Tweet Color from Black-and-White: colorized photos

OK, here is a Gish for you.



Lillian in costume for ORPHANS OF THE STORM (1921)

Now that I've got it all figured out: more photos!


One of my very first colorizations, made about a year ago (needs improvement) of Lillian Gish.
Another "firstie":


Lillian Gish again.


Gloria Swanson in a photo I presume is from Sadie Thompson.


Now for Viola Dana:


Now, for the very first colorization I ever made, of Lillian Gish (please don't laugh!):





It's terrible: Poor Lillian has too much blush, her hair is horrific, and, to top it all off, it looks like she's stricken wih the jaundice!

Here's a Mary Brian one you guys might enjoy :

Never mind, finally figured it out. Here:




Clara Bow in furs.

Nice job - and I can't wait to see it when you finish it! Just kidding, you definitely use a stylized look, sort of alabaster skin. Here is my version on it:

you definitely use a stylized look, sort of alabaster skin.

The skin was actually one of the faults I found with it. I thought it looked too pale.
Well, anyway, I'm glad about the positive feedback!
P.S. Call me Step.

Bob,

I've got a version in here someplace too. I'll try to find it. In the meantime, take a gander here. Something is wrong with the graphic of this photo from THE DARK ANGEL (1925) as it looks scrunched in some way? Can you fix it?

Here's your first color transfer in bobfells color:


Typically, the temptation is to color everything. In time we learn that less is more. Also, try to avoid low res photo like this Gish one. They can screw up things from the skin tones to basic clarity.

And here's your original that I only tweaked the color tone:

Here's your first color transfer in bobfells color:


Typically, the temptation is to color everything. In time we learn that less is more. Also, try to avoid low res photo like this Gish one. They can screw up things from the skin tones to basic clarity.

And here's your original that I only tweaked the color tone:

Thanks for the tips, Bob. I'll definitely take them into accord!

Here's those mystery photos Gagman posted earlier in the "Talking About Silents" forum in colorized form.
I did the process on my iPad in two different styles.

First style:




Second style:

SteppenBow59.

Wow! That was really quick! You work fast! I also started on the same photo.

My last post for the night:
Alice White.




This one isn't in my usual "alabaster" style (thanks Bob for coining the term!).

And here's Collen Moore (this one is "alabaster"):

Steppinbow59,

The Colleen Moore is quite good. Except it looks like her face is all bruised up. Way to much rouge. And Colleen didn't ware a whole lot of makeup.

Another Fabulous Flapper! Poor Clara faces stiff competition from a Leggy Golden Haired beauty, who wants her man and knows how to get Em'! This photo has me perplexed. Looks like Betty Compson in that chair? It's not Esther Ralston as this still isn't from CHILDREN OF DIVORCE. Labeled as ROUGH HOUSE ROSIE, it is probably from THREE WEEKENDS (1928). Yeah, there is a still code there, but I don't know how to use it.


"Drat, The Slinky Blonde Rival Has Arrived!"

Looking at Bruce's site shows that Rough House Rosie had a still code of 640x,
which looks like it could be the code on that photo:

http://www.silentfilmstillarchive.com/identify2.htm" target="_blank" target="_blank" target="_blank

Rick

Gagman,
Yeah, I have an unfortunate weakness for giving the girls I colorize a bit of a makeover.
Anyway, what do you guys think of these?


Colleen again!


Everybody's Sweetheart Ollie Thomas!


Ja, Clara is mijn naam!


Viola Dana!


Anita Page!

Steppinbow,59,

Very good work. With your own style. Love that basket of fruit. You must have found a much larger and sharper graphic of that photo than I was able too. Can you post a link, in Monochrome?

Ironically enough, I never got to that famous Colleen Moore photo from SYNTHETIC SIN. Probably because I noticed several other people got to it first. I really like the Viola and Anita. Olive is a little muddled.

Steppinbow,59,

Very good work. With your own style. Love that basket of fruit. You must have found a much larger graphic of that photo than I was able too. Can you post a link, in Monochrome?

Ironically enough, I never got to that famous Colleen Moore photo from SYNTHETIC SIN. Probably because I noticed several other people got to it first. I really like the Viola and Anita. Olive is a little muddled.

