In this video I show you how to colourise black and white photographs in Photoshop using Solid Colour adjustment layers. It’s surprisingly straightforward once you understand the basic method, and it’s also quite addictive. There are plenty of automatic apps that will colourise photos for you, but doing it manually is genuinely satisfying, and you get far more control over the final look.

I start by showing how to colourise an entire photo step by step, explaining the thinking as I go: choosing believable colours, building them up gradually, and shaping the tones so the image still feels natural rather than painted on. Then, later in the video, I include a sped-up run through an edit so you can see the full flow in a shorter format once the technique has clicked.

If you’ve ever wanted to bring old family photos to life, restore historical images, or simply learn a new Photoshop technique that feels both creative and relaxing, this is a great place to start.