This tutorial shows you how to get a black and white image with pops of color in it using GIMP, a free photo editing program similar to Photoshop.
Getting started and setup
Open the GIMP program and select the image you want to work with. In your layer dialog box you want to make sure that your top(copy) is highlighted, that is the layer we will be working with. We need to make the top layer black and white, leaving the bottom layer color.
Creating the black and white base
To achieve the desaturated base, we will convert the top layer to grayscale while keeping the bottom layer colored. This prepares the image for selective color restoration where color will appear only in chosen areas.
Revealing color with erasing
You are going to erase the part of the photo that you want to be color. When you erase the black and white, the color layer under will be shown. Select the pink eraser from the toolbox and select the solid circle brush. You can adjust the size of your brush depending on the size of the area you want to erase.
Refining the color pops
Continue erasing until your desired areas reveal the original color from the bottom layer. If needed, fine-tune the brush size and hardness to achieve smooth edges around subjects.
Practical tip: matching layers for consistency
Follow the same steps here except open your background first, then resize image to the same size of your photo. After that, all you have to do is drag and drop your photo on top.
With these steps, you can create striking images where a color accent stands out against a monochrome background, perfect for portraits, product shots, or creative art pieces.
Gimp- Easy Selective Coloring/Desaturating
Optional: quick color restoration on multiple areas
For multiple color pops, repeat the erasing process on different areas of the top grayscale layer, revealing colors from the lower layer in each targeted region. This approach helps maintain a cohesive look while emphasizing several elements within the same image.
Example workflow recap
- Open image in GIMP and duplicate the layer to create a top copy.
- Desaturate the top layer to black and white while leaving the bottom intact.
- Use a pink eraser with a solid circle brush to erase areas where color should show.
- Adjust brush size for precise edges and repeat for any additional colorized regions.
- Optionally add a background image first, resize to match, and layer on top as needed.
| Step | Action | Tip |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Open image and duplicate layer | Keep original intact |
| 2 | Desaturate top layer | Ensure bottom layer remains colorful |
| 3 | Erase with pink circle brush | Adjust brush size to area |
| 4 | Reveal color on chosen areas | Refine edges as needed |
These techniques allow you to create dramatic focal points by combining black-and-white composition with selective color, all within a free and accessible toolset provided by GIMP.