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

Merge Photos Together Using Layer Masking

Layer Masking can be used to merge photos together.

Merging Photos

In this example I took two photos and "merged" them together by using Layer Masking.

1. Open two photos and put each on a separate layer.
2. Insert a New Adjustment Layer>Level between the two photos.
3. Select the top photo, move it around where you want it, select Layer>Group with Previous
4. Select the bottom photo, move it around where you want it.
5. Click on the Layer Mask Thumbnail
6. Select Gradient Tool
7. Select Black, White
8. Using the gradient tool draw an arrow approximately where you want the photos to merge.
9. There will be black painted on the thumbnail in that location.