click on Enhance: Adjust Color: Adjust Hue/Saturation...
   Move Saturation slider all the way to the left to remove all color.

3. 
   Lighting Adjustment

   If needed, adjust lighting of photo by clicking Enhance: Adjust Lighting: Shadows/Highlights...
   For my photo, I used these settings: Lighten Shadows: 25% - Darken Highlights: 0% - Midtone Contrast: 0%

4. 
   Selection Brush Tool

   In the Toolbox, select the Selection Brush Tool. Paint over the areas you wish to select for adding one color.
   
   Note: Adjust brush size, if needed.

5. 
   Painting of Selected Areas

   In the Toolbox, select the Brush Tool and set a brush size suitable for the area you are painting. Choose the color you wish to use and set the opacity to about 25%, adjusting to suit your preference. Paint over the selected area - color will only apply within the selected areas.
   
   Repeat selection and painting of areas in additional colors.

6. 
   Final Tinted Photo

   Save your creation - you've done it!

Tips & Warnings

• For this tutorial I have used Adobe Photoshop Elements 5.0. Depending on the version you use, some menus/options may differ. Check your Help files for assistance.

Resources

• Adobe Idea Gallery

[paulsbabygirl]

on 4/8/2009 Great article very easy to follow, I tried this and its really nice! 5*'s

[paint-it]

on 12/30/2008 Great article! 5* and recommendation

[Devero]

on 12/28/2008 Thanks for the great guide with step by step pics.

[PositivelyWrite]

on 12/28/2008 This is a well written article with great photos! 5* You've been recommended!