Crisp Bright Coloring Help

[jecca_o9]

Program(+version) I'm using: Adope Photoshop CS4
Example(s) of the coloring I want to learn how to make + credit to the maker: these from lookbook.
A different image I want to color(this is not the original): this or this

Basically I want to learn how to get that crisp & bright type of coloring shown in any of the four thumbnails from the sample.

Comments

[val_valerie]

when trying to achieve this kind of soft and gentle-vintage-ish colorings i'd never suggest starting your way with selective color or color balance or vibrance layers because they would only make your image stand out and we are kind of looking for faded colors you know.
here are my results:
from
to:

steps:
#1: started with looking at the base layer and found that it already had a strong yellow tone in it, but we don't need to tone the yellows down just yet, so add a new solid color layer color: #f6fddd multiply 50%
#2: then we need to firstly tone down the yellows a bit and then achieve a kind of pinkish tone on the picture and the object's lips/cheeks etc, so add a new solid color layer again color: #f88eb6 multiply 20%
#3: we will now a selective color layer, but we will also be careful we do not want to use huge amount to ruin out picture, and always remember that we do not want our colors to stand out. so reds: cyans: -18, yellows: -11 - yellows: cyans: +20, yellows: -11.
#4: our yellow have now faded a lot, and we still need some yellow in our coloring, so add a new selective color layer, color: #f1e5ad multiply 20%.
#5: we need to bring our vibrance down (just a little though) and since you're using cs4 add a new vibrance layer, vibrance: -10, saturation: -6.
#6: our last layer will be a color balance layer, to achieve that icy blue tone, midtones: -31, +8, +13.
That's pretty much it! :)

[jecca_o9]

I am very much aware of that, which is why I've never started any graphics with selective coloring or vibrance layers or color balance, especially since I know those heighten the colors. XD I went through curves and lightness layers first to tone down the vibrant colors and then used the selective coloring to lighten most colors and make the blue pop out a bit like the fourth sample image. :) Sadly, it's the crisp brightness effect that I want that I can't achieve (not a vintage coloring).

Thanks for trying!