I am new to digital art and I have noticed a lot of artist start out painting in a gray scale. I was wondering if someone could explain to me, the best way you can, how they add the color to it.

 Thanks,

~Jessie
 

There are many ways to go about adding colour to a greyscale pic.

One method is to add a new layer over the greyscale image and change the layer's blending mode to something like colour, multiply, or overlay (play with them to see the difference). Then just start painting with colour. Alternitively, you can set the brush to use a blending mode and paint directly onto your greyscale layer (removing the safety net of using a layer). Some people also begin by using a hue/saturation adjustment with the colourise option checked, which directly colours the grey.

I normally start by adding a layer, changing the blend mode, then flood filling it with a base colour. After that I start to block in colours and gradually build up from there using different layers and blending modes. If the colours start to get away from what I'm wanting I use a curves adjustment to get them back on track.

I personally like the idea of painting in gray scale. I can become so obsessed with color when I really need to focus on the high lights and the shadows of the painting. I tried using the hue/saturation technique but it changes all the layers not just one. Is there something I'm missing? Should a use a color overlay?

I'm such a blond.

Thanks so much for your help.  

First when using Hue/Sat adjustments make it a layer adjustment by acessing it from the layers pallet (the half dark/white circle at the bottom of the Layer Pallet-select Hue/Sat from the drop menu). Then hold down alt/option and move your cursor between the adjustment layer and the layer below (The layer directly below the adjustment layer should be the one you want to color). Your cursor will turn into an odd little symbol, (two interlocking circles but looks more like a teapot to me) click and the adjustment layer will link only to the layer below it. You can then use layer blending modes to suit your need.

Hope that helps.

The other way of only affecting a single layer with an adjustment is to select the adjustment from the menu instead of using an adjustment layer. That way it only affects the currently selected layer, but it can't be altered later like an adjustment layer can. As you would only be blocking in base colours with the adjustment anyway that shouldn't be too much of a problem.

Normally by the time I'm at the colouring stage I only have one greyscale layer anyway because that part of the process is finished with. Whatever layers I had were flattened already.

So basically I need to make the adjustment layer a clipping mask?

Now, can you guys answer me another question? Could you explain to me some of the most used blending modes and why you use them? I'm a little confused by them and don't understand there individual purpose. Would it be easier for me to just experiment with each blending mode until I get the desired effect? Or would it be better to understand them more?

~Jessie 

The simplest method is to click and highlight the blending mode in the drop down list and use the up and down cursor keys to cycle through them until you find one that gives the effect you are after (unless you are using Painter which wont let you do that *shakes fist at painter*). Eventually you start to get an idea for which modes give what result.

For basic colouring like we have been talking about so far, I would stick mostly to Multiply, Overlay, Colour, and possibly Soft Light if you want a really subtle kind of glaze over something. Really it's best to experiment with them and see what you like.

banjaxedmdt:

The simplest method is to click and highlight the blending mode in the drop down list and use the up and down cursor keys to cycle through them until you find one that gives the effect you are after (unless you are using Painter which wont let you do that *shakes fist at painter*). Eventually you start to get an idea for which modes give what result.

For basic colouring like we have been talking about so far, I would stick mostly to Multiply, Overlay, Colour, and possibly Soft Light if you want a really subtle kind of glaze over something. Really it's best to experiment with them and see what you like.

 Alright, I figured as much. Thanks for your help.