Painting around BnW

[Liquid Penguin]

Alright, so I see all these artists create rockin' images by startin' off in black an' white, and then adding color. Soz, my question is this: How do you add in the color once you're satisfied with the black and white tones. Do you like, set the next layer to overlay and paint over it, or...like, paint underneath? Obviously, one could use multiply, but I'm tryin' to get the exact colors I pick, and ya know, the whole darken upon multiply action. Anyways, yeah, I'm sorry if this is redundant in some way, or like, right in front of me, but I could use some assistance. Also, if anyone has any tips for the bnw style, that'd rock too. I notice that my pictures (at the time of coloring) always seem either too dark, or too light. Yeah, I doubt there's any fix for that other than practice, but it never hurts to ask. Thanks!

[Jason Rainville]

I tried that method for the first time this time around and what I did was make a new layer in PS and set it to colour. It will use the exact colour you choose, but it won't allow you to vary the saturation of it.

[jt4470]

Some people use overlay over it or a color layer (the latter of which is more popular now since it's introduction to the newer photoshop applications).
After, they add other layers to change the hues/add more colors via overlay/soft light, ect.

[creatix]

I wouldn't say its the most efficient or best method but it might answer your question.

One thing could be working in strictly greyscale. Black for darkest parts obviously, white for highlights with all the greys in between. Working in greyscale might help you to better find your shadows and highlights and see your shape seperation a bit better. Thats why I've seen some artists start by creating a grey or somewhat neutral background rather than a plain white screen. It helps them to start from that grey. I'm sure that others are more qualified than I am to answer but it would make sense, especially if you are still "figuring things out" that working in greyscale lets you focus on your shapes and their various shades. You don't have to simultaneously start thinking about color and whether than orange works with that green, etc. etc. If it works in greyscale, color over it will give you the depth you need. If it doesn't work in greyscale then color won't fix it.

After you are done with all of your work in greyscale you can go to image>variations and play with things there.

Someone showed it to me many years ago. It was neat then but I don't use it myself. It's an option though.