By Michel Charlebois Rehmat
Black and white photos have a lot of charm. Maybe this is because so many older photos were taken in this medium, even after the introduction of color film.
Because color was so expensive, many artists continued to shoot in black and white, and add color later through pencils or dyes. This technique can still be used today, either to colorize an older photo, or to create unique artistic looks by adding color to just one or two small sections of a black and white image. This kind of selective coloring lets you highlight and call attention to any area of the photograph you like, completely changing its meaning for the viewer.
While digital programs let you add color to a black and white photo until the results are identical to a color photo, this has some drawbacks. First, the colors may be lacking in the depth and tone that hand tinting can provide. Second, these programs are often expensive and have a steep learning curve – something that can be a deterrent for people that only want to color one or two images.
Hand tinting is easy, however, and can give you fantastic results. The steps are simple, and whether you want to colorize old family photos or create some new artistic shots, the process is the same.
Make Copies
The first thing you want to do is to make copies of the image you want to colorize. The technique does take some practice, and you don’t want to start directly on the original unless you are confident in the results.
Make sure you have the new images printed on matte or textured photopaper. This is important, because the texture is necessary for the pencils to get some grip.
Select Your Palette
The wider the range of colors you have to work with, the better the results. You’ll want to add light and dark tones to the photo to give it more depth, and while natural shadows and highlights can help, the more shades you have, the better.
Artist’s color pencils are perfect for this task. If you feel comfortable, you can later switch to dyes and build up thin layers of color one at a time, but most beginners feel more comfortable with pencils.
Start Slow
Begin with a light touch, applying an even layer of color to each area you want to edit. You can always go back over the same area again and again, building up a thicker, brighter layer of color, but erasing isn’t always possible. So, until you’re familiar with how the color will look on your prints, start slowly.
Get Creative
Part of the fun of this process is the ability to add some creativity to the project. With old photos, we often don’t know what the color of the clothes were, or what the exact skin tone was, so get creative. Remember that you are building layers slowly, so you can always add one color on top of another to blend and get a more realistic appearance for your print.
Try coloring only certain objects or areas within an image, and then do the same image again with different areas colored. You’ll see an immediate difference in how the image impacts the viewer, letting you decide which is the effect you want.
Seal the Finished Work
Matte acrylic sealant will protect your finished image and help keep the color looking great. A light spray is all that’s required, along with a thorough drying.
Have some fun with the art of hand tinting to bring new life to your photographs whether they are old or new.