skin color by numbers

[041567970]

Hello again!

I heard a lot of skin color correcting by numbers. Do any of you guys use that method? I think that it might be usable as a rough guide.

I read that for the caucassian color the cyan shuld be the lowest. The magenta should be cyan multiplied by 3 to 5 times. Yellow should be a little higher than magenta.

Is that correct information? I know that I made it too easy and that there is no such formula that can magically fix the color, but can I at least use it as a guide?

Would really like to hear some thoughts from the experts. I tried to search for this info, but couldnt find anything useful.

Bye!

[SilvaFox]

Caucasian flesh in a CMYK workflow.

Yellow 6-10% points higher than the Magenta. Cyan in 1/4 tones and mid-tones is about 1/2 of the Magenta. Cyan and Black are for shape. Much less Cyan in lighter areas, but without any Cyan, fleshtones are "peachy".

C-13, M29, Y36, K0 is on my screen right now and looks pretty good.

African Americans are higher in Cyan and the Yellow can be up to 20% points higher than the Magenta.

Measure these colors (using the INFO palette) in foreheads, chins, etc. Avoid cheeks because they always read higher in Magenta.

Pretty rough, but hopefully that helps a bit. Cheers!

[mayday]

You might find this file useful

[mistermonday]

For skin tones, I find it easiest to work in LAB color mode. There is a direct and intiuitive relationship between the A Channel and the B channel which quickly and accurately lets you shift the skin color to a more yellow or pink hue. The L channel controls the lightness or darkness without impacting the color range. Moving back & forth into LAB color mode has no destructive effect on the image as well.
Regards,
Murray

[Hendrik]

Working in L*ab doesn't give you much extra and moving back and forth IS destructive just is every other conversion.

Also remember that those formules or charts with 'good' skintones are only estimates or guidelines, they do NOT represent the only good skincolor. Human skin is very variable and 'good' skin color also is very variable. These charts can be helpfull if you want to remove a color cast, but for the rest ... just as you already said, they are a rough guide and you summed it up very well.

I'm working on an image now with CMY=6, 26, 30 on the forehead.

[snook305]

Well Hendrik those are good numbers so I do not understand exactly but of course those numbers are going to vary a little.. but the basic formula holds up..
your C is 3-5 times your M and your y is slightly higher than M..
Your skin should look pretty good.
Snook

[edgework]

Originally Posted by snook305

Well Hendrik those are good numbers so I do not understand exactly but of course those numbers are going to vary a little.. but the basic formula holds up..
your C is 3-5 times your M and your y is slightly higher than M..
Your skin should look pretty good.
Snook

Actually, if C is 3-5 times M, they'll qualify for Blue Man Group. The other way around will work just fine.

[snook305]

Edgework I am sure you know what I meant.. But I'll explain better for those who do not.
You should be able to Multiply your C number 3-5 times and that should give you your M.. and your Y should be slightly higher than M.
Basically the numbers mentioned in the post above are pretty good.
Something like:
C=10
M=30
Y=32
K=0
Would give you a pretty good skin tone for the average caucasian.
Snook