Start with a picture like this.
End with a picture like this.
A Splash Of Color
Instructions for producing a “Splash of Color” in a gray scale picture. These instructions are not to be considered absolute or to be the only way that it can be done. Most things on a computer can be accomplished in several ways, this is one. Do not be afraid to experiment with the different tools that are available to work with. That is one good way to learn what things do. Have fun and enjoy.
1. Select a picture which has something that you want to emphasize.
2. Open a New Folder in which to keep your work. Anywhere that is convenient for you to find.
3. Place a "copy of the original" in the folder. This will leave the original untouched. It is suggested that you call the copy "01 + a name you like." It will be a JPEG format.
4. Create a copy of picture no. 01 and call it "02 + a name you like - gray scale". This one will be made into a gray scale, or unsaturated picture. This will also be a JPEG format.
5. Open your picture processing software and find the color adjustment drop down box. Within it will be a slider that adjusts the "saturation". Adjust this to zero or shades of gray only. Save/replace "02" with the newly created gray picture. It is still a JPEG format.
6. Open the JPEG picture named "01 ----" with the "Microsoft Paint" program. Without making any changes left click "File-Save As...". At the bottom of the pop-up box select "24-bit Bitmap, change the name "03 ----" This picture is the one that will be used to produce the "Splash of Color".
7. With picture "03 ----" open in paint, do a bulk removal of large areas of the picture with the rectangular "select" tool. This should be found at the upper left part of the screen. It looks like a rectangular box of dashes. To delete, left click at one point, while holding the left button down, drag the box around an area you want to remove. Hit the delete button of the keyboard. If you delete something you did not wish to remove, press "edit" and then undo. You can undo the last three actions. Save frequently.
8. When the largest bulk of the pictures has been deleted, switch to the free form select, which is next to the rectangular select and draw a line around the area. Again hit delete. Save frequently.
9. To do a final clean up of the undesired areas use the pencil tool, line tool and eraser tool.
10. The background will be white to begin with. By filling the white area with a color more detail can be determined sometimes. Simply select a color and fill the area with the paint bucket. Be sure to keep the picture as a bitmap.
11. When the picture is clean it is ready to be combined with the "02 ----" gray scale picture.
12. Open the "02 ----" picture with paint
13. Click "Edit", then "Paste From..."
14. Select "03 ----", this will overlay the gray scale picture with the "clean color picture". The background will likely look white, it has been pasted with an opaque background. At the bottom of the tool bar on the left side click the bottom icon. This is a transparent background icon, this will allow the background to become transparent and show the gray picture in the background. Be aware that initially the overlaid picture can be moved as long as it has a dashed line around it.
15. At this point save the picture as "04 ----". This is the final picture.
16. Send your picture to your kids and grandchildren and show them how talented you are. Just don't tell them how to do it. (At least not right away!)
