Kindly critique my work - 50's wedding

[soleah]

Here are 2 wedding photos of my in-laws. I've reworked these photos over and over since 2002. Since I bought Katrin Eismann's "PS Restoration and Retouching" and found this great website, I can fairly say that my skill level improved. Well, not as good as the other members here though. I still have a long way to go.

Thank you, in advance.

[philbach]

A very nice colorization and restoration of that photo. I'm just an amateur but it seems to me that the background color is very similar to the skin tones. Perhaps the background color of the wall should be changed some. I suspect a change in color of the background will have a strong influence on the foreground couple.

[soleah]

Phil, I copied the color on my own wedding photo. It has a pattern though and not plain like this. I'll try another background color. Thank you for your critique.

[Gary Richardson]

In my opinion, in the first picture the bride's veil is a little too opaque compared to how it was in the original.

Possibly the second would be improved with a little sharpening, and on my monitor the whites are just a touch blown out.

However, overall you have done a very good job.

[MBChamberlain]

First of all, very good work.

When I do weddings I usually use a magenta, blue or green background (as contrasting as I can to the wedding color scheme) and then digitally manipulate the background later to match the scheme of the wedding. In this case, I tried a nice muted blue. I agree about the veil being too opaque. I manipulated the green channel into a selection to adjust the color in the veil.

Other than those things, I ran selective color on it to tweak things a bit, and most importantly added a grain layer (6.25% gausian grain added to a 50% gray layer and blended at 4% with overlay) to overcome some of the plastic look inherent to reducing grain from the film.

Again nice work,

Michael

[soleah]

Gary, the white IS blown out. I didn't check the info when using the levels adj layer.

Michael, I'm partial to magenta background, but I like the blue that you used on this one. I'm trying to copy what you did overall.

After adjusting the levels adjustment layer to subdue the whites, I can't seem to get the look I'm hoping for on the rest of the image. I'm trying to use the other adjustment layers. I'll post the edited photos after I'm satisfied.

Thank you.

[soleah]

Here's the edited photos with new background color and opaque veil.
I added overlay layer filled with 50% gray, applied noise filter, as suggested, to avoid plastic look on the skin. Went on to apply stylize filter emboss on the overlay layer. I'm not sure if I applied too little since I can't see the difference or maybe there's something wrong with my eyes. Do I need to increase it?
What's the best way to deal with the grays on the hairline/forehead? I tried adding color burn layer. Is there another way?
I appreciate all your suggestions and comments. Thank you. You're all wonderful!

soleah

[philbach]

Well I like it. The blue does seem to be a nice background color for this couple. I would declare this project to be a "wrap."

The photo has a very pleasant ambience.

[Vikki]

I like the blue background as well. What would really help this coloring would be to color the clothing. As it is now, they look grayscale.

[soleah]

Thank you, Phil & Vikki.

I concentrated too much on not blowing off the whites. The info palette reads 248,248,248. To top it off, I colored it white, as if that will make a difference!!!

I applied an off white color, more on the yellowish hue at 20%opacity. Is that good enough already?

I hope this wraps it up.

soleah

[cardmnal]

soleah, I think you have done a fine job restoring and retouching this photo. I particularly like the way you added the rest of the wedding dress's train and more floor to the foreground.

Now if I could get a piece of cake and a glass of champaign....

[RalphBenmurgia]

I hate to be the fly in the ointment here but I prefer the original background on the full size portrait, the retouch is excelent, but the whole image looks too uniform giving it the appearance of being slightly defocused. What I would do with this image is vignette the subject and use a sepia tone working from the edges inward. The blue background seems to give the image the appearance of a colorized photo.

[TylerRB]

I think that both the adapted blue background and the yellow overlay both work best. I too would call this a wrap!

T

[Vikki]

Honest critique? I still don't see any color in the clothing.
On my way out the door, but I'll try to post what I mean later

[Flora]

soleah,

Welcome to RP!

An overall very nice restoration, but, as Vikki pointed out,

point 1 : "I still don't see any color in the clothing."

point 2 : in the original picture, where the bride's veil is darker, it means it's more transparent so the background/BG colour shows through .... in your last correction, in my opinion, the veil is still a bit too dark/opaque and grey.

point 3: the whites seem to have lost a lot of details (folds and lace) due to their brightness...

point 4: the groom's face is much darker and 'flatter' than the bride's ....

I did a very quick correction of these points just to show what I mean ...

Hope this helps...

