No Color On Placed Image?

[RAGUS]

Ok, so, i'm making a flier for a local music show, and fortunatley some of the bands had the forethought to put their logos online available for download.

I opened photoshop with all the standard color settings, "placed" an existing logo (jpg), and proceeded to edit it.

The logo I placed is grayscale (and by that I mean it just looks black and white, I don't know if it is actually saved as any sort of special black&white/grayscale format, if such a thing even exists), my background has a basic green color to it.

I wanted to use the "replace color" function to replace the white and grey portions of the image with my background color, but everything I seem to do comes out grayscale.

I did not "convert image to black and white" at any point, and have actually opened up several diffrent files and imported the logo in several diffrent ways to make sure there wasn't any hidden setting that I was missing, but I just couldn't figuire it out.


Ugh, I deal with problems like this all the time. Metal bands love to use gradients, splatter, and fades in their logos, and it makes them extremley tough to work with and make them blend into a larger piece of art. In addition to my problem mentioned above, if anyone has any specific points or advice or experience on this sort of subject, it will make my photoshopping MUCH, MUCH, MUCHMUCHMUCH, easier in the future. Metal show fliers and band art is pretty much all I do at this point.


Thanks guys!

[jjvera00]

It sounds like you are in Grayscale mode. Go to Image > Mode and make sure Grayscale is not checked and RGB Color is

[RAGUS]

Nope, the overall image is set to RGB. Like I said, the background has a color, it is simply the placed image that is being stubborn.


Basically, i'm trying to use the "Replace Color" function to swap the splattered white spots in this placed image (splattered on purpose, like I said, its a metal band) with a green that will blen into my background.


If the placed logo came from a file that origonated as grayscale, would it tend to stay as a grayscale image? If so, is there a way to change that? Should I re-save the logo as a new jpeg then re-import it?

[jjvera00]

That is what I would try. See if opening the image by itself will be in grayscale or not. If it is change it to RGB, and save it. Or, you can just start doing you logo redesign from there. Just turn the Background Layer into a regular layer, and place a green layer beneath it.

[Jeff Perry]

No, even if the image being placed is saved as a JPG in Gray Scale mode when it is placed into an RGB image itbecomes a layer in the RGB image.

First, you mentioned in your OP, "photoshop" are you using Elements or Photoshop CS# (not sure if it makkes a difference, but soimetimes it does).

2nd, I assume you are using the Color Replacement Tool (brush) not the standard Brush (the color replacement tool icon looks the same except it has a tiny yellow square next tothe tip); and 3rd, you are sampling a color on the background layer first before trying to replace the color, and 4th, you have the tool's Mode (in the options bar at the top) set to Color and not Luminosity?

Instead of usng the Place command to add the logo image to the background image, open both of them so that they appear in the photo bin (assuming you are using Elements), make the logo image the active image, select your move tool, and click the logo image and drag it down and drop it onto the background image in the photo bin.

Now try your color replacement Tool again.

Jeff

[RAGUS]

Oh yeah, i'm using Elements, sorry...


And i'm not sure what you're referring to when you say "Color Replacement Tool (brush)". I basically have the logo that I wish to alter selected and am going up to the Home Menu (File, Edit, etc) bar and selecting 'Enhance > Adjust Color > Replace Color'

...though I do now see the actual brush for this. Question on that though: how do I select what color to replace and what to replace it with if I am using the brush?

And furthermore, is the actual Brush likley to be any more or less effective than the manner I was doing things before?

[Jeff Perry]

The Color replacement tool will change the color of the pixels you paint without affecting the "texture". Select the tool, hold the Alt key down and touch a sample color on the background you want to "paint". Release the Alt key, and start painting the area of the logo (make sure your are on the correct layer, and the Mode at the top is set to color).

Honestly I have never use the Enhance > Adjust Color > Replace Color method. I'll have to try it to see how it works/compares.

Without seeing the images you are working I am not sure exactly what blending you are after, but would it be more helpful to erase the areas that you are trying to recolor, so the background layer is revealed. There are some cool tools to do that, the Background Eraser (E) for instance, that erases everything within the brush circle area that is the same color as the pixel under the center point of the circle. All other colors within the brush circle remain. Everything that is erased becomes transparent, revealing the layer beneath. That may sound confusing, but try it, it is a very effective way to clean up unwanted colors if you have a layer underneath what you are editing.

Jeff

[Jeff Perry]

RAGUS, I just read the help file on that "Enhance > Adjust Color > Replace Color" command and I can understand why you were having trouble. Don't feel bad, it is a very difficult/confusing operation, one that frankly I am not going to try and learn without following a tutorial, or at least reading a decent explanation of the command. The Adobe help file is worthless.

Try the other Color Replacement brush tool and see how it works for you. Post back, perhaps attach the two images, if you need more guidance.

Jeff