Slow progress

[smurfing]

Firstly may appologise for reregistering with another name - For some reason I could not get my original (ukpapasmurf) to work.

I have spent a lot of time trying to get somewhere with this photo
I hope that what I have done looks o.k, but I have got stuck on the colours of the legs,arms and upper body - they seem to be very blotchy and whatever I do does not make things better.

Would be most obliged if someone could help

many thanks Smurf

[Swampy]

Make a duplicate layer, run gaussian blur then mask out the areas of the blur that you don't want effected.

[CathyH]

smurf,
I think the colors are too saturated, I would lower the opacity. Also fix where the color of her hair bleeds into the curtain.
Are you going to add color to with window? Try a Gradient Sky blue to white??
Very cute photo.

[Kraellin]

try this tutorial on colorizing: http://www.worth1000.com/tutorial.asp?sid=161015

[smurfing]

My latest attempt but finding it very difficult

Smurf

[Kraellin]

smurfing,

post the restored black and white. a good way to get some help is to let others play and post what they did.

[smurfing]

Thanks Kraelin

Any help would be gratefully recieved
The actual original is attached to the first post if anyone is interested in giving it a try

Many thx
Smurf

[Kraellin]

hi smurfing,

i meant the restored image. i think we already had a thread on the restoration, so there shld be one around that we could work on for just the colorization part, yes, no?

[smurfing]

Kraellin

My appologies I misunderstood
I have two that have poor focus plus one other that is better focus and greyscale

[chillin]

Before colorizing or retouching, I would try to bring back the original colors as much as possible

[smurfing]

Chillin
That is absolutelty brilliant
This is something that (up to now) with level my skills is an impossibility
Would you be willing to give me some idea how you can get such wonderful results

Many thx
Smurf

[chillin]

Originally Posted by smurfing

Chillin
...
Would you be willing to give me some idea how you can get such wonderful results

Many thx
Smurf

For my color adjustments & enhancements I use iCorrect plug-in. It allows individual color adjustments.
First, I used iCorrect on a full image, then selective eyes & a dog color & level adjustments (first pic)
Next, eyes & cheeks color adj. That would be considered as colorization (second pic)
Then, I’ve done drapes color match & a selective edge dilate.( third_a pic)
And at last selective neat image & again selective high pass filter.

[smurfing]

Thanks chillin
Much appreciated
Gives me plenty to learn and digest

Smurf

[smurfing]

My latset attempt
Any comments/advice (not too harsh*S* )would be gratefully accepted

Smurf

[Kraellin]

a little too much yellow on the girl's skin. needs some reds in there.

[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 RP 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