Adobe Photoshop Basics

Exercise 4 - Erase to History

Download this zip file for all the images you need to complete the exercises for Lesson 7. (Mac users can use Aladdin's free Stuffit Expander to extract the zip file.)

In this exercise, we're going to use the erase to history option to paint selective color back into a photo that has been desaturated. Obviously, this technique will only work with a photo that started out in color. Our next exercise will involve adding color to a grayscale photo.

First you want to open the file and check the history palette to see the an initial snapshot has been created. If you don't have a snapshot create one now.

Next go to Image > Adjust > Desaturate. This removes color without changing the color mode of the image.

Select the eraser tool and check the erase to history box in options.

Select a brush and begin painting from the center of the middle strawberry.

As you get to edges, use the keyboard shortcuts you learned for varying the brush size and hardness. See if you can paint in the strawberry's color without ever moving your mouse to the brushes palette.

If you accidentally paint color where you don't want it... don't panic! Just switch to the paintbrush tool, set the paint color to any shade of gray and set the paint mode to Saturation. When you paint with gray in saturation mode, it desaturates the image.

Are there easier ways of doing this exercise? Yes, using layers would have been easier, but the beauty of Photoshop is that you have so many options and you never know when one method will offer an advantage over another.

Next > Exercise 5 - Colorizing