[smurfing]

Kraellin

Thanks -the same comments made by my wife (need to get my glasses checked)
Sadly skintone is the area I find most difficult to get right
I will play about with the settings to see if I can improve it
Are there any rules or settings that could help with this subject

Very many thanks again
Smurf

[sunfly]

Hi Smurf... yeahhhhhhhhh... skin can be a big pain in the butt. Check out this software.

http://www.phototune.com/skintune_intro.html

Hope it helps.

Cheers,
Sherry

[Kraellin]

smurfing, there are a number of discussions here on RetouchPRO dealing with skin color. i dont have them marked. sorry. but, there are those that go by the look and those that go by the numbers (rgb numbers). both can be used. you might try the retouching forum to find some of these. i seem to recall that ken and byRo discussed this quite a bit.

[smurfing]

Thx evryone - your help is very gratefully recieved.

Have played around a little and added what looks like a little sun burn
Hope I haven't gone o.t.t with it

Smurf

[JayNads]

I do agree with Chillin - to try and bring back whatever colors you can find in the original before performing the retouch. In the end, you might only use these for reference, but at least you'd have the "numbers" to go by.

Personally, the only visual suggestion I could make is to avoid using color at such a high saturation. When I colorize, I prefer to use a solid color adjustment layer for each color. I change the layer blending mode to color, then I invert the mask to hide the whole thing, and then paint in the details where appropriate. Once I'm done, I reduce the opacity on the layer as far as I can while still retaining a sense of color appropriate to the image. This affords one huge advantage - I can easily go back and adjust each color globally. In the attachment I posted is an example of this - (obviously I do not have your patience or I would have tackled the bathing suit) - on the left are the colors in full saturation, and on the right with reduced opacity. Because the small jpeg seemed to have some soft-focus issues, I felt that a softer application of color was more appropriate - but you have to be your own judge for what looks good to you - you might think mine is way too light.

Good luck!

[smurfing]

JayNads very many thanks for your comments
Must agree with you that the lower saturation looks very good

I still keep returning to the skin tone and the blotchiness as can be clearly seen on the legs - this is the area that (whatever I try) is proving the most difficult for me to correct

many thx again to everyone
Smurf