Military Colourised Photos

[RTH]

Colour Sergeant William McGregor, Coldstream Guards, 1856. Photograph by Cundall & Howlett. Colourised by yours truly!

Attachment 1515797

What is your technique for skin tones? Do you layer up several different shades or do a gradient map? Also, have you got any suggestions for thin hair such as beards, etc. Do you use Photoshop?

[RTH]

Its not military but its the best I've done, suggestions appreciated.

[MedicalAmmunitionCrate]

I use several layers (Base skin tone, add slight red to the cheeks and nose. It just comes naturally at this point). For thin hair such as beards and whatnot, I just lower the opacity of the brush itself and adjust the saturation of that layer. And yes, indeed, I use Photoshop! I used to use GIMP a long time ago, but have since moved on.

[RTH]

Oh ok. My very first photo I did was on GIMP and honestly it was awful.

[RTH]

I've been meaning to turn the saturation down for a while but finally just did it. Its Ernest Hemingway. I actually haven't got Photoshop on my laptop at the moment - as I have a spare as my other one is getting repaired.

[RTH]

What is your preferred layer mode? Colour, soft light or overlay.

[RTH]

Any suggestions for lips?

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Sorry, this is rapidly turning into a Photoshop discussion.

[MedicalAmmunitionCrate]

I use Colour for just about everything. Soft light and overlay are used occasionally, whenever I feel it's needed. I make lips pinker-redder than the skin itself. For me, it just comes naturally, so it's like trying to describe brushing my teeth or something.

[John4022]

I haven't colorized in awhile, but these are some I've done. I completely understand where MedicalAmmunitionCrate is coming from. Colorization is something thats hard to explain / teach. Its something that you have to practice at and it starts to come naturally.

[John4022]

I'm surprised I remembered how to do it! I did this one quickly in about a hour. Its been over a year since I colorized anything.