Basic set up for colorizing a drawing in Photoshop.

The scan

Make the scan

Put drawing face down in scanner.

Open Photoshop.

File/import hpscanjet 5590 TWAIN (or whatever is the number/name of your scanner.)

Scan your drawing.

Save as a PSD file on the desktop.

Drag to your USB

Close the Photoshop file

Take back to your computer using a USB or mail.

Adjust the scanned image

Open in Photoshop.

Go Image/Mode and make sure it is RGB

Image/Rotate Canvas if you need to rotate.

Unlock the background layer

Alt-double click the background layer to unlock it.

Adjust the levels

The scan is probably too light.

Adjust levels: Image/Adjustments/levels or Ctrl L.

Move any bar to remove flat area in the histogram.

Make the 3 layer “sandwich”

Drawing layer

Go to layers palette. F7 if you don’t see it.

Alt double-click on the “background” layer to unlock it.

Change blend mode of your drawing layer from Normal to Multiply.

This will allow you to “see though” your drawing and paint below.

Name the layer drawing.

Lock the layer using the lock icon.

White background

Add a new layer by clicking on the little post it icon at the bottom of layer palette.

Activate that layer so it appears blue. Drag it to the bottom. 

Hit “D” to reset the colors to default setting.

Ctrl-backspace to fill it with the background color (white)

You can also use Edit/Fill white.

Name that layer white.

Lock that layer using the lock icon in the layers palette.

Start your first drawing layer

Make a new layer. Make sure it is in between the 2 layers. This is where you will start coloring.

Name it house base.

Making selections and start coloring

Making selections

Use the Polygonal lasso tool in the toolbar on the left to make selections. The polygonal lasso tool is accessed underneath the lasso tool. You need to press down on the small arrow at the tool to access it.

Make selections, being sure to “close” them – a little circle will appear.

 

Ctrl-D will select.

Coloring

When you have a selection, and a selection tool chosen, go right click/fill.

Other ways to fill, which does not require a selection:

Alt-Backspace = fill with foreground color

Ctrl-backspace = fill with background color

Or, use shift F5

Adjust your colors using HSL:

Image/Adjustment/Hue Saturation or Ctrl U.

Slide as needed.

Navigation so you can see your work

Use the space bar to pan (move your view across the canvas)

Use Z to access zoom tool, click to zoom in

Also with Z, hold down Alt key and click to zoom out

Or, use the navigator

Restore down your file will help you move your document around the screen, and, let you easily access other open documents.

Keep adding colors and layers, working from large shapes to smaller.

Overlap shapes -- do not do the unnecessary extra work of butting shapes together.