Skin tones -- how to fix?

I was asked to warm this girls skin tones because mom say's she was pale from having been sick. My attempt at it looks awful (don't even want to show it).

I've seen people reference color numbers for proper skin tones. Where can I find this reference? And even if I did, how do you use it to correct, or even alter, skin colors?



Thanks,
Wayne

--
[Insert incredibly profound statement here.]

http://www.wsolumphoto.com

Is this what you're looking for?

http://www.retouchpro.com/pages/colors.html

Curves and hue/sat. That's all I've done. Is this kinda what you're looking for?

Sal

1. Opened in Photoshop CS2 and Assigned Color Profile to sRGB. The picture did not have a profile embedded and consequently did not display accurately.

2. Duplicate layer, then Image/Adjustments/Photo Filter/Warming Filter (85). Reduced Density to 15 percent and saved.

Is it just a reference or can you paint in the color, and if so, using what method in photoshop? I would think it best to do on a layer but none of the blending methods seem to work ideally for it. Is it a combination of layer blend mode and brush mode?

Thanks,
Wayne
--
[Insert incredibly profound statement here.]

http://www.wsolumphoto.com

Yes, this looks good. But what did you do in curves and hue/sat? If I go there it doesn't magically make it look better, it just screws things up. Did you use any references like the chart I asked about?

Thanks for you help,
Wayne

Sal18 said:

Curves and hue/sat. That's all I've done. Is this kinda what you're
looking for?

Sal

Click to expand...

--
[Insert incredibly profound statement here.]

http://www.wsolumphoto.com

Color Profile: I resized these using Picasa. Guess it drops the reference. sRGB would be correct.

I've tried the warming filter in the past but it always looks fake and warms areas I don't want warmed (and masking a face, arms, legs and fingers is a pain).

So your density was 15% but layer opacity was 100%, or did you apply it directly to the image?

Wayne

suddie1215 said:

1. Opened in Photoshop CS2 and Assigned Color Profile to sRGB.
The picture did not have a profile embedded and consequently did
not display accurately.

2. Duplicate layer, then Image/Adjustments/Photo Filter/Warming
Filter (85). Reduced Density to 15 percent and saved.

Click to expand...

--
[Insert incredibly profound statement here.]

http://www.wsolumphoto.com

These were the settings I used. In my opinion the all the default settings for Photoshop tools are too high and need to be adjusted downward. Simply adjust to taste, or I'm sure others will offer better solutions.

Incidentally the picture is slightly crooked; I didn't straighten it for risk of cropping her shoe.

To correct the skin tones (by the numbers) using the RGB numbers in the Skintones chart that Suddie posted...

Look at that skinchart - note the tone that you will want to change the girls skin color to ( I used the second from the top left which was 229, 194, 152 ).

Create a curves adjustment layer on top of the girl (Note: When you are done -- you will want to mask off and apply this only to her skin)

On a PC - Hold down the Control-Shift keys and click on the area of her skin you will want to change. This will place points on all of the RED, Green and Blue channels in the curves dialogue.

Click on the Red channel: In the OUTPUT entry area - enter the value from the SkinTones chart. In my case - I entered 229

Click on the Green channel: Like the Red channel - enter from the Skintones chart (except the Blue Value - in my case 194)

Do the Blue channel (152).

This is how you replace colors BY THE NUMBER in a curves dialogue, You will want to use the layer mask to only apply these changes selectively. I find it easier to invert the mask (Control I on the PC) and paint in the skin using a soft white brush to be the most controlable.

Wish I could take credit for this. Attended a class by Ben Wilmore three weeks ago - he spent much of the day doing curves color correction using this technique.

g'luck
--
Joe

Old Acct: http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/postersprofile.asp?poster=hjigihivhdif

switched to lab mode and increased yellow and red between 5 and 7
reduced the blue by 4

used eyedroper and information palette to read color a good start is yellow 5 higher than red and cyan 35 % of red
I like to read the cymb chart and then make adjustments on a seperate layer

Create a blank layer, change blend mode to soft light, and paint the skin. Sample skin color, decrease the brightness considerably (downward on the color picker) and perhaps move the hue a little closer to the reds. Paint with a soft brush at 30% opacity.



