[Tutorial #8] Coloring Black and White IU

[aurora_amethyst]

Going from this: to this:

Requested by fallleaves

I started out with this black-and-white image of IU.



I added a gradient map (f0c6cc to ffe9ea) and set it to color, 80% opacity.



Then I duplicated the gradient map layer and set it to overlay, 30% opacity.



I wanted her lips to have some color, so I painted over her lips with ff0090 and set the layer to darken, 70% opacity.



Next, I knew I wanted to color her hair blonde, so I added a gradient map with the following settings: bfb977 (7%) to f9ed64 (40%) to ce9a35 (70%) to c0cb84 (87%). Then I masked out her face and her shirt and set the layer to soft light, 100% opacity.

 

I wanted to add some definition to the icon, so I duplicated the base, brought it up to top, and set it soft light, 100% opacity.

 

To get the "matte" look, I added a gradient map (ede4df to e4c0be) and set it to multiply, 100% opacity.

 

Next, I wanted to add a little definition to IU's nose, so I painted over her nose with 000000 and set it to soft light, 100% opacity.

 

IU's hair was looking a little blah, so I knew I wanted to add some more color. First, I painted strands in f0c505 and set the layer to screen, 40% opacity.

 

Then I added some more strands in f3efa2 and set the layer to screen, 40% opacity.

 

I also added some more strands in fff120 and set the layer to screen, 40% opacity.

 

But I still wasn't happy with IU's hair. I wanted the icon to have a matte but shiny look, so I added a gradient map (ffcb62 to 653a00) and set it to screen, 100% opacity.

 

Then I copy-merged the layers (shift+ctrl+c) and pasted the layer into the icon. Then I used the cutout filter (Filter>Filter Gallery>Artistic>Cutout) with the following settings: Number of levels: 8, Edge Simplicity: 4, Edge Fidelity: 3. I set the layer to soft light, 100% opacity.

 

Next, I wanted to sharpen the icon, so I went with my favorite technique: paint daubs (one of the reasons why I haven't been able to transition to Affinity Photo 2). I copy-merged and pasted the layer into the icon then I used the following settings for the paint daubs filter (Filter>Filter Gallery>Artistic>Paint Daubs): Brush Size: 1, Sharpness 1.



The icon still looked like it was missing something. I added this texture by raiindust from her Shattered set and set it to screen, 100% opacity.

 

I still wasn't quite happy with it, so I added some text: the (BULLSEYE italic in 916360) real (BLACK BRUSH in ef82ad on top and in c0517d on the bottom) me (Calysta Rose in fef1b6 on top and b8a669 on the bottom).



Voila!

There you have it!

.psd

If you have any questions, feel free to ask!

Comments

[fallleaves]

Thank you, so awesome and quick. Can't wait to try.

[aurora_amethyst]

You're very welcome! I hope you find it useful!

[facethestrange]

I'd never be able to tell that this icon was black&white before, it's so vibrant and shiny! ♡♡♡

[aurora_amethyst]

Thanks for your lovely comment!

[tinny]

Ooooh, new tutorials! It hasn't occurred to me yet to use gradient maps for coloring, but it's obvious in hindsight! I'm definitely going to remember that!

Thank you so much for writing it up!