Sunday, March 6, 2011

Kiss of Color

I will join Mary today at Little Red House for Mosaic Monday.
Go visit her blog for some great photography.
Some of you have asked how I get the focal color in a black and white photo while editing.  I am sure there is several ways to do it.  I am using Picasa so I will show you how I do it with that program.  (Picasa is a free download photo editing software)

Pick out the picture you think will have a good subject for focal color.
While editing the photo click the effects tab and click focal B & W.

You see how your cursor turns into a +.  This will be where you will have that pop of color in your black and white.

After working with this software for awhile I just discovered last week that the + moves with your cursor!  Here I placed the pop of color on the blue transferware coffee pot.


Once you get the pop of color where you want it in your black and white you can adjust it with these controls.  You have size which will adjust the radius and sharpness which will let you see where the color is being applied by sharp borders.

While adjusting, I take the sharpness all the way up to see where the color will be applied.  I then get it over the crucial areas by adjusting the size and then take the sharpness all the way back down so it fades out the difference.

And there it is.  I have been playing around with it all week.

I will also link to:
Before and After Party  at Thrifty Decor Chick
Metamorphosis Monday at Between Naps on the Porch
Whassup Wednesdays  at Elements Interiors

This is a texture applied to one of the photos.  I show how I make this here.


Then I just discovered this process at Picnik today.  Picnik is also free editing software that is built into Picasa.  Here I uploaded a photo and went to the effects button.  I choose the cross process and played with the fade button till I got the desired look and hit apply.  Works well with photos that have a lot of contrast.  
Sherry

20 comments:

Lynn said...

How fun, thanks for the tips Sherry, your pics are beautiful:@)

Rose M. Rodriguez said...

Hi Sherry, try Decoding because your photos looked so beautiful. Thanks for teaching us that trick, we have but do not know! looks so fun, because he had not yet understood visually. Greetings, Rose Marie

Debbiedoos said...

It is so much fun to play with our pics. Yours look fantastic Sherry!

Debbiedoos said...

I have a great giveaway going on Sherry, please come by and check it out.

Anonymous said...

Oh, Sherry! You are the smartest one and your photos are so pretty!
Be a sweetie,
Shelia ;)

Kim @ Savvy Southern Style said...

Sherry, great tutorial. I don't know why I haven't tried this. I always use picasa.

Carol said...

Gorgeous shots, the effects are stunning, so is you mosaic!

Snap said...

the tulips are beautiful! you having fun learning all the new effects!

Confessions of a Plate Addict said...

What fun and what lovely pics, Sherry! Happy week!...hugs...Debbie

Sarah said...

Sherry, thanks for the great tutorial. I've not tried any of these. Guess I need to experiment a bit. ~ Sarah

A Bit of the Blarney said...

Oh how very beautiful! Well done! Your tulips are just gorgeous! Cathy

Gardening in a Sandbox said...

Fabulous photos. It is fun to try out all the techniques of the software we use. I met a man just recently who has a photography shop and he told me that he does all his editing on Picassa. I was thunderstruck at the time. His photos were amazing. So have fun and keep sharing. V

~Lavender Dreamer~ said...

Your tulips are gorgeous and I SO appreciate your photos tips! I'm going to go and see if I can figure some of this out! Thanks! ♥

Donna@Conghaile Cottage said...

Thank you so much for this photo lesson... I will give it a try!!!
Have a wonderful week,
Hugs, Donna

Lorrie said...

Oh, more fun with photos. Thanks for sharing this. I'm going to be experimenting. And what a lovely subject you chose - those tulips make my heart beat a little faster.

A Garden of Threads said...

Thanks for the information. I use a Mac Photoshop and do a lot of editing in those programs. Love the effects you used on the black and white photos. Take care and have a wonderful week.

Decor To Adore said...

Ah you know I love all that you do. What a great metamorphosis! Well done.

I am having a hilarious Linky party with prizes this Wednesday. Details are on my blog today.
I hope you'll join in on the fun. Go for win #2. :)

Simone @ Doberman's by the Sea said...

Great texture effects. You won my giveaway, plse contact me.

xinex said...

Beautiful photos and photographic effects, Sherry. Thanks for the tutorial...Christine

Claudia said...

Very nice tutorial that I think many will use!

Well done.