Alex K Posted March 26, 2009 Author Share Posted March 26, 2009 (edited) Great job on Kaiser Wilhelm, Alex! If I had the time and the talent, I'd scan my entire Imperial postcard collection and colorize them, just for my personal enjoyment.Hi Mike, thanks that you like old Kaiser Bill. There are many images from that period which I'm sure are ripe for colourisation, all that "Bling" they seemed to wear! ceremoniously at least. It all seems very dull until you add a bit of true colour to them, and then you realise what it might have looked like in realityRegardsedit Oops, it seem me and my PC were having a moment, unfortunately deleted the original comments, however to reiterate, photo coloured from an original postcard with identical uniform as in the photo, just a matter of copying one from the otheralex K Edited March 26, 2009 by Alex K Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike Dwyer Posted March 26, 2009 Share Posted March 26, 2009 Wow, Alex, I own a CDV of Kaiser Wilhelm that appears to have been taken during that same photo shoot! Same mustache style (standard handlebar before he adopted his famous upward model) and the same medals and orders. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alex K Posted March 27, 2009 Author Share Posted March 27, 2009 Wow, Alex, I own a CDV of Kaiser Wilhelm that appears to have been taken during that same photo shoot! Same mustache style (standard handlebar before he adopted his famous upward model) and the same medals and orders.Nice image, almost the same, although on your image, he has Red Turn-back cuffs on his sleaves, as does the colourised postcard I based my image on.regardsAlex Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alex K Posted April 29, 2009 Author Share Posted April 29, 2009 (edited) Another from the vaults, Erwin Rommel. All photo's from Bundesarchiv Edited April 29, 2009 by Alex K Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alex K Posted April 29, 2009 Author Share Posted April 29, 2009 And another Erich Koch, nasty man! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alex K Posted April 29, 2009 Author Share Posted April 29, 2009 And just for fun, Helmut Weidling, Aged Photo style Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alex K Posted April 29, 2009 Author Share Posted April 29, 2009 Great job on Kaiser Wilhelm, Alex! If I had the time and the talent, I'd scan my entire Imperial postcard collection and colorize them, just for my personal enjoyment.Oil painting on canvas by any chance?? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TacHel Posted May 1, 2009 Share Posted May 1, 2009 Alex, I am singularly impressed with your talents!Would you consider writing a thread with detailed instructions on just how this is done? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alex K Posted May 3, 2009 Author Share Posted May 3, 2009 Alex, I am singularly impressed with your talents!Would you consider writing a thread with detailed instructions on just how this is done?Hi I am more than pleased to give advice as to how this is done. It is really quite simple with a bit of practice and patience, however, the process will vary depending on the type of software used as each piece of software uses different processes to achieve the same end results. I use an old piece of software (Adobe Photoshop V4), using this, each different portion of the image is replicated as a separate layer, then coloured and saved. It's a little bit like the old method of producing moving cartoons, where you start with a basic Matt background, draw around the bit you want, and add it as layer over the original over the top,colour it and then keep it? then adding additional? layers on top until for each different part of the image until you achieve the desired effect, sounds more complicated that it actually isscreen shot attached Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alex K Posted May 6, 2009 Author Share Posted May 6, 2009 (edited) Three more, Julius Streicher (Bad man), Michael Wittman, and Grofaz!Edit forgot, 1st two from Bundesarchiv, the last from Life/Google. They look a lot better as larger images Edited May 6, 2009 by Alex K Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alex K Posted May 6, 2009 Author Share Posted May 6, 2009 (edited) Hi I am more than pleased to give advice as to how this is done. It is really quite simple with a bit of practice and patience, however, the process will vary depending on the type of software used as each piece of software uses different processes to achieve the same end results. I use an old piece of software (Adobe Photoshop V4), using this, each different portion of the image is replicated as a separate layer, then coloured and saved. It's a little bit like the old method of producing moving cartoons, where you start with a basic Matt background, draw around the bit you want, and add it as layer over the original over the top,colour it and then keep it? then adding additional? layers on top until for each different part of the image until you achieve the desired effect, sounds more complicated that it actually isscreen shot attachedHere, all bits of the uniform and regalia have been isolated as a layer and individually coloured in, except, you may notice his right hand, which would be the next