You can colorize a black and white photo using markers, paints, or computer software.
An area of color on an otherwise black and white photograph draws the eye to the colored subject and creates a vintage look. There are many ways to colorize a photograph, from hand-painting to digital manipulation, with each technique creating a slightly different look. You may want to experiment with different techniques to determine which look you prefer for your black and white photo.
Instructions
Photo Markers
1. Copy your photograph, preferably with a matte finish. This way, if you make a mistake, you haven't ruined your original.
2. Gently color selected areas of your picture with your first color marker. Do not over-saturate the paper. For right-handed people, it is best to work left to right so that your arm doesn't smear the wet marker. For left-handed artists, work in the opposite direction.
3. If you intend to apply more than a single layer of color over any one spot, let your first layer dry.
4. Apply your second color, again using gentle strokes and not overworking the area.
5. Continue this process until you are satisfied with your tinted picture.
Watercolors
6. Copy your photograph, preferably with a matte finish.
7. Mask any areas of your photograph that you don't want to paint with rubber cement. This step is optional, but helpful, especially around the borders of your painted object where mistakes are likely to occur.
8. If you want very soft colors, soak the photo in water for 15 minutes. This makes the photo more permeable to the watercolors.
9. Blot the photo dry.
10. Paint your photo, being careful not to saturate the paper.
11. Let the paint dry.
12. Peel or rub off the rubber cement.
Photo-Tinting Oils
13. Copy your photograph.
14. Spray the photo with a protective coating. A matte-finish spray works best.
15. Mask any areas of your photograph that you don't want to paint with rubber cement. As with watercolors, this step is optional, but often helpful.
16. Paint your photo using the oils. A cotton swab or cotton ball may be used in place of a brush.
17.Allow your photo to dry for several days.
18. Peel or rub off the rubber cement.
Oil Pastels
19. Copy your photograph, preferably with a matte-finish.
20. Mask off the areas of your photograph that you don't want to colorize.
21. Apply mineral spirits or turpentine to the area you wish to color. This allows the oils to soak into the photograph.
22. Use a brush, cotton swab or cotton ball to lightly apply the oil pastels. For detail work, you may also use oil pastel pencils.
23. Peal or rub off the rubber cement.
Digital Tinting
24. Scan your photograph into your computer at high resolution, using a photo preset, if available.
25. Open the scanned picture in a photo editor, preferably one which allows you to create layers.
26
Duplicate the photo layer. Always work on this duplicate layer, so you have a copy of the original to revert back to.
27
Choose your paint fill color.
28
Select a brush or bucket fill option.
29
Fill the selected area or use the brush to apply the color.
30
Adjust the opacity of the layer, if desired, to control the intensity of the color.
