B&W coloring

[Mike Kennedy]

Think I may start with a set of Marshall pencils. So many to choose from. Any suggestions?

Thank You

 

[Monophoto]

I started with a standard set of Marshall's pencils - something like 15 colors. But over time, I've added several dozen pencils to my collection. Some are "artists' oil pencils" (whatever that means), while most are just random artists pencils that I found in clearance bins in various art stores.

A basic set of pencils will give you a good starting point. You can easily blend several pencils to get intermediate colors. Frankly, the difference between a set of 40 pencils and a set of 18 is that with the larger set, you can get a color by using one pencil, while it might take two or three pencils blended together from the smaller set to achieve the same color.

The key think is the Nike factor - "just do it".

 

[Ian Grant]

Think I may start with a set of Marshall pencils.

Can I make a suggestion and maybe try a different method.

Here in Europe most hand colouring was done using colour retouching dyes, two photographers who were outstanding in this field are James Wedge, and the late Bob Carlos Clarke.

James Wedge wrote a book; Painted Ladies, The art of hand colouring in photography, 1988 Published by Dragon's World.

Using a combination of toners and hand colouring remarkable control is possible, and unlike using Marshall products the colour is in the emulsion not sitting on top.

Ian

 

[winger]

I've used the pencils and the oils and much prefer the oils for blending. The pencils work very well on small areas and details, but not so well on large sections. But try whatever and just have fun. I've also used Prismacolor colored pencils (fairly soft, not just for photos) and had some decent results.

 

[Roger Hicks]

I've used the pencils and the oils and much prefer the oils for blending. The pencils work very well on small areas and details, but not so well on large sections. But try whatever and just have fun. I've also used Prismacolor colored pencils (fairly soft, not just for photos) and had some decent results.

Seconded. Not by me but by my wife Frances Schultz who has demonstrated both Marshall's Oils and SpotPen colourpens at trade shows for the manufacturers. To see some of her work go to the Galleries on our web site, www.rogerandfrances.com.

Cheers,

Roger

 

[Bob Carnie]

Hi Roger

Went you your site, very impressive, I can see the love of photography the both of you have, wonderful stuff.
I am going to spend more time looking over the winter.

best regards
Bob

 

[Roger Hicks]

Hi Roger

Went you your site, very impressive, I can see the love of photography the both of you have, wonderful stuff.
I am going to spend more time looking over the winter.

best regards
Bob

Dear Bob,

Thank'ee kindly, sir!

Cheers,

Roger

 

[pentaxuser]

Anybody looking over the site will need a lot of time to cover it all. There's a great deal for the money and probably too much for free.

Roger has an intelligent conversation( in the from of the written word of course) with the reader/subscriber. He talks to him/her NOT at him/her.

Roger. A propos hand colouring, have you considered a module on this courtesy of Frances?

Regards

pentaxuser - a very satisfied subscriber

p.s. I use my real name on the Roger and Frances photography site. I would have done on APUG, were I to have known its pedigree when I was testing the water as a humble member. Now I am a subscriber here, it would probably cause confusion to fellow members and subscribers to drop the Nom de Plume.

 

[Roger Hicks]

Anybody looking over the site will need a lot of time to cover it all. There's a great deal for the money and probably too much for free.

Roger has an intelligent conversation( in the from of the written word of course) with the reader/subscriber. He talks to him/her NOT at him/her.

Roger. A propos hand colouring, have you considered a module on this courtesy of Frances?

Regards

pentaxuser - a very satisfied subscriber

p.s. I use my real name on the Roger and Frances photography site. I would have done on APUG, were I to have known its pedigree when I was testing the water as a humble member. Now I am a subscriber here, it would probably cause confusion to fellow members and subscribers to drop the Nom de Plume.

Well, gosh, thank you too. Yes, at least one hand colouring module is planned but as you may know from the site blog Frances is recovering from pseudopolyarthritis and a couple of cracked bones caused in part by the steroids she takes for the pseudopolyarthritis (they reduce bone mass and make fractures easier). As a result she has to rest a lot and what paid work she does do is directed at keeping her name in front of people in Shutterbug and Black and White.

But give us a few months and it should happen. We try to meet subscribers' wishes whenever we can -- the latest paid module, on using old lenses, was in (long delayed) response to a subscriber request.

Cheers,

R.

 

[terri]

I started with a standard set of Marshall's pencils - something like 15 colors. But over time, I've added several dozen pencils to my collection. Some are "artists' oil pencils" (whatever that means), while most are just random artists pencils that I found in clearance bins in various art stores.

A basic set of pencils will give you a good starting point. You can easily blend several pencils to get intermediate colors. Frankly, the difference between a set of 40 pencils and a set of 18 is that with the larger set, you can get a color by using one pencil, while it might take two or three pencils blended together from the smaller set to achieve the same color.

The key think is the Nike factor - "just do it".

Agreed. I did the same thing - starting with about 15 pencils, used in combination with what I believe is called the "hobby" set of Marshall's oils - around the same number of different colors.

I think it's important to start with fewer colors and learn to blend. It helped me understand and work with color like nothing else could have. Once I felt I understood the blending process, I treated myself to a larger oil set, including the "extra strong" oils. And I've added all the various pencils I can find (the "tropical" set, etc) just to have more variety in the arsenal.

Don't forget chalk pencils - they are easy to use (as well as remove!) so they are great for a beginner.

Good luck with it!

 

[Roger Hicks]

I think it's important to start with fewer colors and learn to blend.

Dear Terri,

I'd agree -- strongly echoing your point that once you've decided it's fun, buy the extra oils/pencils, rather than doing it the hard way.

Cheers,

R.

 

[terri]

Dear Terri,

I'd agree -- strongly echoing your point that once you've decided it's fun, buy the extra oils/pencils, rather than doing it the hard way.

Cheers,

R.

Precisely! Only you have to earn doing it the easy way - it's better for you in the long run.