How to: Change picture to BW but leave one item color?

I'm sorry if this has been ask before, but how can I change a B&W image and have some be color?

Some cameras have this processing built in.

To do it in Photoshop I would open the photo. Make a copy layer. Convert the copy layer to BW. Add a mask. Brush in the color layer where I wanted it.

My own taste is to turn down the saturation a bit on the color layer. Being surrounded by BW makes colors appear more intense than I like.

Henry Peach wrote: Some cameras have this processing built in.

To do it in Photoshop I would open the photo. Make a copy layer. Convert the copy layer to BW. Add a mask. Brush in the color layer where I wanted it.

My own taste is to turn down the saturation a bit on the color layer. Being surrounded by BW makes colors appear more intense than I like.

Couldnt have put it better myself

Good answer, Matt...

Here are a couple more ways: www.cambridgeincolour.com/forums/thread47.htm

The only method I know of doing this and the one I've used is to use layers. In a program that supports layers, e.g. Photoshop, Elements 9, Perfect Layers Plugin for Lightrooom and I don't know what else, layer two copies of the image & change one to black and white. Then use the program's brush and masking tools to carefully paint over the relevant section. E.g. suppose the b&w image is on top, then paint over the area you wanted to be coloured. That removes the b&w that is masking the portion you want coloured and allows the coloured image to show through from behind.

Henry Peach wrote: Some cameras have this processing built in.

To do it in Photoshop I would open the photo. Make a copy layer. Convert the copy layer to BW. Add a mask. Brush in the color layer where I wanted it.

My own taste is to turn down the saturation a bit on the color layer. Being surrounded by BW makes colors appear more intense than I like.

I didn't know some cameras have it built in. That's awesome. Thanks for the help.

cod wrote: The only method I know of doing this and the one I've used is to use layers. In a program that supports layers, e.g. Photoshop, Elements 9, Perfect Layers Plugin for Lightrooom and I don't know what else, layer two copies of the image & change one to black and white. Then use the program's brush and masking tools to carefully paint over the relevant section. E.g. suppose the b&w image is on top, then paint over the area you wanted to be coloured. That removes the b&w that is masking the portion you want coloured and allows the coloured image to show through from behind.

Thanks.

G0ldie78 wrote: I didn't know some cameras have it built in. That's awesome. Thanks for the help.

I know my Sony Nex has it. There is a list of popular colors, and supposedly it keeps the color you choose, and makes the rest BW. I've never actually tried it so I don't know how well it works.

Henry Peach wrote: I know my Sony Nex has it. There is a list of popular colors, and supposedly it keeps the color you choose, and makes the rest BW. I've never actually tried it so I don't know how well it works.

I'm guessing the camera just desaturates all colours except the selected one. That concept hadn't crossed my mind until your comment above. I thought I'd give it a quick try in Ligthroom with the image below. I completely desaturated all colours except red and orange. It's definitely quicker and easier than layering, but probably more limited depending on the image in question, and I would still want to work on the image further if I was serious about it. Still, it's a new tool in my arsenal. Thanks, Henry.

I saw these posted by VBA_Rino (Nathan Truninger) recently and really liked them:

More Pictures Here

I'm pretty sure you can target such colors in programs from Topaz, Nik or One to One (or what ever that company is called)

So was that done in camera or in post processing?