Changing Black and White Images To Neon

 

This is a simple but fun tutorial using plain black and white images and changing them to neon. This tutorial was written for PSP 7. I have not tried it in PSP 6, however I don't see any reason why it would not work in 6:0)

Lets Get Started

 

Open a new image 800 by 800 with black background. This is rather large but gives you lots of working room and can always be resized later when you are finished:))  I have only tried this effect with a black background, Not sure what it will look like on different colored backgrounds;0) Chose a black and white image you want to use. I am going to use this one. Feel free to use this one if you wish, I have zipped some others up for you that I know will work with this effect if you wish you can download those here. I have been collecting these images for quiet some time and have no clue as to where some of these came from. If they belong to you please contact me and I will be happy to give you proper credit:0)

 

 

Open up the black and white image you are going to be using. First thing you want to do is make sure that this image is make sure your black and white image is 16 million (24 Bit) to do this go to colors, increase color depth and change the colors to 16 million (24 bit) if you need to some images already are 24 bit. If everything is gray out when You check your colors then your image is already 16 million (24 bit color).

 

We also need to promote this image to a layer, So go to layers promote to layer.

 

Using your magic wand  and these settings

 

 
You may have to change your tolerance settings depending upon the image you are using.. What we want to do now is get rid of all the white on your black and white image. So using your magic wand click on your image to where you get the marching ants around your image, Hold down your shift key on your keyboard and click all areas of white like this

 

 
Just make sure that only the white is clicked we don't want the black outline... now once you have all areas with marching ants around them hit delete on your keyboard to remove all the white . If you have missed any white areas just repeat the above step to remove it. We do not want any white at all showing on our image. You should have something similar to this now yours will be larger of course:))

 

 
We need to add a drop shadow to this image, You don't have to do this step however if you don't it will not look like neon it will just be colored so its your choice ;0) Now go to effects, 3D Effects, drop shadow and use these settings,
 

 

Add this drop shadow setting Two (2) times. Then add another drop shadow using these settings

 

 

 

Apply the exact same drop shadow one more time. Using the same settings!

Go to edit copy and open up your 800 by 800 black background image and Edit paste as NEW layer onto your background. Rename this layer Neon .

 

This next step is VERY IMPORTANT! You must do this next step or it will not work!  Open your layer palette up . On your neon layer remove the red x that locks the transparency like this

 

 

Now we can color the bear. We are just going to be using the foreground color. So background color does not matter at this point. Chose a color you want your bear to be. I am using #F8B8AC. Use your airbrush  with these settings, Again depending upon your black and white image you may have to change the size and settings but here are my settings

 

 

Now begin coloring your bear . Change colors if you wish for different parts of the bear as I have done. Or you can use just one color. And some places are smaller then others so you will have to change the size of your airbrush sometimes also. Some areas of certain images will fill some of the black areas in the bear does NOT, But just to let you know that this can and may happen depending on your image, The fix for that is to zoom in by going to View Zoom in by 1 or 5 which ever is easiest for you and just going around the white areas of the bear or your image with your paintbrush .

Now just merge flatten your layers and you are done.. You can crop your image at this point if you wish:0) And that's it, You now have a neon image;)) 

 

I hope you have enjoyed this tutorial as much as I have creating it! I stumbled on this effect and thought it was cool :)) And hope you do to! If you have any questions or something isn't clear please email me at kitchel@webworkz.com and I will answer all email as soon as possible. And most importantly Have fun! Your imagination is the limit!!!

Bunney's Burrow

This Tutorial  © Bunney's Burrow  2001