As we have said in previews tutorials in Photoshop you can achieve the same task in several ways but find the right way is the key to save a lot of time and hassle. In this tutorial we want to preserve much of the image data as possible to be able to vary the range of tone.

Selecting Desaturate from the Image Adjustments menu also tends to flatten the contrast. By changing the mode of the file to grayscale discards pixel data and gives you an image that appears flat and has a small tonal range. Make a quick change using an adjustment layer instead and never alter any of the original image pixels. Using a Gradient Map, we effectively map the range of tones in an image to the foreground and background colors. Changing the layer blend mode adjusts the gray tones.

Roll Over Image

Start by opening a image in Photoshp.

Click and drag the Background layer over the New Layer button to duplicate it as a safety step.

Press D to reset the foreground and background colors to the default black and white.

Click the New Adjustment Layer button.

Click Gradient Map.

Select the Gradient Map Layer.

Click Color as the Blending mode.

The Layer blend mode changes to Color, and the values in the image change to show more gradations in the grays.

Optionally, you can press (Ctrl)+E to merge the Gradient Map layer with the Background copy layer.

We are going to continue with this lesson and colorize just one area of the photo. With a copy of the original color photo on a layer beneath the grayscale layer, we can use the Eraser tool with a low Opacity setting and bring the original color back in specific areas. So let’s have a look on how we can do this.

Click Layer.

Click Merge Down.

Click the Eraser tool.

Click here to select a brush size.

Click here and select a brush size.

Double-click here and type 40.

Erase over parts of the colored area to increase the color.

The viewer’s attention is drawn to the perfect spot.

Please leave your comments for anything related to this tutorial. Also make sure you Subscribe to our Feed or Follow us on Twitter to stay updates to the lattes tutorials, news and interviews in the graphic community.