Changing color of layer

In article
, ke
wrote:

Hello,

I am a newbie, so please bear with this simple question. I have two similar black and white line drawings, and I would like to identify their differences by overlaying them. The drawings are each in a different layer, and I’ve removed the whitespace in each with the wand tool so that only the black lines remain. The problem is that the black lines from the two layers are hard to tell apart since the drawings are pretty similar, so I’d like to change the color of one of the layer’s lines (from black to red, for example) so that the differences will jump out more. That way I could see the differences between the two drawings. How can I do this?

Thanks,
Kathleen

Hi Kathleen, it’s easily done. You want to change the pixels on a layer without affecting the transparent pixels around them. In the Layers palette, look near the top left for the word "Lock:" and four icons. Clicking the icon with the checkerboard pattern locks the transparent pixels on that layer so they can’t be changed. (Photoshop’s convention is to depict transparent pixels — which are invisible, of course — as if a checkerboard pattern were behind them. The pattern does not show up when you print.)

After you click the lock-transparent icon, choose a color in the Color Picker and Edit>Fill. Select Contents:Use>Foreground Color. Only the lines on your layer will change color.

best regards,
Tom Nelson
Tom Nelson Photography

On Jan 28, 10:05 am, ke wrote:

Hello,

I am a newbie, so please bear with this simple question. I have two similar black and white line drawings, and I would like to identify their differences by overlaying them. The drawings are each in a different layer, and I’ve removed the whitespace in each with the wand tool so that only the black lines remain. The problem is that the black lines from the two layers are hard to tell apart since the drawings are pretty similar, so I’d like to change the color of one of the layer’s lines (from black to red, for example) so that the differences will jump out more. That way I could see the differences between the two drawings. How can I do this?

Thanks,
Kathleen

In addition to what Tom said you may also want to check out calculations – Image>Calculations. With calculations you can load each layer, and then scroll through the blend modes (difference and subtraction will probably be your best bet) and easily create a selection ( and thereby a mask) so the differences can be isolated. Calculations can be confusing so if you get bogged down let us know.

Good luck

wrote in message

On Jan 28, 10:05 am, ke wrote:

Hello,

I am a newbie, so please bear with this simple question. I have two similar black and white line drawings, and I would like to identify their differences by overlaying them. The drawings are each in a different layer, and I’ve removed the whitespace in each with the wand tool so that only the black lines remain. The problem is that the black lines from the two layers are hard to tell apart since the drawings are pretty similar, so I’d like to change the color of one of the layer’s lines (from black to red, for example) so that the differences will jump out more. That way I could see the differences between the two drawings. How can I do this?

Thanks,
Kathleen

In addition to what Tom said you may also want to check out calculations – Image>Calculations. With calculations you can load each layer, and then scroll through the blend modes (difference and subtraction will probably be your best bet) and easily create a selection ( and thereby a mask) so the differences can be isolated. Calculations can be confusing so if you get bogged down let us know.
Good luck

I liked tom’s instructions
very simple and easy to understand method
you can also use replace color
or you could use a layer effect>color overlay

many ways to do it

On Jan 29, 12:16 pm, "KatWoman" wrote:

I liked tom’s instructions
very simple and easy to understand method
you can also use replace color
or you could use a layer effect>color overlay

many ways to do it

I like Tom’s method best too but you never know what she might have going on. She could be processing thousands of satellite image for NASA to save the world from climate change.

wrote in message

On Jan 29, 12:16 pm, "KatWoman" wrote:

I liked tom’s instructions
very simple and easy to understand method
you can also use replace color
or you could use a layer effect>color overlay

many ways to do it

I like Tom’s method best too but you never know what she might have going on. She could be processing thousands of satellite image for NASA to save the world from climate change.

I was not insulting your method ron

On Jan 29, 4:38 pm, "KatWoman" wrote:

I was not insulting your method ron

I know. I did not mean to sound defensive. I think your criticism is valid and it’s good for the OP to know that my suggestion was probably overkill.

Thanks:)