Selective Colouring Using Layer Masking

Layer Masking can be used to "reveal" colour underneath.

First you have to turn a colour photo to black and white. There are two ways to do this and both methods use adjustments layers which create a layer mask over the image.

The adjustment layers are:

1. Hue/Saturation, or
2. Gradient.

Original

Method 1

• Open the colour photo
• Add a new Hue/Saturation Adjustment Layer above the photo. 
• Move the Saturation slider all the way to the left.
• Select the thumbnail and paint over the leaf with black paint. (Note: painting with white paint will cover up any mistakes) 

NOTE: Optional: If you want the screen "painting" to turn red, which is kinda neat actually, then Alt+Shift and click on the left-most thumbnail before you paint with black.

leaf shows through

Method 2

• Open the colour photo
• Add a new Gradient Adjustment Layer, Black to White above the photo.
• Select the thumbnail and paint over the leaf with black paint. (Note: painting with white paint will cover up any mistakes)

NOTE: Optional: If you want the screen "painting" to turn red, which is kinda neat actually, then Alt+Shift and click on the left-most thumbnail before you paint with black.

this is more like true b/w and is created with Gradient

You can change the opacity of the paintbrush if you desire. Here I had my paintbrush set at an Opacity of 27% while painting over the geranium in black.



Reminds me of an old colourized photo

To give it an old-fashioned feel, add some noise by:

With the background activated, select Filter>Noise>Add Noise

5% Noise, Gaussian, Monochromatic