TUAW's Daily Mac App: ColorWash
Those with an artistic bent have been making color-isolated photos in Photoshop for years, but a recent crop of quick and easy tools for doing just that has allowed novices (like me) to create some of the same beautiful photos in a fraction of the time.
ColorWash, currently US$0.99 in the Mac App Store, is one such program. It allows you to make color-isolated photos in minutes. You load your image of choice into the app, which will then remove all color from it, giving you a grayscale photo canvas. You then 'paint' the color back in using a brush tool, restoring the original colors into the areas of the photo that you want to.
If painting the colors back in sounds like hard work, there's also an automatic fill tool to detect edges and colors and either fill in or remove the color automatically from a selection (although we had mixed results using this tool).
ColorWash is great for anyone who just wants to play around with their photos. But those looking for more advanced features, options and control over the image, or even just pinch-to-zoom, should probably look elsewhere.
Share
Those with an artistic bent have been making color-isolated photos in Photoshop for years, but a recent crop of quick and easy tools...
Add a Comment
Oops, I just remembered this isn't an iPhone app. I mentioned something about the iPhone in my last comment. Ignore that part.
May 18 2011 at 9:53 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down ReplyHow is this different from Color Splash?
Wait...it's not.
Good to see all the elitist photo trolls have come out of their caves. Maybe there's one or five people who simply want to make the balloon in their photo pop against a gray background because they're making their own birthday party invitations.
It's a $0.99 app for a reason. It's for the consumer that doesn't want to drop $200-500 for PhotoShop, yet wants an automated way of doing one effect. Maybe the average consumer doesn't have their own darkroom to selectively expose their photos. They probably don't roll their own film, either. Get over yourselves, people. I know this article gave you the chance to show your limited knowledge of a subject. Congrats...you're a winner.
There is never any reason to use selective color. It is a horrible technique that serves no value to pictures of any photographic worth.
It's worse than "HDR" (as tone mapping is called), and "HDR" is pretty horrible.
Don't use this, please.
THANK YOU! HDR is the worst!
If you want a natural version of HDR, use film or learn how to use light.
Props for the Filipino beer!
May 17 2011 at 6:18 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down ReplyI'm afraid that San Miguel is purely of the Spanish variety, related, but not produced by the San Miguel of the Philippines. Confusing though, as they're all called San Miguel.
May 18 2011 at 4:15 AM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down ReplyThe tradename San Miguel, originates from the local brewery of San Miguel, Barcelona, Spain.
May 18 2011 at 8:05 AM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down ReplyGreat... another wave of "aspiring" photographers are going to start their amateur photo business now. Anyone else remember when photography was actually an art and profession?
May 17 2011 at 5:12 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down ReplyGreat now we will have even more crappy selective coloring in pictures.
May 17 2011 at 4:55 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down ReplyYour avatar could use some :D
May 18 2011 at 5:35 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down ReplyI'm sure this is great for people that don't have Photoshop, but for those that do, selective coloring on photos isn't really all that difficult, and a fun little technique to learn.
May 17 2011 at 4:35 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down ReplyDeals of the Day
more deals- Apple iPhone 4 8GB for Verizon, AT&T, or Sprint for $50 + pickup at Best Buy
- Unlocked iPhone 4S 16GB for GSM (AT&T, T-Mobile) for $619 + free shipping
- Apple iMac Core i7 Quad 3.4GHz 27" w/ 24GB RAM, 2TB HDD for $2,677 + $29 s&h
- Used Apple Magic Mouse for $36 + $4 s&h
- 9-Piece iPhone Bundle, includes 1,900mAh battery for $8 + free shipping
- Skullcandy Riot Earbud Headphones for $10 + free shipping
Software Updates
more updatesFeatured Stories
more stories
Popular Stories
TUAW (or The Unofficial Apple Weblog) is a website devoted to tips, reviews, news, analysis and opinion on everything Apple.
17 Comments