I can't really remember where I got the Dutch Clara, unfortunately.
Now, I'm not sure, but I may have got it from The Clara Bow Archive on Tumblr. The graphics on there are pretty big; they may be useful for colorizing. Oh, and here's an embarrassing question: what exactly is Monochrome?

In my opinion, these are some of the very best that I've got. I'm on a roll, and when I am, I can't be stopped!
Here we go!


That girl with the bee-stung lips, Mae Murray!


Billie Dove, the American Beauty!


That mysterious lady, Greta Garbo!


Nita Naldi! (Sorry about her signature getting cut at the bottom. The pic was already like that.)

SteppinBow59,

Black And White.

The Mae Murray is impressive. I think it's from VALENCIA (1926). Garbo was a Strawberry blonde. No Golden hair. Nita looks pretty good. Her eyes where Green. Don't think I have seen that Billie Dove in Black And White,. She looks so pretty. Speaking of which...



Mary Brian-"Better Hide Your Heart!"

SteppinBow59,

Black And White.

It should be me being embarrassed.
I thought you were talking about some program!
Sorry! I should've known!
I'll try and find it.

Edit: I got the Billie from Dr. Macro's.

I think the Colleen Moore looks the best although I wish it was larger. try this with a slight color boost:


The Viola Dana is one of your alabaster specialties, which I like for its suggestion of marble. The remaining two might be dubbed "painted hussies" - way too much make up. I try to let the b/w original suggest things like rouge. Most photos don't have suggestion of red cheeks so I don't give them any. Here's an alternate rendition of Anita:

Gagman,
Here is the Dutch Clara you requested.

Wow! That is Heaven! I'll work on revising the version I did before. Here is a Clara I have not posted before. Also Miss Negri ready for a most amorous evening encounter.


"Bow Poolside"


Pola- "Unspeakable Siren!"

Gagman,
The Bow Poolside one is really very good. I have a B/W one. I'll work on it after I'm done colorizing Mata Hari.
Edit: Where did you get that Negri one? She looks oh-so grand, as usual!

Mitch Farish posted the Pola on TCM-CFU a week or two ago. No idea where he found it. Here is another version of the Classic Colleen Moore pose. Wasn't done by me, rather by Talkie-King in 2009. I didn't think that I could do any better, so I never tried too. Always loved that photo. Colleen looks almost alive here!

Gagman,
Wow! Talkie-King knew what he was doing with that Colleen pic! Mine's plain compared to his! Look at those flowers!
Do you know what program he used?


Well, it's great I've found a niche for myself here in Nitrateville, and for the constructive criticism!
I'll definitely be coming back! I'll post more later!

Edit: Goldarnit! I could've sworn I had a B/W Bow Poolside!

Hi SteppenBow59,
I played around with your Billie Dove photo for a few moments.

I haven't been able to post any new color transfers lately due to being busy with school. Once the semester ends, I hope to have a little more time to devote to this past time.

Hi SteppenBow59,
I played around with your Billie Dove photo for a few moments.

I haven't been able to post any new color transfers lately due to being busy with school. Once the semester ends, I hope to have a little more time to devote to this past time.

Yeah, the school year was pretty busy for me too.
And, to top it all off, I have an orchestra concert in about 2 weeks!
Practice, practice, practice for it!

Bob, Caesar, SteppinBow59, Etc,

Here is another Negri. Looks OK, but the teeth turned sorta yellow. Maybe Bob can fix that? He has newer software.



Pola- "Sneering Smile"



Renee Adoree, King Vidor, and John Gilbert on the Set of THE BIG PARADE


Alas, I forgot what movie this still is from? I think it is TWO CAN PLAY (1926)? It could be THREE WEEKENDS though?

Gagman,
The Clara pic, I'm not sure it's from Three Weekends. Her face looks a wee bit younger. (Unless, of course, they toned down her make-up a wee bit.)
(And no, I'm not Scottish!)



This photo of Clara was taken around the time The Fleet's In was being made.
I posted it for comperison.

And, this poster for Three Weekends:



Of course, I may be, as usual, completely wrong.