Frederick Jace
Colorization of photos requires a great deal of skill, and there are artists who excel at it. A prominent artist in this group is Jordan Lloyd. Vox’s video discusses the methods and methods artists use to analyze color as well as the techniques and methods they use to add color.
A great photo colorization tutorial was recently featured on our site. Many people have asked how to determine which colors should be added to a black and white photo in order to make it accurate. Here is a video that explains what you might have been wondering. Those who wish to start colorizing black and white photos (or just curious) should definitely check this out.
There’s nothing new about adding color to black and white photos, the practice goes back as far as photography itself. It’s likely that you have come across some old family photos colored by hand in your album. Depending on the program, there will be many more realistic results, but the result will be enhanced by the use of digital software, such as Photoshop. Moreover, they are also important for ensuring historical accuracy.
Researching historical documents is the first step before adding color to an image. Previously, the artists had used historical documents to create the color. It just takes a little bit of searching to find plenty of information, Jordan explains.
Old advertisements, diaries, memoirs, and official records can all be consulted for information. Obtain as many details about the historical moment you want to recreate in color as possible by speaking to historical experts. Visiting a museum (or at least looking at photographs from museums) will give you an idea of what the jewelry colors, uniforms, traditional clothes, etc. looked like at a certain time. As a result, doing thorough research in advance is vital if you wish to remain as accurate as possible.
COLORING HAS MANY DIFFERENT PROCESSES
Having decided which colors to add, how would you go about it? Jordan jokes about taking a graphic tablet and a pen and trying to color within the lines. However, the situation is more complex than that.
Getting rid of scratches and stains is the first step towards restoring the image. Once you have these layers, you will add dozens or even hundreds more. However, it isn’t just about staying within the rules. Among the many shades of pink, yellow, green, and blue that are available in the human skin tone, there can be up to 20. For a more realistic feeling, you should add them all.
Creating a single image can take days or even weeks. A single photo took Jordan more than a month to colorize.
A solid colorization artist also needs to be able to comprehend light, which is more important than meticulous research or delicate painting.
A BASIC UNDERSTANDING OF LIGHT
We perceive colors differently in different environments, so we need to take the light into account when coloring images. During the golden hour, a photograph will have a yellow glow in parts of the image (you can tell because the shadows are long). The colors will likely look washed out on a cloudy day if it was overcast. Color is also affected by the light that reflects off a certain surface, so that’s another factor to consider.
This detail is important if you want your photograph to not only be historically accurate, but also realistic in the setting and the subjects. I think it’s definitely worth it, but it’s a labor of thinking, researching, and devotion.
CONCLUSION
Additionally, the video points out that some critics argue that these images must remain black and white and that colorized versions can’t substitute for them. There is no substitute for Jordan’s work; it is merely a supplement. My opinion is the same as yours.
The old photos appear more relatable with the added color. Seeing the people in the pictures made me feel they were more real and more like us, which was one of the first things I noticed. Moreover, the ability to see how original clothes, uniforms, and jewelry looked from various periods of history is achieved through accurately colorized photos.
I think colorization constitutes a very distinct art form, all in all. The masters’ work is something I am eager to learn from and to enjoy. You’ll need to read a lot, learn a lot, conduct research, and use Photoshop a lot. You can use online tools like Image Colorizer, Hotpotai, DeepAI etc, if you want a quick way to colorize your B&W photos. However, the first preference will always be the Photoshop or Lightroom.
