Image Help - - Problem with "grey" in skin

dragnsteph · #1 03-11-2005, 10:13 AM

Hi there, first post here and I'm hoping for some insight.

I'm kind of new to correcting skin tone, and I received these images from a client which have a troubling "grey" cast. I've had some luck reducing them by using a technique I know for removing shadows (apply image), but I'm not sure of their source so I'm not sure of the best way to tackle this. Anyone seen anything like this before?

Another technique I tried also used apply image, and I basically replaced the cyan channel with the black - seems these lines/patches of grey mostly live in that channel. It worked "ok" but I'd still need to correct the skin tone. I've got 4 images with this same issue, and am hoping you expert-type people can give me a good place to start.

Stephanie

grafx · #2 03-11-2005, 11:28 AM

Quick question. Did you scan in the photos or did they? Next question is whether it was made with a digital camera. I've had this problem before as well (normally when clients are the ones providing the files) Some setting that isn't correct. You get really weird highlighted areas when you try to color correct right?

dragnsteph · #3 03-11-2005, 11:40 AM

I know nothing about the origins of this picture except the following: We acquired this client after they became dissatisfied wwith their prior artists, and one of the first things they asked us to do was recreate a color chart (it's a permanent makeup company), with these models on the back showing off their work. The negatives to the original printing had been destroyed, and the images I have are obviously from the same photo shoot as the images used in the original piece, but aren't exactly the same. Since skin and makeup are their business, they want these models to be flawless, and I can't seem to achieve flawless with these pictures. The originals have that grey cast and are far too ruddy. Simply reducing the amount of red "looks" ok, but when we go to match print, the grey cast is overwhelming.

I'm going to -guess- that the images were scanned from transparency. Some of the grey lines in the image look to me more like scratches or artifacts of scanning, some of them are just shadows. I didn't scan them, and my client knows nothing about how they got on the disks she gave me. I did use Genuine Fractals to enlarge the images approximately 200%, they were too small on the disks I was provided.

venivedi · #4 03-11-2005, 11:48 AM

It's under-exposed picture. People say that a little over exposed one make a portrait more vivid. So...I had a go at your picture with curves, layer blending mode and layer mask. But...I can't decide which one has more decent skin tone, because I have a poor eye for beauty retouch.

Legacy~Art · #5 03-11-2005, 11:53 AM

I have not information on how to do what you are asking, but wanted to say welcome to the forum and give it till end of the day and your sure get some answers from the members on the forum.

Legacy~Art · #6 03-11-2005, 11:57 AM

Wow guys that was fast when i was answering they're was no replies, you guys are whizzkids!

dragnsteph · #7 03-11-2005, 12:00 PM

This is my first go at correcting this image, which the customer rejected on match print because of the grey I'm trying to describe. If you look around her mouth, and on the left side of her forehead, there is a grey "something" that almost makes her look like she has a beard. Can anyone see what I'm talking about in this image?

-Stephanie

dragnsteph · #8 03-11-2005, 12:04 PM

And thanks, Legacy~Art

I'm hoping for a little push in the right direction at the very least, I'm not trained in this aspect of correcting color, most of what I've done in the past has been making sure whites are white, black is black, and everything falls properly in between

Skin is sooooo difficult.

-S

MBChamberlain · #9 03-11-2005, 12:44 PM

Hi and welcome to RP,

I usually "replace" the skin tones when this happens. I find these swatch files handy when working with skin and hair. I created a solid color layer, set to the color blend mode at 75%, and filled it's mask with black. Then created a selection from the red channel and painted the skin color in with a white brush.

Then a quick selective color layer and it looks ok. I'm not sure what the best color for her skin is, but this is a way to deal with the problem.

grafx · #10 03-11-2005, 01:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by venivedi

It's under-exposed picture. People say that a little over exposed one make a portrait more vivid. So...I had a go at your picture with curves, layer blending mode and layer mask. But...I can't decide which one has more decent skin tone, because I have a poor eye for beauty retouch.

Great results! When you downloaded the file was it missing its color profile and really dark magenta? I'm being curious. I gave it a whirl, but yours looks great. I'm not seeing that 5 o'clock shadow anymore. All I see is the definition of the cheekbones.

venivedi · #11 03-11-2005, 01:02 PM

Your first outcome looks great to me.
IMHO, this shot was from film scanning...maybe scan preset could be wrong.

I see what you say 'grey' but cound't spot exactly what is so called 'beard'.
Could you show me that with some 'color lines around the troubled part'?

By the way, the white background makes my eye so tired...after long staring on this picture...I can't decide what is the grey. ???!!!
It came across my mind that 'If background('s color or brightness and etc.) went different, the object's would look diffrent as before.'

I 've just changed attachments on previous post of mine. What do you think?

Juliana Ross · #12 03-11-2005, 01:09 PM

Was this originally a high key image?
I know sometimes when trying to drop the contrast a bit that wierd shadow and surreal highlight thing happens.
Just curious.

venivedi · #13 03-11-2005, 01:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Juliana Ross

Was this originally a high key image?
I know sometimes when trying to drop the contrast a bit that wierd shadow and surreal highlight thing happens.
Just curious.

I've interpreted(???) this picture as highkey image.
I'm curious, too.

grafx : Thanks for your kind words.

MBChamberlain : Nice work! I wonder how you treated highlights area?

philbach · #14 03-11-2005, 01:19 PM

I took your picture and copied using screen blending mode. I then copied it again in screen blending mode and placed a black layer mask on the second layer. I painted the area under the chin on the mask.

It did help and I mad no other adjustments.

dragnsteph · #15 03-11-2005, 01:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MBChamberlain

Hi and welcome to RP,

I usually "replace" the skin tones when this happens. I find these swatch files handy when working with skin and hair. I created a solid color layer, set to the color blend mode at 75%, and filled it's mask with black. Then created a selection from the red channel and painted the skin color in with a white brush.

Then a quick selective color layer and it looks ok. I'm not sure what the best color for her skin is, but this is a way to deal with the problem.

I took a stab at it and it doesn't look near as good as yours - what brush settings were you using? were you working off the original picture, or the second one i posted?