Hand-colouring of photographs is a technique that has been around since the dawn of photography.
It involves adding colour to an otherwise black and white image, which can be done using paints or pencils.
In this article we’ll look at the history behind hand-colouring, why it has become popular again and how you can get started with your own project!
Types of Hand-Colouring Techniques
Hand-colouring is a process that involves applying colour to the surface of a photograph by hand.
The most common methods include oil painting, watercolour painting and pencil drawing.
There are also other techniques such as crayon drawing, gouache painting or even pastel pencils.
Tools and Materials Needed
- Paint brushes,
- Oil paints, watercolours and pencils for painting,
- Colouring crayons and gouache for colouring in the photographs,
- Paper to print your photos on (plain paper is fine).
Preparing the Photograph
To begin, you must select a photograph.
The most important thing to consider when choosing your image is its size and aspect ratio (the relationship between its width and height).
Next, you will need to print out your selected photograph on photo paper.
If you don’t have access to a printer at home or work, many copy shops offer this service for free or for a small fee.
Finally, mount the printed image onto watercolour paper using archival tape or glue stick so that it doesn’t wrinkle during colouring in later steps!
Creating the Painting
Once you have chosen your photograph, it is time to begin.
First, select the colours that you will use for this painting.
You can choose a wide variety of colours based on what you want your final product to look like:
if you want it bright and cheerful, go for light pastels; if it is meant to be dark and moody, then go with deep blacks and blues.
If there is anything in particular about your subject matter that stands out (for example if there are flowers or other plants), choose colours that complement them as well as possible by looking at their shades online or in books on botany!
Second step:
sketching out an outline of where each colour should go on top of one another until they form an image similar enough in shape but different enough from reality so as not to resemble anything recognizable (ease off with this step if doing portraits).
Third step:
start painting! This part can take some time depending upon how many layers need applying before moving onto another section; however once finished adding details such as eyespots etcetera then congratulations!
You’ve successfully created something unique which no one else will ever own except maybe someone else who reads our blog post today 🙂
Finishing the Painting
Apply a varnish
Frame the painting
Sign the painting
Preserving the Painting
To preserve the painting, it is recommended that you store it in a cool and dry place.
Avoid direct sunlight and protect from dust and moisture.
Digital Hand-Colouring
Digital hand-colouring is a technique that can be used to create unique and interesting images.
It’s also a great way to give your photos the look of an old photograph, or one that has been hand coloured in past years.
The first step in digital hand-colouring is choosing the photo you want to colourize.
You can use any image from your computer or phone, but if it’s not already black and white then you’ll need to convert it into monochrome before proceeding with this tutorial.
Once you’ve chosen an image, open up any photo editing software (I’m using
Then click on “Create New Layer” under Layers:
Displaying the Painting
Hanging on a wall
If you want to display the painting on a wall, there are two options: either hang it as is or frame it.
If the painting is small enough and light enough, you can just hang it up without a frame (unless you want one).
If not, then consider framing your work in order to protect it from damage and make it look more professional.
Framing can also help highlight certain aspects of your work such as its colors or textures by surrounding them with contrastingly colored mats or mats with different textures than those found in the painting itself.
Framing adds another layer of interest when looking at art pieces because we often associate frames with value judgments about what makes something worth keeping around–and this association becomes even stronger when we think about how much money was spent producing such an item!
Hand-Coloring of Photographs – Wrap Up
Hand-colouring of photographs is a process that involves the use of various techniques to create an image with a hand-painted look.
The main aim of this form of art is to add color to black and white photos, but it can also be used to enhance existing color images.
The process involves different types of hand-colouring techniques including: watercolour painting, pastel pencils, crayons and oil paints.
Each technique has its own unique qualities which make it suitable for certain types of photographs or scenes.