move to colourize. when all layers are complete, all layers are merged to provide a single colour image, this then can be manipulated to provide the required colour depth, contrast etc. Just noticed his medal spange is not coloured, this could be another layer to colourize.regardsAlex k Edited May 6, 2009 by Alex K Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul R Posted May 6, 2009 Share Posted May 6, 2009 Now that is great!!! :jumping: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ccj Posted May 7, 2009 Share Posted May 7, 2009 Another from the vaults, Erwin Rommel. All photo's from BundesarchivOh, I'd love to have an 8x10 of Rommel. You did very well... :cheers: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alex K Posted May 8, 2009 Author Share Posted May 8, 2009 Two more, Unknown Panzer RK Tragers, north Russia 1941. It occured to me when colourizing them, would anyone recognise who they may be. Unfortunately no unit details known. Pictures BundesarchivregardsAlex Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alex K Posted May 17, 2009 Author Share Posted May 17, 2009 Maximillian Wengler with a nice frame! Alex K Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ItemCo16527 Posted May 22, 2009 Share Posted May 22, 2009 This colorizing stuff is a lot of fun! Tried it with a picture from a funeral card I have, and here are the results.Original:1st try:2nd try: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alex K Posted May 22, 2009 Author Share Posted May 22, 2009 (edited) Nice, thanks for posting, the more the merrier, It can become quite addictive if only to see what you can manage, practice is the important thing.regardsAlex K Edited May 22, 2009 by Alex K Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ItemCo16527 Posted May 23, 2009 Share Posted May 23, 2009 My latest attempt, Major General Carroll Deitrick. I'm still not very good at this, so the ribbon bars came out a little weird, and I couldn't figure out how to do the SHAEF patch on his sleeve. Original:Colorized: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alex K Posted May 23, 2009 Author Share Posted May 23, 2009 (edited) My latest attempt, Major General Carroll Deitrick. I'm still not very good at this, so the ribbon bars came out a little weird, and I couldn't figure out how to do the SHAEF patch on his sleeve. Original:Colorized:?Hi nice work. From my point of view, I personally slightly mute the colours when I colourise. Hope you don't mind, but this is how I would have done it (Quickly), done the SHAEF badge also although it's a difficult area to get at. Comments welcomeEdit, I admit I'm no expert on US Uniforms but I may have a try at a fewregardsAlex Edited May 23, 2009 by Alex K Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ItemCo16527 Posted May 23, 2009 Share Posted May 23, 2009 Alex, that is perfect and exactly what I was attempting (poorly) to do. I just could not find the right color for his uniform. Thank you for fixing it! :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alex K Posted May 23, 2009 Author Share Posted May 23, 2009 Alex, that is perfect and exactly what I was attempting (poorly) to do. I just could not find the right color for his uniform. Thank you for fixing it! Hi Jeff, thanks, I was not trying to preach, but having done many, you get the feel for it. I did't really change your original colour but reduced the brightness a bit and the depth of colour, ?so that the colours don't "Glow" Kept your ribbons as you coloured them because they actually looked fine and not over coloured. (Did Alter the cap band slightly to show some contrast with the rest of the cap), looked at some actual colour shots for ideasregardsAlex Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ItemCo16527 Posted May 23, 2009 Share Posted May 23, 2009 I can't wait til I have enough experience to have pictures turn out like yours. You have quite a talent for making them look like they were originally taken in color. I'll have to practice more when I have some free time this weekend. Thank you again, Alex :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ccj Posted May 23, 2009 Share Posted May 23, 2009 I do mostly Hungarian photos since i know that kind of uniforms best.Here a photo from 1944 of General vit?z Ferenc Kisbarnaki. Great job Peter Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ccj Posted May 23, 2009 Share Posted May 23, 2009 Something a bit different for me and a bit of a challenge, Hungarian Ambassador Eugen Ratz, My thanks to Hunyadi and Rick Research who gave me some good pointers as to uniform and medal bar detailsregardsAlex KAlex,You have become a Master of colorization Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alex K Posted May 23, 2009 Author Share Posted May 23, 2009 (edited) Alex,You have become a Master of colorizationThankyou, it was a bit of a challenge to try and capture all those gongs and ribbon bars in their truest natural colours. I also agree that the Hungarian officer posted by Peter of General Ferenc Kisbarnaki is an very nice example of what can be achieved.regardsAlexOne more from me a slightly dramatic portrait of Von Rundstedt Edited May 23, 2009 by Alex K Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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