(SOLVED) Suggestion I wanted to get other's thoughts on

I'm just glad to see others are interested in this as well. Figure it's a win, win really. We can all learn from each other by sharing tips & techniques, and showing what methods work best for you. Or simply just have some fun coloring something.

Charlotte wrote:

Certainly a nice idea. I think starting in greyscale makes it much easier to get the values right (and in ArtRage, which I use, it seems a bit trickier to check your values than it was in Photoshop - or slower at least). But like Rebecca said, it feels like it shows too well that you coloured a greyscale image once you're done.

For me it seems to be the problem that you want to use the greyscale to get the whole value range but once you start colouring the pale values get too desaturated and the dark values get way too saturated compared to what you perhaps wanted. I've been thinking it might be an idea to limit the value range, and add the lightest and darkest values after colouring, but that sort of takes away from the whole idea of starting in greyscale for the sake of getting your values right from the start...

^^ Yeah, pretty much.
What I usually do is work with a black and white gradient map adjustment layer hidden over everything. I unhide it every so often to make sure my values are still under control. But I definitely prefer working with color the whole time.

I primarily work in grayscale or grisaille both traditionally and digitally. Improving my eye for color is on my self-improvement to-do list. I do agree that colorizing a grayscale image creates a certain tell-tale effect, but so far it's what works best for me. I definitely like the idea of a Colorization thread though.

I like to use overlay or softlight layers to add coloured flats to grey scale paintings. Add one layer at a time, otherwise it starts to react weirdly, like inexplicably brightening or changing colour.

After adding the flats, or changing things subtly with layered overlay, softlight, or multiply layers, I like to go back to a normal layer at the top of the layer stack and work into that like a traditional painting.

That's my method anyway!!

Alternatively, you could use colour right away. I like using a similar method to Beck Weaver. I add a layer at the top of the layer stack, fill it with black and change its blend mode to saturation. Turn that layer on and off throughout the painting and you can keep an eye on your greyscale values while working directly with colour. I like this method!

The replies being posted here, is exactly the kind of things I was thinking. Except the colorizer (made up word) could actually show the effects they speak of, and could even break it down to multiple views. Such as, in this shot I simply added color using this method, and then the second shot shows when I did this, etc. This not only gives the viewer information to think on, but seeing the results as well, which should be quite helpful to compare to if they indeed try a given method.

I will check with the gracious mods to see if this is something they would like to set up, or they would like me to. So we can get it up and running.

Hey, I was just thinking of you. I'll shoot you a PM if ya like.

Um, ok, maybe I won't? ... Seems the inbox is no longer available to me?

kazky wrote:

I actually followed an artists guide, I think it was Henning's and I still got it horribly wrong, my colours just look totally awful and always quit muddy, i'm really missing something!

Same here, Kaz. That's why I thought showing the steps could be helpful to, or at least give you an idea if you're doing it close to what they did.