Coloring a black and white photo...

[figueline]

Hello !

I've restored... and added little life to this black and white photo...
What do you think of it... ?
Any comments and advice are really welcome...
Many thanks

[aartist]

Looks like you took care of the chin problem.
The skin looks flat to me, like you did "retouching"
instead of "restoring". Too smooth for my taste.

I would keep more highlights in her eyes.
Most of this stuff is subjective and depends a great
deal on what your motivation is. A paying customer
is always right, when they say they want something
to look a particular way.

Nice Job!

[TommyO]

figueline,

I think your end result looks very nice. It's amazing how much time can easily end up in a restoration like that. I'm sure yours took many hours. While the end result could vary a lot depending upon personal tastes, I think yours is appealing to a very broad audience.

Good job !

[figueline]

Originally Posted by aartist

Looks like you took care of the chin problem.
The skin looks flat to me, like you did "retouching"
instead of "restoring". Too smooth for my taste.

I would keep more highlights in her eyes.
Most of this stuff is subjective and depends a great
deal on what your motivation is. A paying customer
is always right, when they say they want something
to look a particular way.

Nice Job!

We hardly see the satin texture on the scan photo... So, I had to find one and add some details... to respect as faithfully as possible the original one... Furthermore, her chin is quite dark and has so many thin scratches... Patience and many hours !

Regarding the colorization... I wanted something "smooth"... But I like yours !!

Thanks for your comment and advice, I appreciate it !

[figueline]

Originally Posted by TommyO

figueline,

I think your end result looks very nice. It's amazing how much time can easily end up in a restoration like that. I'm sure yours took many hours. While the end result could vary a lot depending upon personal tastes, I think yours is appealing to a very broad audience.

Good job !

Thanks for your kind comment !

[aartist]

I'm not a retoucher, so my comments about her skin
and eyes are purely subjective.

You've done a great job!

[figueline]

I've highlighted the eyes etc... like you did !!
Thanks for your suggestions...

[chillin]

Very nice work figueline, I would keep the shape of the nose softer.

[figueline]

Originally Posted by chillin

Very nice work figueline, I would keep the shape of the nose softer.

You've done a very good work !
Thank you so much for your advice and comment !

[aartist]

chillin, love that!

[Kraellin]

this was an interesting one. i didnt try colorizing... yet, but i did do a restore. one of the secrets to a good colorizing is a good restore first. it's fairly obvious the original photographer was going for a 'hollywood' shot, with the strong light in the middle on the eyes, but he either missed this a bit or aging has done a number on this pic. either way, i decided to take some of the dark out first.

[figueline]

Originally Posted by Kraellin

this was an interesting one. i didnt try colorizing... yet, but i did do a restore. one of the secrets to a good colorizing is a good restore first. it's fairly obvious the original photographer was going for a 'hollywood' shot, with the strong light in the middle on the eyes, but he either missed this a bit or aging has done a number on this pic. either way, i decided to take some of the dark out first.

You're right... I couldn't get rid of this strong light in the middle...
What did you do exactly ?
Many thanks... You've done a great work !

[chillin]

Originally Posted by aartist

chillin, love that!

Thanks aartist

[mistermonday]

Chillin, 5 stars to you from me too!
Regards, Murray

[Kraellin]

figueline,

my process was to duplicate the background layer,then to use the lighten/darken brush and lightly decrease the darkness. i think i used an opacity on that brush of around 30%. but, i didnt try to do it all that way. it just wouldnt have looked right. so, next i created a new blank raster layer above the others and started cloing, pushing, and airbrushing, my standard fare. i also did this to the whole photo, cleaning up specs and such. i also did quite a bit of airbrushing on the background and clothing to give it a bit more definition. this was done with a small airbrush brush set at an opacity of about 3%. this was mostly done on the darker areas. and that was pretty much it. nothing too complex here

[chillin]

Originally Posted by mistermonday

Chillin, 5 stars to you from me too!
Regards, Murray

Thanks, Murray. You're like always very gracious with your comments.

[figueline]

Hello !

Kraellin...
I've followed your process... Here's the result : black and white and colorization...
What do you think ?
Thanks for all your tips...

[img=http://img34.imagevenue.com/loc8/th_29991_Danielle_Original1_122_8lo.jpg]


[img=http://img121.imagevenue.com/loc34/th_29531_Danielle_BW_122_34lo.jpg]

[Kraellin]

yes, that's the idea of it. i dont quite understand all the black lines below her face on the dress area and the hair seems just a bit dark, but overall, much improvement!

[figueline]

Hello Kraellin,

Thanks for your answer... I worked on her neck... Her hair is less dark now !!

[img=http://img211.imagevenue.com/loc611/th_59755_Daniellecopie_122_611lo.jpg]

[Kraellin]

that link doesnt show the pic. also, you shld get another site to display your pics. that one has links to not so good sites.

[figueline]

Originally Posted by Kraellin

that link doesnt show the pic. also, you shld get another site to display your pics. that one has links to not so good sites.

I found a new site to display my pictures... Hope it works !!!

http://rapidshare.com/files/417633112/Danielle.jpg

[Kraellin]

try an image hosting site rather than a file sharing site like rapidshare. google 'image hosting' and you shld be able to find one that suits you. also, if you can, post a 100k image here on the forums so that if your other site goes down or you quit it, we still have a record, albeit smaller, of your images and not a dead space

[chillin]

Originally Posted by figueline

I found a new site to display my pictures... Hope it works !!!

http://rapidshare.com/files/417633112/Danielle.jpg

Your picture's size is 797k in CMYK & I guess the "rapidshare" displays it differently than you intended. The first pic is what is displayed & the second how the file looks.

[figueline]

I try an image hosting...

Here's the link :

http://www.glowfoto.com/static_image.../img6/glowfoto

[figueline]

Originally Posted by chillin

Your picture's size is 797k in CMYK & I guess the "rapidshare" displays it differently than you intended. The first pic is what is displayed & the second how the file looks.

Chillin, I've turned my picture into RVB... Hope it work now !!!!
See the link below :

http://www.glowfoto.com/static_image.../img6/glowfoto

[maverick911]

Originally Posted by chillin

Very nice work figueline, I would keep the shape of the nose softer.

This is stunning chillin!

[chillin]

Originally Posted by maverick911

This is stunning chillin!

Thanks maverick911.

[maverick911]

Originally Posted by chillin

Thanks maverick911.

For interest, how long did that take you?

[chillin]

Originally Posted by maverick911

For interest, how long did that take you?

Usually these small sizes & not the best quality, for forum responses, take from 1/2 to 1 hr.