Selective Coloring

The idea of selective coloring or partial color has always facinated people. Which is why, I am going to teach you how to make your images partially colored in 3 different ways!

Open you images. For this example I am using an image from neopets, I recommend that you use the same image I am using and follow along.

Technique #1: Smart Brushes

This is probably the easiest and fastest technique, unfortunately it can only be used for Photoshop Elements 7 which supports the smart brush, if you have an older version go on to technique #2.
1) Select your "Smart Brush Tool" (F).
2) Under Presets go to "reverse effects" and choose "reverse - black and white".
3) Simply paint on the area that you want colored. You can make the brush size smaller to paint the edges.
4) In certain cases the regular smart brush may have gotten into a place that you do not want colored. Simply press the "F" key again and you can access the Detail Smart Brush.
5) Click the "subtact from selection" and paint over the part you want to make grayscale again. You may want to zoom in.
6) Go to Select - Deselect. And then Layer - Merge Visible.

Technique #2: Using Selections


Definitely the 2nd easiest way, plus it gives you more control.
1) Go to the "quick edit". On the left side you will be a couple of tools. Select the "quick selection tool" (A).
2) Select the part that you want colored, or the part you want to remain black and white, whichever is easier. Also you may want to zoom in a bit to have a better view of your work.
3) Adjust the brush size to you convenience and use the "subtract from selection" tool if you select too much.
4) Go back to "full edit". At this stage you can either modify the selection or continue.
I went to Select - Modify - Smooth and set it at 2 pixels.
5) In in step #2 you selected the part that you wanted to remain colored go to Select - Inverse.
Now you have 2 options of how you want to proceed:
6a) Go to Enhance - Convert to Black and White. Select the type and shade you want.
6b) Go to Enhance - Adjust Color - Adjust Hue and Saturation.

Check "Colorize". The hue will change the color, saturation will change the intensity of the color and lightness will change how light or dark the color is. The best way to figure out what suits your picture best is to experiment with the sliders.
7) You are done! See mine below.