Tutorial #01: Screencap Colouring
stars_fell requested this colouring, which is from last week's preview banner.
Start by opening up this screencap, and resize it to 350 wide, or whichever size you prefer.
1. Duplicate the original layer. Sharpen, and set the opacity to 60%. I prefer this method rather than the 'edit: fade sharpen', it gives me more flexibility to change the degree of sharpness later on.
2. Duplicate the original layer again, 50% opacity, and set to 'screen' Make sure it's placed above the sharpened layer. Sometimes 'screen' layers can drain all the contrast from an image, so I'm keeping this at only 50% and using some 'curves' layers later on to brighten things up.
3. This next layer gives a soft yellow tone, and darkens the reds of the scarf.
Selective Colour:
Reds: +20, -4, +4, 0
Yellows: 0, 0, +8, 0
Neutrals: +2, +1, +5, -2
Set to 'relative' at 79%.
4. Brightness/Contrast: 0, +30. Gives some nice definition to your image, and stops it looking washed out. Leave at 100%.
5. Now we bring out the reds of Amy's hair and scarf some more, while also giving a little more contrast to her lips and cheeks. There's a slight green tinge to the wall, so I've changed those settings slightly to tone down the green. It's barely noticeable, but I'm fussy. *g*
Selective Colour:
Reds: -100, +6, +6, +8
Yellows: +7, +14, +8, +9
Greens: +11, +1, +7, +4
Cyans: +9, +8, +1, 0
Neutrals: -6, +14, +14, 0
Set to 'relative' at 27%.
6. Colour Balance: Set to 42%.
Shadows: +8, +3, -9
Midtones: +9, -7, -27
Highlights: +15, -2, -4
This gives the screencap a warm yellowy, peachy colour.
7. Curves: Set to 70%. Does what it says on the tin. Makes your image lovely and bright.
RGB:
Point 1: Input: 5 Output: 2
Point 2: Input: 35 Output: 39
Point 3: Input: 70 Output: 86
Point 4: Input: 106 Output: 131
8. Channel Mixer: Set to 27%.
I always like to add a 'channel mixer' layer to my screencaps and icons. It gives a nice 'finish' and pulls everything together, whilst toning down the contrast and bringing the background more in synch with the foreground. It dulls down the pinks slightly here too. I usually add it near the top somewhere, but here it's about half way between the layers, as it just looked better placed there.
Red: +98, -10, -10, 0
Green: 0, 100, 0, 0
Blue: 0, 0, 100, 0
9. Now for a few colour layers.
1) #FFE2C0. Set to 'colour burn' at 9% opacity. Adds a slight peachy colour, which suits this screencap well.
2) #F1A3C7. Set to 'multiply' at 9%. The pink takes the brightness down a touch, and stops the whites from looking quite so harsh.
3) #FBE9CB. Set to 'soft light' at 13%. Brightens the cap, but without drawing the reds/pinks back out.
10. Okay, nearly done. Here I add another 'colour balance' layer at 100%. It brightens the whole cap very slightly again, but you can leave this off if you think your chosen screencap is already bright enough.
Shadows: +7, +8, +7
Midtones: -2, +4, -6
Highlights: -1, -3, +6
11. And now one more 'curves' to further brighten the image. May not be necessary with certain screencaps, but, again, it's up to you.
RGB:
Point 1: Input: 36 Output: 26
Point 2: Input: 120 Output: 135
Set this to 39%.
And here's the finished colouring:
♥
And remember, this colouring won't work on every screencap, I have to fiddle with the settings on nearly every single image, so just play around until you find a colouring you like. Hope you enjoyed the tut! If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to ask. :)
Start by opening up this screencap, and resize it to 350 wide, or whichever size you prefer.
1. Duplicate the original layer. Sharpen, and set the opacity to 60%. I prefer this method rather than the 'edit: fade sharpen', it gives me more flexibility to change the degree of sharpness later on.
2. Duplicate the original layer again, 50% opacity, and set to 'screen' Make sure it's placed above the sharpened layer. Sometimes 'screen' layers can drain all the contrast from an image, so I'm keeping this at only 50% and using some 'curves' layers later on to brighten things up.
3. This next layer gives a soft yellow tone, and darkens the reds of the scarf.
Selective Colour:
Reds: +20, -4, +4, 0
Yellows: 0, 0, +8, 0
Neutrals: +2, +1, +5, -2
Set to 'relative' at 79%.
4. Brightness/Contrast: 0, +30. Gives some nice definition to your image, and stops it looking washed out. Leave at 100%.
5. Now we bring out the reds of Amy's hair and scarf some more, while also giving a little more contrast to her lips and cheeks. There's a slight green tinge to the wall, so I've changed those settings slightly to tone down the green. It's barely noticeable, but I'm fussy. *g*
Selective Colour:
Reds: -100, +6, +6, +8
Yellows: +7, +14, +8, +9
Greens: +11, +1, +7, +4
Cyans: +9, +8, +1, 0
Neutrals: -6, +14, +14, 0
Set to 'relative' at 27%.
6. Colour Balance: Set to 42%.
Shadows: +8, +3, -9
Midtones: +9, -7, -27
Highlights: +15, -2, -4
This gives the screencap a warm yellowy, peachy colour.
7. Curves: Set to 70%. Does what it says on the tin. Makes your image lovely and bright.
RGB:
Point 1: Input: 5 Output: 2
Point 2: Input: 35 Output: 39
Point 3: Input: 70 Output: 86
Point 4: Input: 106 Output: 131
8. Channel Mixer: Set to 27%.
I always like to add a 'channel mixer' layer to my screencaps and icons. It gives a nice 'finish' and pulls everything together, whilst toning down the contrast and bringing the background more in synch with the foreground. It dulls down the pinks slightly here too. I usually add it near the top somewhere, but here it's about half way between the layers, as it just looked better placed there.
Red: +98, -10, -10, 0
Green: 0, 100, 0, 0
Blue: 0, 0, 100, 0
9. Now for a few colour layers.
1) #FFE2C0. Set to 'colour burn' at 9% opacity. Adds a slight peachy colour, which suits this screencap well.
2) #F1A3C7. Set to 'multiply' at 9%. The pink takes the brightness down a touch, and stops the whites from looking quite so harsh.
3) #FBE9CB. Set to 'soft light' at 13%. Brightens the cap, but without drawing the reds/pinks back out.
10. Okay, nearly done. Here I add another 'colour balance' layer at 100%. It brightens the whole cap very slightly again, but you can leave this off if you think your chosen screencap is already bright enough.
Shadows: +7, +8, +7
Midtones: -2, +4, -6
Highlights: -1, -3, +6
11. And now one more 'curves' to further brighten the image. May not be necessary with certain screencaps, but, again, it's up to you.
RGB:
Point 1: Input: 36 Output: 26
Point 2: Input: 120 Output: 135
Set this to 39%.
And here's the finished colouring:
♥
And remember, this colouring won't work on every screencap, I have to fiddle with the settings on nearly every single image, so just play around until you find a colouring you like. Hope you enjoyed the tut! If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to ask. :)