This image started life in full color. I’ve made the background black and white and kept the main object of the photo in color.
First make a copy of your image!
Open the copy in GIMP.
Shrink the image to the size you’ll be using ( Image -> Scale )
Copy the image ( Image -> Duplicate )
Turn the new copy into black and white ( Image -> Mode -> grayscale )
Copy the black and white image into the buffer ( Edit -> Copy )
Go back to your color copy
Add a transparent layer ( Dialogs -> Layers ::: New Layer ( far left button and select Transparency as your Layer Fill Type )
Copy black and white image to new layer ( Edit -> Paste )
Anchor the image ( Layer -> Anchor Layer )
Now all we have to do is to erase the parts of the black and white image we want to be in color. Since the layer is transparent the color image will show through where ever we erase.
Click on the erase in the main GIMP window and select a brush size that works best for you. Erase everything you want to be in color. Don’t worry about the color looked faded we’ll fix that up shortly.
Once you are sure you have erased all the sections you want to be color and not the ones you want to be black and white Flatten the image.
Flatten image ( Layer -> Merge Down )
Now lets brighten the color back up.
Add a layer ( Layer -> Duplicate Layer )
Open the Layer Dialog ( Dialogs -> Layers )
Change the mode from Normal to Overlay using the drop down menu. Your colors should be back to being bright again.
Then just save your image ( File -> Save as )
Tip: Use the select rectangle ( dotted rectangle at top left on Gimp window ) to select large areas then delete them ( edit -> cut ). Then you just use the erase for the edges and small areas of your drawing.
4 responses so far ↓
1 unwesen // Jun 29, 2007 at 6:11 am
It wouldn’t be a problem doing that all in one image with several layers, though. All you have to do is copy the layer, and for one of the copies choose Layer -> Color -> Desaturate - and that layer has turned into a black & white image.
What I’m not sure is if the shading of the b&w image is the same in both cases. Can’t be bothered to try it out right now ^^
2 herself // Jun 29, 2007 at 7:03 pm
Thanks, yes, you can split the image into layers first instead of second, the result is the same.
Desaturate will work the same as changing the layer mode to grey scale.
As with most things there are many ways to reach the same end result. I always opt for the simplest.
3 EmpressCelena // Jul 15, 2008 at 6:22 pm
I had to register just to let you know your gimp tutorials are fricken awesome! Since I have found you have I learned to break an image into black and white. I also copied a few to help me cut out an image and put it into another. I swear your tutorials are so much easier to understand then most. Now LOL A request?
I have seen a few do an image with a frame on the outside that is beveled but no color except the color the image had to begin with. The frame tutorial instead of doing the color and all that can I just do bevel? Also some seem to be able to move this bevel anywhere in the photo. I would so like to be able to do that! Thank for all of your help. You kick butt in the Gimp!
4 ljmacphee // Jul 15, 2008 at 9:18 pm
Thank you!
I ‘ll try to look at that later this week. Do you have a link to an image where I could see an example?
You must log in to post a comment.