--
~ Peano

very simple job

contrast mask, sharpen

I adjusted this using curves. I adjusted only the color to illustrate the change. The overall image had a cool cast to begin with which made her pale skin even more sickly. It's a quick before/after animation. I've warmed it up very slightly more than total realism would dictate, but I personally think portraits look best slightly warm:



If you are serious about color correction, read Dan Margulis' "Professional Photoshop, The Classic Guide to Color Correction." I've noticed all the fanfare about his LAB book, but not too many people have mentioned this classic.

In it, he sets out a guideline for skin tone numbers, working with CMYK info. Not changing the mode to CMYK, but simply looking at the info palette using CMYK numbers. Basically, it is this (as applies to Caucasian skin as is the case here):

• Cyan should be a fifth to a third of magenta.
• There should be at least as much yellow as magenta, up to a third as much. Child and very pale individuals would be closer to almost equal amounts.

Setting the sample points is crucial. Evenly lit areas of even color are best. For example, don't set points on her inner arm. Everyone's inner arm is pale. Don't set them on highlights, etc.

There are other methods for color correction, but his by-the-numbers approach has gotten me the best results, bar none.

--
Pam
http://www.pbase.com/pam_r
'art is working on something 'til you like it...then leaving it that way'

Hi Wayne-

In curves I used only the curve for the red channel. With the eyedropper I clicked on her face to see what part of the curve to use, and pulled it up a tiny bit, until I liked the looks of it. In hue/sat I increased only the red saturation slider, again by eye.

Looking at it now, I should have used the mask to reduce the red in her hair a little bit.

Hope this helps.

Sal

I just checked out the Margulis book you recommend at Amazon. $60. Looks like it's a new edition about to be released. $60 is...kind of...a lot of $$ on the one hand. On the other hand, I take your recommendations seriously, and I'm trying to learn as much and as fast as I can. Would you suggest I look around for an older edition?

Sal

Wayne Solum said:

I was asked to warm this girls skin tones because mom say's she was
pale from having been sick. My attempt at it looks awful (don't
even want to show it).

I've seen people reference color numbers for proper skin tones.
Where can I find this reference? And even if I did, how do you use
it to correct, or even alter, skin colors?



Thanks,
Wayne

--
[Insert incredibly profound statement here.]

http://www.wsolumphoto.com

Click to expand...

Brightness contrast change, Focus Magic, PSPX noise removal.....Ralph

Hi Sal,

I had no idea he had an updated version coming out. Thank you for alerting me. Wow, those prices are incredible. I paid $49.99 for the Classic Guide, now it sells used for more than that. Another example. I paid $39.99 for Channel Chops 3 years ago. It now sells used for more than $165.00! (An aside to the forum...don't say I didn't tell ya. I've been hawking both books here since I bought 'em. You could have at least made a few bucks ; )

Sal, if you are seriously into PS. Not just a "playing-around-with-the-family-shots" serious, but if you really want to learn how to control PS rather PS controlling you, get this book. It's a lot to get your head around, despite the light approach of his writing style. If you're a serious PS nerd, this needs to be on your bookshelf.

Having said that, if you don't want to buy the latest edition, I think you should wait until the new version is on the market a bit. This will definitely lower the price of the 4th edition. In the meantime, you might want to think about cruising over to the nearest mega-bookstore that carries the 4th edition and check it out. It will either pique your interest or put you to sleep. Having it in your hands is the only way to know ; )

I'm off to put Chops into my safety deposit box ; )

--
Pam
http://www.pbase.com/pam_r
'art is working on something 'til you like it...then leaving it that way'

You should wonder why you have a blue tree.

Seriously, there is a colour cast and once that is removed the skin is not as far off at all.

Andrew