Commercial grade quality?

[Marama]

Hi Everyone

Ive joined this awesome community with the goal of learning enough to start a small home based restoration business aimed at restoring old photos.

I'm starting off building my portfolio by doing friends and family photos, and have come across one that's been a little more difficult than the others. I'm posting the original and my attempt, and am wondering, is this result commercial grade quality do you think? I kind of like it, but im obviously going to be biased. I'm also interested to see what others can do with it with anyone feels like a stab at it.

Sorry about the resolution, its the best i have.

Many thanks

[0lBaldy]

Originally Posted by Marama

Hi Everyone
Ive joined this awesome community with the goal of learning enough to start a small home based restoration business aimed at restoring old photos.
Many thanks

Welcome to RetouchPRO Hope you enjoy your stay here and make lots of friends. Poke around, ask questions, have fun!

I like the colors you have... the small picture looks fine to me... as far being commercial quality, I will let someone else judge that aspect as I am only a hobbyist

I did a really quick version just to see if I could color using gradient maps

[Marama]

Wow. Your skin tones came out really well. I was really struggling with that, as you can tell. I'll have to play around some with gradients, i didnt think of that.
Cheers

[chillin]

I think a selective color adjustments could help.

[0lBaldy]

That's more like it Chillin... great colors!

[chillin]

Thanks 0lBaldy...a lot of improvisation with this one.

[fstr21]

Yea im a fan of the colors, as for commercial quality. I too am tryin to get my little side business goin and I mean I would be happy to have that in my example page.

[Marama]

Good one chillin!

[secretagents]

Chillin you are amazing.

[Marama]

Well, Ive managed to match Olbaldy's quality, but i'll be stuffed if i can match Chillin's photo! Any chance you could ellaborate on how you got that with selective color adjustments?

Im thinking there was masking involved to blend it in, but im finding it impossible to reproduce such lifelike skin tones.

Cheers

[chillin]

I used the same method as shown here, but instead curves I tried to utilize HSL.

[Marama]

Thats a lot to digest, i better get reading/painting.
Thank you so so much!

[0lBaldy]

Chillin, it is all in the little details! ... And you have covered all the smallest details within this photo to the max.. the work-flow shows there are no shortcuts to quality... and yours is of the highest quality.. Class Act!!

[secretagents]

It reminds one can do anything if one is not lazy I guess. Cheers.

[Cupcake]

My take on this pretty child.

Made in B&W with green channel
Painted in Painter.

[Marama]

Very classy cupcake :-)

[Marama]

After many hours and learning lots of new tricks, im settling with this version.
Thanks for all the help everyone!

[unimatrix001]

thought i would give this a try also used curves adjustment layers to adjust colors came up with this.

[Marama]

Ooo nice dress!