Hope it's ok to ask for tips on this forum...I'm a newbie to Photoshop, teaching myself. I purchased some digital images that look like brushstrokes of paint, etc. they are .png files, so transparent, but the images are black. Is there an easy way to change the color of the image? I can't seem to get the colors I want using the color balance boxes. In my Adobe photo editing program, there is a color box that you can just slide a ball around in until you get the color you want, very easy. this seems much more complex. maybe I am missing something. I am very excited about doing digital art and have purchased one of the digital altered books. Thanks in advance for any advice. Cheers! Karen

Welcome Karen!

I wish I could help you with Photoshop, but I use Paint Shop Pro. Maybe this will bring this post up to the forefront again so someone can guide you along. I agree that changing color should be a simple and basic task to do easily (it is in PSP). Good Luck! -Mary 

 Mary, thanks for responding. I actually emailed the site I purchased the digital file from and they gave me this tip:

Click on the small box at the top of the Layers pallette that is marked "lock transparent pixels." This will lock all of the background. Then you can pick a brush and a color and paint the entire object without worrying about going "outside the lines." this works for black or white objects that you can't use the color adjustments on. 

It works great! 

Thanks, Karen 

that's a GREAT tip!!!!  I didn't know that and have be struggling with trying to color some grunge backgrounds I'm working on.  Thanks for sharing!!!

Hi Everyone!

I just wanted to put my two cents in here before I go out for the day.  I really do struggle with Photoshop on a regular basis.  It's a very steep learning curve for me.  We (here at ArtellaLand) are lucky enough to have a very talented and generous member who shares lots of freebies as well as some tutorials that we can use in Photoshop.  I just came from Annamarie's Blog at http://artellacafe.com/blogs/annamaries__lets_inspire_each_other/default.aspx

and she just posted another tutorial.  Check out Annamarie's Blog titled "Let's Inspire Each Other" listed in the Artella Blog Section in the Cafe.  I promise it will be worth the trip!  I think the link Iisted here should get you to her blog as well.

Hugs & Have Fun,  Julie  

Hi Again!

Annamarie has some grunge freebies and I believe she has a grunge tutorial as well!

Hugs,    Julie      (I couldn't find anything else that looked grungy)