How to Colorize a Old Black and White Photo in Photoshop

Bringing vintage photos into life in Photoshop is fun, especially if it involves old family pictures and portraits. Your first attempts probably were a mess. Don’t worry, it’s not that simple without the proper knowledge, but it isn’t a complex task either. In fact, after watching this video tutorial chances are that you’ll become a serial colorizer.

John Shaver from Photoshop Video Academy, explains in this detailed tutorial how to colorize photos using a 100% non-desctrucive technique, wich will preserve the original and make adjustments without having to go back and start from scratch.

Watch tutorial

Get tutorials & freebies delivered to you.

Subscribe to the Photoshop Roadmap newsletter, a weekly roundup of new tutorials, insights and quality downloads, trusted by 6500+ readers.

9 Photoshop Tools That Still Outperform AI for Precision and Control

AI generates images from descriptions, but it cannot hand you the brush. When a project demands exact colors, editable text, precise retouching, or seamless mockups, Photoshop's native tools remain the more reliable choice — not because AI is weak, but because these workflows require control that generative tools simply...

How to Create a Vintage Film Look in Photoshop Using Adjustment Layers

Aging a photo convincingly takes more than a preset — it requires control over highlights, color channels, and grain working together. This walkthrough covers a fully manual, non-destructive workflow for building a vintage film effect in Photoshop, using Color Range selections, Smart Filters, a Grain adjustment layer, and per-channel...

How to Use the Object Selection Tool in Photoshop for Faster Edits

The Object Selection tool lets you isolate parts of an image with a simple drag, and it becomes even more useful when paired with adjustment layers and layer masks. These techniques are practical for targeted color edits, texture work, and building selections that cover multiple elements like a flower, stem,...

How to Set Up Bleed and Crop Marks for Print in Photoshop

Sending a print file without proper bleed is one of the most common mistakes in print production. A bleed — typically 1/8 inch of extra canvas on all sides — prevents white slivers from appearing when a printer trims the finished piece. Photoshop's Canvas Size tool and AI-powered...

How to Use Camera Raw's Feathered Sky Mask to Create a Natural Glow Effect

Camera Raw now lets you feather and expand AI-generated masks directly in the masking panel — a feature that makes it possible to create a convincing light bloom effect without any manual brush work. This tutorial covers the full editing process for a dark, underexposed landscape shot, with the feathered...

How to Build a Photo Manipulation in Photoshop: A 4-Step Compositing Workflow

Building a convincing photo manipulation from scratch requires more than creativity — it demands a repeatable process. This breakdown covers the four core steps used to composite multiple images into a single cohesive scene, from rough layout through exposure matching, color balancing, and shadow painting. Watch the Video Practical Tips These...