May 09, 2015

Selective Coloring in Paint.NET

Learn how to create selective coloring in Paint.NET. 

We'll begin by duplicating the image layer, desaturate the duplicate layer using Black and White Adjustments, remove parts of the active layer using the Eraser tool, adjust brightness/contrast using brightness/contrast adjustments, adjust hue/saturation, and add noise to the image.

Let's get started!
Selective Coloring in Paint.NET
Final result.



Video: Selective Coloring in Paint.NET Shorts.


Video: Selective Coloring in Paint.NET.

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1. Open Image in Paint.NET
Launch Paint.NET, then go to File>Open... command in the top menu or else just press Ctrl+O to open your image. 

The Open dialog appears, allowing you to navigate to the file and click on its name. 

Use the Navigation pane on the left to navigate to a location on your computer where you have your images. 

Click the image you want to open, then click the Open button. 

The opened image displayed in the Editing Window.
The Open dialog.
The Open dialog.

For this Paint.NET tutorial, I'll use this image, stockvault-dahlia-flowers116760, downloaded from Stockvault.
The opened image displayed in the Editing Window.
The opened image displayed in the Editing Window.

2. Duplicate the Image Layer
Choose Layers>Duplicate Layer or else just press Ctrl+Shift+D

In the Layers window, a duplicate layer with the default name of Background appears above the original Background layer. 

Double-click the duplicate layer in the Layers window or choose Layers>Layer Properties (F4)

The Layer Properties dialog appears. 

Type a new name for the duplicate layer, like “Black & White”, in the Name textbox.
Duplicate the image layer.
Duplicate the image layer.

The Layer Properties dialog.
The Layer Properties dialog.

Type a new name for the duplicate layer, like “Black & White”, in the Name textbox.
Type a new name for the duplicate layer, like “Black & White”, in the Name textbox.

3. Desaturate Image Using Black and White Adjustments
Apply Black and White adjustments to the Black & White layer. 

Select the Black & White layer in the Layers Window. 

Choose Adjustments>Black and White or else just press Ctrl+Shift+G

The Black & White layer now rendered in grayscale.
Desaturate image using Black and White Adjustments.
Desaturate image using Black and White Adjustments.

4. Select the Eraser Tool
Remove parts of the active layer using the Eraser tool. 

Select the Eraser Tool from the Tool Window or else just press E

Choose Brush width on the Options Bar.
The Eraser Tool.
The Eraser Tool.

Choose Brush width on the Options Bar.
Choose Brush width on the Options Bar.

5. Zoom Your Image
Zoom your photo by choosing View> Zoom In or else just press Ctrl++. Zooming in or enlarging an image is useful if you need to work with high precision.

6. Strokes the Eraser Tool
We'll use the Eraser Tool to remove parts of the active layer (the black & white layer) and resulting the portions of the Black & White erased will allow lower layers to show through. 

sing your mouse, apply brush strokes to the layer to reveal some of the underlying images.
Apply the Eraser tool strokes.
Apply the Eraser tool strokes.

7. Apply Brightness / Contrast Adjustments
Select the Background layer in the Layers Window. 

Adjust the brightness/contrast of the Background layer using the Brightness / Contrast adjustments. 

Choose Adjustments>Brightness / Contrast or else just press Ctrl+Shift+T

The Brightness / Contrast dialog appears. 

Drag the Brightness slider to the left to darken the image. 

Drag the Contrast slider to the right to increase the contrast. 

Click OK.
Select the Background layer in the Layers Window.
Select the Background layer in the Layers Window.

Drag the Brightness slider to the left to darken the image. Drag the Contrast slider to the right to increase the contrast.
Drag the Brightness slider to the left to darken the image. Drag the Contrast slider to the right to increase the contrast.

8. Apply Hue / Saturation Adjustments
Change the saturation of the colors in the Background layer using the Hue/Saturation adjustments. 

Choose Adjustments>Hue/Saturation or else just press Ctrl+Shift+U

The Hue/Saturation dialog appears. 

Drag the Hue and Saturation slider slightly to the right or left to get a more vivid image. 

Click OK.
Drag the Hue and Saturation slider slightly to the right or left to get a more vivid image.
Drag the Hue and Saturation slider slightly to the right or left to get a more vivid image.

9. Add Noise
Select the Black & White layer in the Layers Window. 

Choose Effects>Noise>Add Noise

The Add Noise dialog appears. 

Drag the Intensity slider slightly to the left and Color Saturation to 0. 

Click OK.
Select the Black & White layer in the Layers Window.
Select the Black & White layer in the Layers Window.

The Add Noise dialog.
The Add Noise dialog.

Here is the result.
Selective Coloring in Paint.NET.
Selective Coloring in Paint.NET.

10. Save Your Document
Choose File>Save command in the top menu or else just press Ctrl+S to save your project file. 

The Save As window appears. 

Navigate to the folder where you want to store your project file. 

Type a name in the File name text box and leave the default Paint.NET (*.pdn) format. 

Pdn is Paint.NET's native format and is useful because it stores everything about your image and will allow you to later edit your image in Paint.NET, in case you notice a problem. 

Click Save to store the project file.

Once you have finished, you will probably also want to export the image in a more widely used format, such as JPEG, PNG, TIFF, etc.

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