How to sample skin color

[Gerald McClaren]

I have two color photos and would like to know how can I sample the skin color of one photo and apply that color to the other photo.


Gerald McClaren

[Cassidy]

If using photoshop, open both photos and then using the colour picker sample from one photo and then change window to the other photo and the colour selection should remain

[Duv]

Also, the highlights and shadows will vary so be sure to color pick often.

Dave

[goose443]

Photoshop CS has the ability to take the color scheme from one photo and apply it to another. I don't have CS here so I'm not sure exactly where it is but I'm sure someone else can help.

[limaze]

Originally Posted by goose443

Photoshop CS has the ability to take the color scheme from one photo and apply it to another. I don't have CS here so I'm not sure exactly where it is but I'm sure someone else can help.

i guess thats the "match color" function in "image/adjust" menu. but that gives me totally uncontrollable and unwanted results most of the time for skin colors, so it seems theres no easy way of applying the skin to another image

[edgework]

Skin is never just one color. What really works is sampling an entire range from highlight to shadow. A series of swatches generated from each of these samples can be the basis of a gradient map which can then be customized to the detail profile of the target image. You'll need a good mask for the skin areas.

If the tones are close to begin with, you can compare two similarly lit areas and simply take the numbers from one and use a curve to transfer the other. If the cheek of the reference image comes out to read R:235 G:176 B:142, and a similar area on the target image reads R:194 G:137 B:100, simply apply a curve to the target, add midpoints and enter the input values from the target image and the output values from the reference. This way you won't simply be overlaying a single hue onto your image; the curves will distribute the shift proportionally through areas lighter and darker than your sample area.

If the differences are too extreme, then I would say that the Gradient map is the way to go. It's the Atomic Bomb of color changes.