How to mute color tones

[tchu]

I've always been curious on how this look is achieved. The colors are cold and mute and it creates a sort of surreal look to it. Looking forward to reading your suggestions. Thank you.


Photos by Václav Širc:

http://gallery.photo.net/photo/4061810-lg.jpg

http://gallery.photo.net/photo/3431094-md.jpg

http://gallery.photo.net/photo/2407051-md.jpg

[Swampy]

The links don't work for me.

[Cassidy]

the links do not work for me either

[CJ Swartz]

Here's a working link to a couple of them --

http://www.photo.net/photodb/photo?photo_id=4061810

http://www.photo.net/photodb/photo?photo_id=3431094

Take a look at the color info on their skin tones -- there's a lot of cyan added and the yellow and magenta are nearly equal instead of yellow being slightly more dominant -- when I took out a lot of cyan and added some yellow, you have realistic skintones. Add cyan and subtract yellow, you have "creative" skintones.

[KR1156]

you can mask out her skin......run a desat. layer like -40 or -50, then using the same mask apply a new curve that makes up the skin tone you like, adding as much cyan, or yeloow etc. as you like.

[tchu]

Thanks for the replies. Does the same thing applies when you work on the background? I have not had a chance to try the suggestions made yet.

[CJ Swartz]

Try it and tell us!

[superkoax]

the first picture is really nice colour...desaturated colours is the name of the game here...but the lighingt enhances the effect and gives it a more dynamic...

Gerry

[tchu]

Thank you for the replies. I tried out the suggestions made and I think would practice I should get something similar to the posted images. Thanks.