Part Two - Quick Mask
Adding Color

Let's say we want to add some wild color to this little cutie's eye. I got this photo from Free Digital Photos. Check them out, they are a great source for free photos.

What you want to do is zoom in on the eye really really close. For this image, I had to make a screen layer above the background layer so I could see where the eye was. If you do that, just make sure to select your background layer before entering Quick Mask mode. Are you zoomed in? Are you on the right layer? Ok, make sure your foreground is black and your background is white, then enter Quick Mask mode. Use your paintbrush set with an appropriate sized brush to color over the eyeball. Remember, it will be red, because that's just how it works. If you go over the lines, change your foreground color to white, and color over the extra parts to make them go away. Here's mine, in process:

When you have it just right, exit Quick Mask mode, and invert your selection. Now there are a few things you can do.

You can change your foreground color to the color you want the eye to be, then go to Image > Adjustment > Hue/saturation. Click on the colorize button. The eye will change to the color you have chosen, play with the saturation and lightness if needed.

If you don't know what color you want, you can go to Image > Adjustment > Hue/saturation and play with the sliders without clicking the colorize button first. You'll see lots of options.

You can do what I did, and make a new layer, then use your gradient tool to fill the area with a gradient. My dolphin now has a rainbow eye.

I like putting the color on a new layer because it makes it easier to now add a highlight, and smooth out the edges and play with the opacity just a bit for more a more convincing effect. Use your burn and dodge tools to lights and shadows. Here is my finished product:

Again, use your imagination and Photoshop to see what you can come up with. The world's the limit! That's the end of our Quick Mask Tutorial. Please go on to the next section of our Basic Masking Tutorial ... my personal favorite, the layer mask.

Quick Mask Links: Fade to one side | Adding borders | Add color to a black/white photo

Part One: Intro | Part Two: Quick Mask | Part Three: Layer Mask | Part Four: Mask Brushes

Tutorials Index