[soleah]

Originally Posted by RalphBenmurgia

I hate to be the fly in the ointment here but I prefer the original background on the full size portrait, the retouch is excelent, but the whole image looks too uniform giving it the appearance of being slightly defocused. What I would do with this image is vignette the subject and use a sepia tone working from the edges inward. The blue background seems to give the image the appearance of a colorized photo.

Your version would be great, I love sepia. But for now, I just want to learn how to color.

[soleah]

Thank you, all. And yes, I do want an honest critique.

To Vikki and Flora, my heart sank when I saw your version. Oy! They're good. Which means, I have to get back to the drawing board again.

Exactly what color did you use on the clothing?


soleah

[Vikki]

Thanks Soleah, but I can't answer your question. The trick to achieving a good coloring is realizing that nothing is ever just one color.
Where the light hits the dress there may be a little yellow, and the side in shadows may have a little blue. My suggetion is to experiment with images off the web. Download some wedding gown images, desaturate the image, then use the history brush to bring back the color on just parts of the gown. You'll see there is usually color there (not lack of it as one might think).

[Flora]

Thanks Soleah,

I'd only like to add one thing to what Vikki said .... visit Vikki's Gallery following the link under her signature .... sit back and enjoy everything there, but particularly her "Photoshop Digital Coloring" .... it's simply magic ....

[soleah]

Originally Posted by Flora

Thanks Soleah,
I'd only like to add one thing to what Vikki said .... visit Vikki's Gallery following the link under her signature .... sit back and enjoy everything there, but particularly her "Photoshop Digital Coloring" .... it's simply magic ....

I've been to Vikki's gallery several times already. In fact, that's what got me interested in digital coloring in the first place. The colored images are just so...alive!

I think I better relax for a while and go visit the gallery.

Many thanks.

[soleah]

Sorry, I didn't post this right away. I changed my style a bit especially on the face. And toned down the blue on my previous post.
I'm crossing my fingers.

[Vikki]

I think you've vastly improved upon your first rendition.
I still see a few areas that could use some tweaking.
I've attached two animations to demonstrate. Mind you, I'm not saying my way is the right way, it's just how I'd do it.
In the first animation, I layered my color version over yours to illustrate the differences. In the second, I drastically pumped up the saturation for the same reason.
You'll notice that your background is pretty much a solid blue.
I would add some other colors to the background to get away from a "dyed" look. The same thing goes for the floor.
The veil on yours is blue, and I imagine you're thinking, you can see through to the blue background. Although that's true, the veil itself, wouldn't be blue...know what I mean?
I see that you've added color to the white clothes. I think it looks much better, but it's a little too uniform, and basically one color. If you'll notice in mine, there are areas of different colors. Maybe not the best ones, but different enough so as not to look "dyed" (again that word. Have you ever dyed an article of clothing, or hair? Notice how it just looks fake? That's what happens if you don't work in some variations of color.)
Keep the thought "color variations" while working on every portion of the image, and I'm sure you'll be satisfied with the results.
Sorry these are so small...size restrictions.

[soleah]

Thanks, Vikki.

I tried adding more colors on the background and on the gown, just like what you said. I thinks it's getting better and more real, if I may say so.

I just have a bit of a problem with the veil. When I added white on it, in color blending mode, in my opinion, it turned gray. How do you color the veil white but still keep it transparent?

[Flora]

Hi,

soleah,

I think you did a great job!!! ... Gone are the greys and lights and shadows are very well balanced .... You even coloured the bits of skin through the bride's lace gloves!!!
And here I go back to what I always say .... I do like trying the odd colouring in images, but it's really not 'my thing' ..... because, for what colorizing is concerned, I would have left it just the way you did!!! But after reading and seeing what Vikki suggested and did, I have to admit that adding different touches of colour here and there it makes it look much more realistic!!!

As for your problem, whenever you try to add black or white or, to a certain extent, too light or dark colours in 'color blending mode', you get grey .... If you want to selectively add a touch of 'enhancing' colour (or white or black), just paint on a blank layer setting the blending to Soft light (softer) or Overlay (stronger) .... Start with a very soft brush (Opacity 10%) and gradually add to the effect.

Hope this helps ....

[soleah]

Thanks, Flora. I applied your suggestion.

The problem before is that I have this "coloring book" concept of applying colors in an image. I thought "red is just red" or "green is just green".

The new upload is not perfect, but I think get the idea of what Vikki said about color variation. It gave such a dramatic result.

[yuppicide]

As much as I hate to say it, I like Flora's work the best again. LOL! You all did amazing jobs. The background color is perfect if you ask me.

[brownsugar5]

Very nice.....2 Thumbs Up