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February 6, 2018
Question

What is this type of monochrome called?

  • February 6, 2018
  • 7 replies
  • 645 views

What is this type of monochrome/monotone called? Is it a monochrome and not a monotone? This clearly is not the same as colorizing something in Photoshop-- there is more variety here. How would I do this in Photoshop?

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    7 replies

    Norman Sanders
    Legend
    February 6, 2018

    By changing the Mode to Lab Color,  then slowly and methodically dragging the mouse across the the image, typewriter style, while watching the Info panel, there is an interesting result.

    As you know, plus readings in the  a  channel would indicate magenta, minus values would indicate green

    In the  b channel plus readings would Indicate yellow and minus values would indicate blue.

    In other words, if, at any point, a minus number appeared in either the  a  or the  b  channel it could indicate more than two hues appear in the image.

    All values were plus.

    From that you may assume that, besides magenta and yellow (to create the red) no other hues, were used. In terms of tonal scale (black), the black is easy to see. White was applied below the right eye since it is lighter than the paper.

    NOTE: There were points where  a  registered zero -- meaning yellow was the only hue at that point  -- but they were miniscule and I assume they may have been the result of a minor variation in the scan.

    Nancy OShea
    Community Expert
    Community Expert
    February 6, 2018

    Use duotones in Photoshop

    Monotone = 1 ink

    Duotone = 2 inks

    Tritone = 3 inks

    Quadtone = 4 inks

    Nancy O'Shea— Product User & Community Expert
    Norman Sanders
    Legend
    February 6, 2018

    This is not a Monochrome

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    c.pfaffenbichler
    Community Expert
    Community Expert
    February 6, 2018

    In any case: Converting a photographic image to a similar appearance will likely not work as a one-step-solution.

    While the overall color appearance might be (more or less) emulated with a Gradient Map Adjustment Layer for example the qualities the image owes its nature as a drawing would probably need considerable manual work.

    Abambo
    Community Expert
    Community Expert
    February 6, 2018

    Even when it's not excessive colourful, it's not monochrome. I see at least 2 colours: red and black, if I do abstraction of the background.

    To do that in Photoshop, you need to have chalk-simulating brushes, a tablet and some drawing talent. It helps to know how to do that on paper in the real world. Well and then you could simply draw and scan... , but for some applications, that will not be suitable.

    ABAMBO | Hard- and Software Engineer | Photographer
    Derek Cross
    Community Expert
    Community Expert
    February 6, 2018

    RGB color mode.

    c.pfaffenbichler
    Community Expert
    Community Expert
    February 6, 2018

    What exactly are you trying to emulate – just the colors or also the linework?

    Just Shoot Me
    Legend
    February 6, 2018

    That is a color photo of a drawing done on a textured paper.

    c.pfaffenbichler
    Community Expert
    Community Expert
    February 6, 2018

    Likely done with chalk, red chalk and coal.