Hand Tinting Photographs: Materials

HAND TINTING PHOTOGRAPHS
Photo tinting adds elegance and a personal

touch to old or new photographs. You can create
colour highlights and texture, thus adding a
new look to art projects, memory albums, cards
or gifts.
MATERIALS:
oil pastels
coloured pencils
oil paints
watercolour paints
cotton swabs
cotton balls
soft hair brushes
masking tape
turpentine, turpensol or citrus thinner
rubber gloves
When choosing a photograph to hand tint it is
important to choose one with a large tonal range. The
tonal range in a picture refers to the amount of black,
greys and white in the print. If the picture is
predominantly black many of your colours will not
show. Conversely, if there is too much white space in
the photograph the colour you apply will overpower
the picture leaving little or no contrast. Glossy resin
coated paper is harder to hand tint with watercolours
than resin coated matte, pearl or fibre-based paper.
This is primarily due to the coating on the paper
which is more likely to cause colour to bead and not
be absorbed as easily. In general, all resin coated and
fibre-based papers work fine when using oil pastel,
pencil crayon or oil paint methods.
HAND TINTING WITH

WATERCOLOURS
Before tinting a photograph with watercolours it
is best if the print is soaked in warm water for fifteen
to twenty minutes. This makes the paper more
receptive to the absorption of colour. If necessary, a
wetting agent such as ox gall can be used to help the
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print stay wet longer. Remove the print

from the water and blot with a towel to
pick up any excess moisture.
Next, tape the photograph down to a
drawing board or table top. Apply the
colour in even strokes. It is best to apply the colour in
thin layers at first, and then add further layers until
the desired intensity is reached.
Once you have completed the tinting, allow the
print to dry naturally. You may want to protect the
print with a clear matte or glossy spray once the print
has dried. This is an important step to consider if the
print is to be handled or you are worried about
protecting the surface from grease or dirt.
HAND TINTING WITH

OILS & PENCIL CRAYONS
When tinting a photograph with oils or pencil
crayons, it is not necessary to soak your photograph
before use. First, tape the print to a rigid working
surface to keep it from moving around. Tape can also
be used to protect the white border
of your photograph. Solvent such as
turpentine, turpensol or citrus
thinner is needed for this method of
tinting. We recommend that you
wear gloves when using either cotton swabs, cotton
balls or tissue to apply the solvent. Also, if you are
sensitive to strong odours consider using a respirator
and odourless mineral spirits.
First, apply a light coat of solvent to the areas of
the print you intend to apply colour to with a cotton
ball be sure to remove any excess with a tissue. If
you are using fibre paper, only coat the portion you
are working on. Fibre paper is very absorbent and as a
result the solvent will dry quickly. Next, add the
colour using either oil paints, oil pastels or pencil
crayons. The use of light pressure with your drawing
tool will produce a sparse covering of colour. If the
colour appears streaky or uneven simply use another
cotton swab or ball in a circular motion to even out the
applied colour. At this stage the use of cotton swabs
Page 1
HAND TINTING PHOTOGRAPHS

and balls can also be used to lift excess paint off the
surface. When applying colour, remember that heavy
drawing pressure will build up dense colour very
quickly, and as in watercolour tinting you should
apply colour in successive light layers for the best
results. Although it is easy to remove excess pigment
when using oil paint or pastels with solvent, it can be
be somewhat messy and harder to control.
You can experiment with different degrees of
pressure to create a range of effects. Colour
application doesnt have to be smooth or translucent
it can have varying degrees of density and intensity.
Oils can be used to build up the surface and create an
impasto look, or layered colours can be carefully
scraped away to reveal the colours beneath.
~ Experimenting and using different tools to apply paint is

a great way to extend this project. For example, try
combining Colour Shapers with brushes. Nadine
NOTES:
Staff Tips:
~Be sure to use a low tack tape when taping down your
photograph. Try painter's tape. This will help to ensure that
the tape doesn't ruin the edges of your photograph when it
is time to remove it. If you don't have access to low tack
tape simply stick the adhesive side of the tape to your
clothing a few times to remove some of the tack! Jenn
~ Work in a well ventilated area when using any type of
solvent, even if it is labelled "odourless". Just because you
can't smell it doesn't mean it isn't in the air. Alison
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HAND TINTING PHOTOGRAPHS

Photo tinting adds elegance and a personal

HAND TINTING WITH

OPUS Framing & Art Supplies

print stay wet longer. Remove the print

HAND TINTING WITH

HAND TINTING PHOTOGRAPHS

~ Experimenting and using different tools to apply paint is

where artists prefer to shop

OPUS Framing & Art Supplies

OPUS North Vancouver

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