Using the History Brush in Photoshop: Partial Color Imaging Re-visited
In the past, I’ve posted partial color images, but the effect was achieved using Picasa 2. This time, with the help of Revver user jennyrusks (and owner of Laughing Lion Design), we’re going to tackle another way to get this powerful effect, only this time in Photoshop.
The process is simple: open image, desaturate image, bring color back with the history brush. If you’ve never used the history brush before, then this is for you. Sit back, watch the show and then fall in love with another Photoshop tool.
Check back on Tuesday to see my attempt at history brushing!
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What’s the advantage of the History brush over using layers? Duplicate the original image as a second layer. Desaturate the first layer. Go to the second layer. Use the Quick Selection tool to select the rose. Inverse selection. Delete selection. Seems that would be quicker and more flexible than using a brush.
dcrs last blog post..July Blog Earnings Guessaway
Very cool- I like Dan’s suggestion two, but I like to use the brushes in photoshop it makes me fees like an artist… ;O) Plus I have a hard time selecting things- if I am corect about what he is saying. I think you have to outline it first to select it… maybe I am wrong.
I do use techniques like this for digital scrapbooking so bring em’ on!
I see my entrecard ad is on your site- thanks so much.
Michelle Gartners last blog post..Lefty from Sesame Street- the Original Pusher Man
Michelle, you’re thinking of the Lasso tool, not the Quick Selection tool. There’s also the Magic Wand Selection tool, but that probably wouldn’t work as well in this example.
dcrs last blog post..July Blog Earnings Guessaway
The Quick Selection tool isn’t in CS2? Well, I went from version 7 to CS3, so I don’t know what’s in CS2.
What do you mean get rid of the Magic Wand? I use that a lot! You know you can adjust the tolerance on it, don’t you?
dcrs last blog post..July Blog Earnings Guessaway
Extract? Yuck. Too bitmappy unless you spend a lot of time with it, in which case you could have just used the selection tools to begin with.
dcrs last blog post..July Blog Earnings Guessaway
Hmm, I just duplicate the layer and use the eraser tool. at least now I know how to use the history brush though!
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I used the technique Chica describes with the eraser to do the headlock on Dan here- that’s a good one.
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Hi Pete
Thanks for including my video, glad you found it helpful. As your other readers pointed out, there are nearly always more than one way to do something in Photoshop and this is not the only use for the history brush. You could do the same effect with the sponge tool and just desaturate everything except the flowers – again you’d be using a brush. But that’s the joy of photoshop, lots of different techniques to try.