Photoshop Instructions for Selective B&W Tinting
Mike Marty


1.  Duplicate the layer by choosing the "Duplicate Layer" option in the Layer menu.  When the dialog window pops up, you have the opportunity to name the layer next to the "As:".   I named my layer "B&W", but the name doesn't matter.



2.  This is what you see after you've duplicated the "background" layer.  Notice the list of layers-- you now have 2 layers, with the active layer selected.   Both the layers are identical right now.  


3.  Desaturate the new layer by clicking on the Image menu, then Adjustments, then Desaturate:

4.  When you are done, you will now see a black-and-white image and it entirely covers the "Background" layer which is still color.  But before we move on, try clicking the "eyeball" button to hide the layer.  The "eyeball" button is the one I pointed out in the (3) picture.  If you hide the layer, it then reveals the bottom "Background" layer which is still color.  Ok, before moving on, make sure you show the B&W layer so that we have a B&W image.
5.  Now for the key step.  We are gonna make a "Layer Mask".  The idea is that we have 2 layers-- the bottommost layer which is color and the new topmost layer which is B&W.  What we are going to do is to mask portions of the B&W layer to reveal color in certain areas.  It is like cutting pieces out of the B&W layer.  
To make a Layer Mask, go to the Layers menu, select Layer Mask, select "Reveal All":

6.  Ok, when this is done, there is a lot going on now and I am going to show a lot in the picture below.  First, in the picture below, we get a "Layer Mask Indicator".   Click on this white box to ensure it is selected.
7.  To edit the Layer Mask, we need to select the Paintbrush tool from the toolbox on the left.  Ensure the brush size is something not-to-big, but not-to-small.  Ensure the opacity is 100%
8.  IMPORTANT-- the color of the paintbrush should be either black or white (and this has nothing to do with our B&W layer or B&W image).  Black means we are cutting out the layer, white means we are uncutting the layer.  
This should already be done, but press the "d" key on the keyboard to set the default brush colors as black and white.  The "x" key then swaps between a black brush and a white brush.  
9.  With a black paintbrush selected, try drawing on your image.  Color should be revealed!  Pretty cool, huh?

Notice above how the parts of the image colorized shows up as black on the "Layer Mask Indicator".  Now what if we screwed up and want to make portions B&W again?  All we need to do is to edit the layer mask to "white out" those portions with a white brush color.  
10.  Press "x" on the keyboard to select the white paintbrush.  Then fix your mistakes by painting on the image to make things B&W again.
11.  ALL DONE!