How can I create a hand-tinted 1950s-style dreamy look in post-processing?
Asked 2/13/2016
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2 answers
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I want to recreate a photo style that feels 1950s-inspired: colors are present and sometimes quite strong, but the overall image still looks slightly washed, warm, and dreamy. It does not look like the common "faded vintage" look with lifted blacks. Instead, it seems closer to an old monochrome print that has been colorized or hand-tinted, with slightly unreal color areas and possibly a warm cast. The image also seems soft, with edges that gently bleed rather than looking crisp. How can I achieve this look in post-processing?
Originally by Photography Stack Exchange contributor. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
Photography Stack Exchange contributor
10y ago
2 Answers
1
How do I get this effect – vibrant colors but still washed-out and 1950s-esque at the same time?
Your example looks like it was hand tinted. Maybe it really was, or maybe it was just made to look that way in an image editing program, but either way that's the reason you get those not-quite-real areas of color. There are lots of tutorials on the web (here's one) to show you how to achieve this in Photoshop -- it's basically a matter of starting with a monochrome image, adding a color layer, and painting a semitransparent layer of color over the original.
Also the image feels very dreamy in that the edges seem to kind of bleed together.
It's hard to see that in the small example image, but it could be that the original photo had a slightly soft focus, or it could be another result of the hand tinting. Having lots of clouds in the background might add to the soft appearance.
Originally by user4262. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
user4262
10y ago
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This look is likely closer to hand-tinting/colorizing than a modern “vintage fade” preset.
A good approach is:
- Start from a monochrome or mostly desaturated image.
- Add color on separate layers, painting semi-transparent color over areas like skin, clothes, and background. This creates the slightly unreal but still vibrant color patches typical of hand-tinted prints.
- Add a subtle warm cast if desired, but keep it light so the painted colors stay visible.
- Reduce overall contrast a bit rather than heavily lifting the black point.
- For the dreamy softness, use slight soft focus or a gentle blur/glow effect so edges are less crisp and seem to blend.
The key is that the color should not look fully natural or globally applied. It should feel selectively added over a monochrome base, which is why purples, greens, or clothing colors can stay strong while the whole photo still feels old-fashioned and washed at the same time.
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