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Off topic.. How to colorize a black and white photo?

Looking for a way to colorize an old photo. I know the photo of the Woolworths store posted here with the 1952 Topps boxes in the past was black and white but also have seen it colorized. I found a photo of my father on the Ann Arbor police force in 1958 while searching the web this weekend. I am hoping to colorize it and frame it for him for christmas. Does anyone here know how to do this?

Thanks in advance-
Claude

Comments

  • TNP777TNP777 Posts: 5,710 ✭✭✭

    I would contact @mouschi or @OldSchoolImages. I'm not absolutely sure Tanner could color a black & white, but we've all seen him do amazing things with customs so I wouldn't be at all surprised if he had software capable of helping. Phil has already shown that he can colorize b&w for his card line.

  • baz518baz518 Posts: 1,252 ✭✭✭✭

    Colorizing involves a lot of tedious work, especially when you have to guess at the original colors. You have to single out areas, apply the color you want to a new layer for that area, and then alter the transparency of that layer to bring back the detail. Much easier to do for a single item rather than an entire picture.

  • BrickBrick Posts: 4,992 ✭✭✭✭✭

    That is one sweet picture even in black and white.

    Collecting 1960 Topps Baseball in PSA 8
    http://www.unisquare.com/store/brick/

    Ralph

  • mouschimouschi Posts: 695 ✭✭✭✭

    Very cool pic! If you have photoshop, you will likely want to just create several duplicate layers, colorize each one of them a single color, then erase around what is not going to be that specific color. It is tedious. Here is what I did for a family member of Leroy Hermann ...

    His great grand nephew (if I recall correctly) sent me an auto, a stamp and a pic.

    image

    Here is what I did with the pic:

    image

    And the end result ended up looking like this:

    image

    It is VERY rewarding to be able to see the end result, but it just takes so long to do it. If a fiverr guy can do it on the cheap, I'd try them out ... I'd like to take on the project myself, but it would be significantly more $ :)

    Tanner Jones, Author of Confessions of a Baseball Card Addict - Now Available on Amazon!
  • Dennis88Dennis88 Posts: 5,797 ✭✭✭

    I do this as a hobby once in awhile (usually on rainy afternoons in winter). I could probably tackle it, but as I'm traveling for the next few weeks I don't know how long it would take. I'm sure there are others who can do it quicker, but PM me if you want me to give it a try.

    Here's one I did about a year ago:

  • lordmarcovanlordmarcovan Posts: 43,623 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited December 20, 2016 11:15PM

    Whoops, I stumbled into the Sportscard forum by accident again. LOL

    I'm not so sure I'd want to colorize that old photo- it's really neat the way it is!

    I will say I'm impressed with the work @mouschi and @Dennis88 did above, though.

    Back to CoinLand for me! I might get lost over here!

    See y'all the next time I mis-click! ;)

    ** poof **


    Explore collections of lordmarcovan on CollecOnline, management, safe-keeping, sharing and valuation solution for art piece and collectibles.
  • CakesCakes Posts: 3,655 ✭✭✭✭✭

    @lordmarcovan said:
    Whoops, I stumbled into the Sportscard forum by accident again. LOL

    I'm not so sure I'd want to colorize that old photo- it's really neat the way it is!

    I will say I'm impressed with the work @mouschi and @Dennis88 did above, though.

    Back to CoinLand for me! I might get lost over here!

    See y'all the next time I mis-click! ;)

    ** poof **

    I agree, I love that photo in B&W and don't see it being a huge difference if in color.

    Successful coin BST transactions with Gerard and segoja.

    Successful card BST transactions with cbcnow, brogurt, gstarling, Bravesfan 007, and rajah 424.
  • CakesCakes Posts: 3,655 ✭✭✭✭✭

    BTW, I used to own a 70 340 cuda, what a gas guzzler it used to be but man do I miss her.

    Successful coin BST transactions with Gerard and segoja.

    Successful card BST transactions with cbcnow, brogurt, gstarling, Bravesfan 007, and rajah 424.
  • LOTSOSLOTSOS Posts: 1,308 ✭✭✭✭✭

    @Cakes said:

    @lordmarcovan said:
    Whoops, I stumbled into the Sportscard forum by accident again. LOL

    I'm not so sure I'd want to colorize that old photo- it's really neat the way it is!

    I will say I'm impressed with the work @mouschi and @Dennis88 did above, though.

    Back to CoinLand for me! I might get lost over here!

    See y'all the next time I mis-click! ;)

    ** poof **

    I agree, I love that photo in B&W and don't see it being a huge difference if in color.

    +1 for me I love b&w photos. But I do have to say that Dennis you did a great job on that photo.

    Kevin

  • pomobileclkpomobileclk Posts: 224 ✭✭✭
    edited December 23, 2016 11:35PM
  • 1966CUDA1966CUDA Posts: 2,007 ✭✭✭✭

    Thanks for all the responses. Special thanks also to Bob and Jeff!! Merry Christmas!

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