colorizing b&w photos with Photoshop 7.0

1: Load your image and be sure the mode is set to RGB.

2: Duplicate the background layer.

3: Press Q to enter quick-mask mode.

4: Paint brush over the first area you wish to color... the result should be a red colorization.

5: Press Q to exit quick-mask. You should see that everything except the area you masked off in red is selected.

6: Select Inverse (ctrl+shift+i). Now just the area you masked off in red is selected.

7: Go to the "create new fill or adjustment layer" menu found third from left at the bottom of the layer palette (looks almost like a yin-yang symbol) and choose "color balance".

8: Adjust the color to be as you desire.

9: Adjust opacity if desired.

10: Do the same (steps 3-9) for each area you wish to color... no need to make new layers prior to pressing Q to enter quick-mask mode, it automatically does a new layer.

I find this method has more or less solved my problem with doing skin tones. I hope you find use for this method and that it helps you as much as it has me.

a good tutorial of colourise photos
http://www.worth1000.com/tutorial.asp?sid=161018&page=1