I was wondering if gimp had a selective coloring plugin or script? I saw one on deviant art, but I think it was out dated. I know that you can do it by hand but some users like myself love using plugins and scripts.

could you post just an example of:
- input image
- desired output image

There was a "Colorization" plug-in available.
viewtopic.php?f=9&t=839&start=0&hilit=colorize

I attached the 64 bit version here.
Place the executable (for windows) in your plug-ins folder and restart GIMP. You will find the plug-in under Colors>Colorization

To use:
1) Open a image (desaturate with luminosity if needed)
2) Create a TRANSPARENT layer above the original image
3) Color thin lines of color on the transparent layer above the original

4) Select the image layer you want colored
5) RUN the filter
4) Select the TRANSPARENT layer in the dialog. Click ok.

The results

Rod, I put the colorize.exe you posted here under one of my user accessible plug-ins folders, but at Gimp start-up I get the error that colorize.exe cannot be loaded because blas.dll is missing
do you have it ?

Ahh forgot that you needed that dll file for colorize. I attached it here.

thanks, Rod

No problem. I apologize for not including it in the first place. Is it working for you now?

no more error at the Gimp start up, yet to be tested

fantastic!
here my first outcome
(Lyle's doll)

I had thought GMIC also had a way to do this, but just looking, I couldn't find anything that worked properly.

Gmic Black & White -> Colorize[photographs] is very similar to the colorization plugin

comparison:


all in Mint 17 32 bit, Gimp 2.9.3, G'mic for 2.9

thanks Rich.
At a first test, it seems that the result of G'MIC is more "crude" and approximate, not to be taken as such, needs some "interactive" try-and-see

Rod, where does the DLL file go?

where you put the plug-in

That's a bit vague. I put the plug in my .gimp-2.8 plug ins folder. I had to create a colorize folder for the plug in. Now my question is, does the DLL file go into the colorize folder that holds the plugin?

I didn't create a specific folder, but if you have it (and you have linked it in the accessible plug-ins folder), yes, place on the same folder the .exe and the .dll

When I run the plug in, 2 windows show up:
A black window with the file location on it and a window for the plug in itself. The one with the plugin itself isn't showing the image that I want colorized. Instead it shows the transparent image.

follows Rod instructions:
-before calling the filter create a transparent layer on top of your image
-draw some colored lines (any color just to test)
-set active the original (BG) layer with the image
-then call the filter and run it (it's OK that it shows the transparent layer on its window)

Diego, I did that and this is what I got:
1st example

2nd example:

Something else is wrong. It didn't colorize properly.

post your xcf input file here