A little more signal effect is good for many pictures. Apart from the choice of motif, it is the color contrast , which goes a long way to being the center of attention. If the background is also shown in black and white, the colorful motif moves into the focus of the picture. This Color effect becomes color key called and was used very heavily especially by advertising. Be it a woman's red lips, a colorful flower or the typical New York yellow cab. Photo history was written with this effect.

Color Key mit Jinbei

From video to photography: Keying briefly explained

The so-called „keying“ is a technical term from video editing and an important technique to use in post-production visual effects incorporated into the imagery. In addition to simulations and animations, texting, shading and other processing steps also belong to this type of image processing. Accordingly, image compositions are created in order to reduce two images or two levels to a now changed image. Apart from  Color key effect is this image change spatially using the 3D keying or chromatically with the  Chroma Key implemented.

Suitable motifs to perfectly stage the color key

The 2005 film Sin City, adapted by Frank Miller from the comic of the same name, impressively shows how the color key can be implemented perfectly on film. The same applies when a photo is perfected with this editing technique. The classic of letting red lips or a red rose stand out against the dark background sets strong accents . Almost any object can be the center of attention in this way, whereby the suitable choice of color does not have to be just red. Whether yellow, green or blue, there are no limits to the imagination. Effect colors can also emerge, but these should be one good color contrast to the constant monochrome background form. Vehicles such as taxis, scooters or flowers are often used for this effect. At the same time, signs, still lifes or other objects are also popular motifs that need to be highlighted.

Color Key mit Jinbei

The implementation of the color key effect via image processing

There are different image processing steps necessary for the implementation of a color keys can be used. First will be a image editor required by the photo can be edited. In our example we show editing with Photoshop. The photo, which was initially taken in color, is then either painted with a brush monochromatically discolored or the desired colored part is marked and the Rest of image discolored . While the digital discoloration of the image with a brush is very time-consuming and tedious, marking a specific image section using an appropriate tool is usually the better method.

Color Key mit Jinbei

First of all, it is necessary two levels to create a color image and its decolorized counterpart. With a selection tool (eg lasso, magic wand, etc.) the edge of the target object can now be traced in order to separate it from the other photo areas. By releasing this selection and creating a new vector mask it is now possible to combine the monochrome background with the colored cut-out part. This time-consuming method is made a whole lot easier with the Masks path tool. This is a type of masking film in the form of grayscale images that can hide areas due to the contrast intensity.n.

Color-Key mit Jinbei

Other tools, such as the Lasso tool, can also be used in these masks retouching used become.

Sometimes when using the selection tool there may be some hard edges or other areas selected. In this case, it can be reworked with a black and white brush. The white brush, in this case, colors everything black and white, while the black brush restores the colors.

It is important for this function that the layer mask (the small white box under layers) is selected.t.

Color Key mit Jinbei

We hope you enjoy trying it out and look forward to your results! Feel free to tag us Instagram and Facebook with the hashtag #jinbeiphotobox .

Finales Bild

More articles.

View all

Firmware-Update für Ihren TR-Q8 Funksender

Firmware update for your TR-Q8 wireless transmitter

With the new firmware update, your TR-Q8 wireless transmitter becomes even more powerful and flexible: it is now also compatible with older flash units – without any additional hardware. Benefit from optimized stability, new features such as the Boost/Normal mode, and extended compatibility for Sony and universal connectors.

Read more

Fotografie Hintergründe: Ein Muss für Jeden Fotografen

Photography Backgrounds: A Must for Every Photographer

Photography is an art form that goes far beyond simply pressing the shutter button. In this blog post, we would like to explain why backgrounds are used in photography, what different colors mean and what chroma keying is all about

Read more

Jinbei EF-ZF3 Spotvorsatz: Der Schlüssel zur kreativen Bildgestaltung

Jinbei EF-ZF3 Spot Attachment: The Key to Creative Image Composition

Videographer Jakob Bey has tested our EF-ZF3 spot attachment for continuous lights and is sure that the continuous light will accompany him on many projects in the future. Find out why the test with the sports attachment in combination with our EF-80 LED continuous light convinced him and how exactly he used it in our new blog post!  

Read more