How can I have 2 different tones in one photo, please?

Question

Hi
I am completely new to this photo package. I love to take photo's and wanted to do something special with a few I took at my brothers wedding.
I'd really like to know, please, if anyone can help me?
I have (for example) a picture of my sister in law holding her flowers. I'd like to leave the flowers in colour, but the rest of the photo in black and white, can I do that? I've tried the few fade options, but it doesnt' do quite what I want.
Also, the weather was awful, and I didnt' get chance to take all the photos I wanted.
I'd like to lift them out of one photo, and add them to the back drop of the venue they got married at, is that possible too?
Thanks so much, I really look forward to hearing from you, any help, greately appreciated.
Best wishes, Clair

Answer 1

Clair,<br />As to you first question, converting to B&W but leaving a portion in color, here are several ways. The first is probably the easiest but I included the rest since they are in my "bag of tricks". In all of the methods, use a soft brush or eraser if you want a soft transition between the color and b&w portions.<br /><br />Method 1 <br />1. Add Hue/Saturation layer, move Saturation slider all the way left to remove color.<br />2. Set Foreground & Background colors to B&W defaults.<br />3. Paint with black to reveal color, paint with white to remove color.     <br />    Tip: type "x" to toggle black & white.<br /><br />Method 2<br />1. Duplicate Background layer.<br />2. Remove color:<br />    Enhance > Adjust Color > Remove Color<br />    Enhance > Adjust Color > Hue/Saturation, move Saturation all the way left. <br />3. Use Eraser tool to reveal color from Background layer.   <br /><br />Method 3<br />1. Select the area you want to keep the color, make it a new layer.<br />2. In background layer, <br />    Enhance > Adjust Color > Remove Color<br />    Enhance > Adjust Color > Hue/Saturation, move Saturation all the way left.<br /><br />Method 4<br />1. Create a blank layer above the Background layer and set its Blend Mode to Color.<br />2. Paint with default black or white to remove color.<br />3. Use  Eraser to restore color.<br /><br />Method 5<br />1. Create blank layer above Background layer and set its Blend Mode to Color.<br />2. Select the area you want to keep the color, and invert the selection.<br />3. Fill the selection with default black or white to remove the color, and deselect.<br />4. To remove excess color paint with default black or white. To remove excess b&w use the Eraser.<br /><br />As to your second question, moving a person from one pic to another, this is also easy to do:<br />1. Use the various selection tools to select the person.<br />2. Copy the selection to the clipboard (Edit>Copy, or Ctrl-C).<br />3. Open the destination pic, and paste from the clipboard (Edit>Paste, or Ctrl-V). This places the person on a new layer with transparent background. <br />4. Use the Move tool to reposition or resize the person as needed. When resizing, hold down <Shift> while dragging a corner handle; <Shift> preserves the aspect ratio so that the subject is not distorted by the drag.<br /><br />Tip: after you select in step 1, feather the selection 1 or 2 pixels so the pasted person does not look so "pasted".