Colourise Bit Maps
  Suitable for Adobe Photoshop CS CS2 & CS3
Skill Level - Intermediate

This lesson demonstrates how to colourise bit map images. You will find the start image Here.  Unzip the file, and open them onto Photoshop’s workspace, ready to work with. 

Undo and Navigation Steps
Two ways of undoing steps are from the top menu, Edit then Step Backwards. Alternatively, click a previous snapshot in the History Palette.

Navigate (zoom in and pan) your image using the Navigator Palette,

or the Zoom Tool.

Activate The Hand Tool by tapping the Spacebar, keeping the Spacebar pressed, pan your image in the usual way.
1/
Open your choice of Photograph onto Photoshop’s workspace.


2/
Then from the top menu, choose Image then choose Adjustments then choose Threshold. Note: You are looking to create a black and white bit map image; therefore, experiment with the Threshold Level slider, and find a good balance between contrast and detail. You can always remove parts of black or white areas, later - using the Brush Tool. I have opted for a setting of 94, and this provides a good contrast to my image; displaying the tiny white specks of the windows.




3/
Note: Depending on your image, this may not be necessary - you are looking to create a black skyline, and white buildings.

Now, press Ctrl then I. This Inverts the black and white colours.

4/
Now, press your keyboard’s D key. This sets the Foreground and Background colours to default Black and White, respectively.
5/ (Optional - if necessary)

Activate the Brush Tool. Brush Tool Tutorials!

And with a small, hard brush, carefully paint over unwanted black and white speckles.

6/
Now, from the top menu, choose Image then choose Adjustments then choose
Hue/Saturation. In the subsequent Hue/Saturation dialogue box, first click a tick into the Colourise tick box. Then move the Saturation slider to the right, and move the Lightness slider to the left; play with the Hue slider and find a colour you like.