Selective Coloring

[hareeshn]

AFTER

BEFORE

Process
Application: Adobe Photoshop CS5

The original photograph looks pretty normal and uninteresting. Selective coloring using Adobe Photoshop CS5 adds some life to it.

1. Open the original file in Photoshop.


2. Duplicate the Background layer by hitting Ctrl + J. (Layer 1)


3. Adjust the levels.


4. Duplicate the adjusted layer. (Layer 1 copy)


5. Select Image > Mode > Lab Color (DO NOT flatten).


6. Select Filter > Other > High Pass... (Select a radius which will highlight the edges alone).


7. Select Image > Mode > RGB Color (DO NOT flatten).


8. Change the blending mode of Layer 1 copy to Linear Light. (Step 4 to 8 will increase the sharpness and contrast of the image.)


9. Select Layer 1 and Layer 1 copy and hit Ctrl + Alt + Shift + E to copy and merge the layers. We will get Layer 2.


10. Open Adjustments window and add Channel Mixer. Check Monochrome and paint the mask layer to hide the dogs in the bottom layer.


11. Select Filter > Convert for Smart Filters and then Filter > Blur > Gaussian Blur


12. Apply the same mask (painted in Step 10) over Smart Filters. Use paintbrush to paint some areas nearer to the dogs to create a natural DoF.

[dalcubierre]

Why is like a line in the middle??

[dionv]

Nice work!

Thanks for sharing the steps taken.

I see the line in the processed photo, too, right through the pups. Not seeing it in the original shot though.

[Photologyst]

Well, Hareesh, I usually love your stuff. . .However, this one leaves me cold.

Perhaps that is the point?


That photo is a real turn off to me.


It smacks of the desperation that the indiscriminate breeding of stray dogs brings vs. the charm of a mother and her pups.

[wejustin]

The more selective coloring I see the less I like it. However, you did a nice job on it. Just not my cup of tea.

[Sterling]

Well, Hareesh, I usually love your stuff. . .

It's his first post...
Or are you a fan from elsewhere?

[Photologyst]

Originally Posted by Sterling

It's his first post...
Or are you a fan from elsewhere?

Apologies, just looked at the name and not the post number.

Maybe Hareesh is like, “John.”

Regardless, this photo does not work for me.

[YoMoe]

I don't really care for the photo to begin with. The photo is not flattering to any of the dogs.

[GaryC]

I have done something similar. Here is a photo I did for a friend as a promotional picture.

Do do this all I did was create an adjustment layer, make it black and white and just removed what I wanted in colour with a layer mask to expse the bottom colour layer.

Seems like a lot less work than what you did with the same basic result.