Handcoloring Photographs: How to Create Color Images from Black and White Photographs

by James McKinnis

Book Overview

Handcoloured photographs can both evoke nostalgia and chart new territory in abstract imagery. This book provides a reference to this popular subject, with full coverage of materials and techniques. This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0817439722
• ISBN13: 9780817439729
• Release Date: May 1994
• Publisher: Amphoto Books
• Length: 144 Pages
• Weight: 1.25 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.5" x 8.5" x 10.5"

Customer Reviews

Useful Tips on Photo Oils. Fantastic & Inspirational Gallery

"Handcoloring Photographs" concentrates on coloring with Marshall's Photo Oils combined with colored pencils. Author James McKinnis is a professional handcolorist with many commercial clients and uses primarily those materials. This book does not provide as much detailed instruction on how to apply color as some other books on the subject. It does, however, include some useful tips not found in other books. Unfortunately, there is no one book that contains all of the pertinent information on handcoloring. "Handcoloring Photographs" is divided into two parts: Part One includes instructional chapters on "Basic Supplies and Procedures". Part Two, "A Gallery of Twenty Handcolorists' Work", is where the book really excels. The works of a wide variety of fine art handcolorists are featured with short essays about the artists' subject and techniques. These artists use a wider selection of media than are discussed in Part One, including photo retouching dyes, watercolors, pencils, gum-bichromate prints, Polaroid image transfers, and infrared film. There is some really spectacular work in this Gallery. It may be worth purchasing the book just for the ideas and inspiration in Part Two. If you are looking for instruction on handcoloring, these are the contents of Part One: The first chapter, "The Photographic Print", discusses photographic papers that are suitable for handcoloring. Specific fiber-based and resin-coated papers are recommended. The second chapter, "Materials and the Workplace", talks about photo oils, pencils, and materials for applying and removing color. There is a brief discussion of coloring with retouching dyes, but McKinnis admits to having little experience with the medium. The third chapter breaks "Basic Handcoloring Techniques" into three steps: The Wash, Detailing, and Fine-tuning. It takes us through these steps, using one photograph as an example. There is no information on mixing pigments in this chapter. The forth chapter, "Ways to Approach Various Subjects" offers advice for coloring photographs of people, outdoor scenes, and still lifes. The section on people includes some specific suggestions for how to create correct skin tones, but oddly doesn't give advise on how exactly to mix the oils. The fifth chapter, "Special Handcoloring Techniques", discusses "minimal color" and "ultracolor" techniques. Minimal color involves reducing color intensity with Marshall's Extender, and Ultracolor employs Marshall's Extra-strong colored photo oils for a more opaque appearance. The sixth chapter, "Photographic Handpainting" addresses a topic that I have not seen covered in other handcoloring books. Although I often see the terms used interchangeably, author James McKinnis makes a clear distinction between "handcoloring" and "handpainting" a photograph. "Handcoloring" uses media that are to some degree transparent, so we see the photograph that has been tinted. McKinnis uses the term "handpainting" to mean that parts of the photograph "

great book on handcoloring

This is a great book on handcoloring. THe author gives good explanations of the process of handcoloring using mostly oils. He tells you what works for him and shows many photos of his work that will inspire you to want to creat your own. Also included are the works of many other artists for one to enjoy the many different ways that people approach handcoloring. Very useful tips that i didnt find in other books and was glad to know. I think once one has the information the next step is to just try it and develop your own style.

THE BOOK IS GREAT FOR NOVICE TO PROFESSIONAL

I just took a class on using the very easy spotpen system. I purchased this book yesterday and am ready to try almost all of the author examples of different types of hand coloring. She explains everything so beautifully and the pictures in the book are great. I'm not a very artistic person but I think I can do what she explains in every lesson.

Excellent all around resource for the serious hand tinter!

As the owner of PAST TINTS, a photo tinting resource website, I enthusiastically recommend and endorse James McKinnis' book. It remains my favorite photo tinting guide and I have benefitted greatly from the hundreds of suggestions within. Whether you are a beginning hand colorist, or an expert, you will find lots of helpful, interesting information in "Handcoloring Photographs".