Hand Colouring

[Harlequin565]

So this thread triggered me thinking about hand colouring as it's something I wanted to have a go at.

My experience of this is colouring books as a child. How hard can it be? [edit: Pretty hard]



So this was taken on HP5 Plus. I [inkjet] printed it out to A4 on Museo Max matt paper and got to work with the colouring pencils. The people in this image are lost in the B&W version, but with the magic of pencils, I can bring them back into the image, and show the scale of Delamere.

Has anyone ever done this? Any tips, advice, or general thoughts? Specific types of photo it works best with (I think this one was a bit too busy)

My first attempt was rushed, because I wanted to see if it would work with the paper, and I should probably let the print fully dry! Works best viewed from a *long* way away

I'm not very arty, and my colour skills are pretty insignificant, but I just went with "yeah, it'll be fine" rather than any research. Not having a colour file to work with is actually an advantage, because you can go with your memory, which adds some "art" to the finished product.

I really enjoyed the half hour to do this. I'd take my time over the next one, but I really need to find something that works.

 

[Asha]

I dabbled briefly and very unsuccessfully with some old Kodak colouring crayons from yesteryear.
Tbh it could be good fun with excellent results but I didn’t / wouldn’t have the patience for it.
Besides I like monochrome too much!

 

[MDJ]

I remember seeing a number of black and white prints in old family albums that were coloured using watercolour paints. Very subtle and nicely done.

These would have been done on fibre based paper and there was no smudging obviously. Could be a challenge to use this approach with inkjet prints.

 

[FishyFish]

From the image you've posted, it looks pretty good.

 

[ChrisR]

...Not having a colour file to work with is actually an advantage, because you can go with your memory, which adds some "art" to the finished product.

My father used to paint from black and white photographs. I asked him once why he didn't use colour photographs, and he said he liked to be able to use his memory and imagination, and that a colour photo would only confuse him. Ties in with your comment, I think.

 

[Harlequin565]

My father used to paint from black and white photographs. I asked him once why he didn't use colour photographs, and he said he liked to be able to use his memory and imagination, and that a colour photo would only confuse him. Ties in with your comment, I think.

Wow. Thanks Chris. I actually think it's quite a nice artistic "release" for someone like me, who can't draw or paint.

 

[StephenM]

I tried it nearly 60 years ago. In those days, you could buy "photo tints" (Johnson's of Hendon, naturally) as a box of about a dozen colours. Box still in darkroom drawer... I lacked the patience to do it properly, and found the close detail altogether too fiddly for me.

It's described in one of Roger Hicks' books. Medium and Large Format Photography from memory.

 

[lindsay]

I think it's a good effort. I have a set of the Johnson's watercolours in a box, something I might have another go at sometime, because like you say, it gives a more arty effect and is satisfying as an activity