Hand-Coloring of Photographs: Hand-Tinting

Hand-coloring in the digital domain is altogether a different proposition from painting directly onto prints. It allows you risk-free experimentation, no commitment to interim results, and freedom from the mess of paints. The core technique is to apply, using a suitable Brush tool, the desired color values to the grayscale values of the image, leaving unchanged the luminance value of the pixels. That is the job of the Color or Colorize mode.

Techniques

The best way to imitate the effect of painting is to use the Brush set to Color mode and then paint directly onto your image. Set a soft edge for the brush, or use one that applies its effects in irregular strokes, like a true brush. You should also set the pressure and the flow to low values, so that application of the brush produces a barely visible change in the image.

Before: A monochrome albumen print from a Stillfried & Andersen album; negative exposed between 1862 and 1885

After: A hand-colored print from the same negative, hand-colored by Stillfried & Andersen between 1875 and 1885

Another method is to create a new layer set to Color mode above the image, and paint into this. This makes it possible to erase any errors without damaging the underlying image. You will also find it easier to see where you paint if you use strong colors, and then reduce the opacity afterward. You may make extra layers to experiment with different strokes or even blend two or more layers.

Weak colors and pastel shades – that is, those of low saturation, with a lot of white – are often out-of-gamut for color printers and monitors, so you may need to bear in mind the limitations of the printed result while you work.

As yet, the porcelain-like textured finish of a high-quality, hand-colored print is beyond the capabilities of ink-jet printers. The careful use of papers with tinted bases can help the effect, since the paper’s background helps narrow the dynamic range and soften the image contrast.

Graphics tablet

The ideal tool for hand tinting is the graphics tablet, with its pen-shaped stylus. A standard mouse can position the cursor or brush with high precision and is useful if you need to leave the cursor in position, but with a graphics stylus you can vary the pressure with which you apply “paint,” thereby affecting both the size of the brush and the flow of color. Some stylus designs also respond to the angle of the stylus.   Another advantage of a stylus is that it is less tiring to use than a mouse. The downside is that a large graphics tablet requires far more desk space.

Hand-color photographer, Luis Márquez (1899–1978)

Seated woman with teal rebozo shawl on her head. Hand-colored photograph by Luis Marquez.

Man sitting with colorful headpiece and maracas. Mexico

Woman holding flowers in white headpiece. Hand-colored photograph by Luis Marquez

Photo Tinting: Simple Techniques for Hand Coloring (Available at Amazon.com)

Tiny book packed with information!

For such a small book, “Photo Tinting” by Ed Krebs is packed with useful information. The illustrations are great for the beginning and intermediate artists, and this is the only book that actually went beyond basic instructions.