Achieving this look - polaroid colours

[Jessi_ca]

Hi there!

I want to achieve this look on a series of fashion images I have taken and would like to know if anyone has any suggestions. I understand alot of colour has been applied to this image after shooting.

Thank you

[blaskica]

Hi Jessica!
It is a very interesting look. I played around a bit with this shot (which obviously was not meant for this). I wasn't really precise on details, 'cause it took me about 20 min to do it. Basically I did this:

- boosted blue in midtones and shadows
- reduced saturation by 30%
- crushed output level of black (to make it more gray)
- applied color to hair, eyes, lips
- saturated yellows, blues and magentas
- some dodge and burn

Here it is.

[snook305]

very nice work..
First time here I have seen actually copy pretty good what someone wanted to copy...
You should show everyone how to do the Famous Dave Hill Look and Dragan..:+]
Nice job
Snook

[morpheus1870]

Originally Posted by blaskica

Hi Jessica!
It is a very interesting look. I played around a bit with this shot (which obviously was not meant for this). I wasn't really precise on details, 'cause it took me about 20 min to do it. Basically I did this:

- boosted blue in midtones and shadows
- reduced saturation by 30%
- crushed output level of black (to make it more gray)
- applied color to hair, eyes, lips
- saturated yellows, blues and magentas
- some dodge and burn

Here it is.

how do you crush output level of black?

thanks

[blaskica]

Image - Adjustments - Levels - under histogram are output levels of black and white.
That is it.

[purpletofu]

You can also achieve part of that look by mimicking the cross- processed look in the curve adjustments. It's as simple as making the red and green channels in the curves dialogue s-curves, and making the blue channel an inverted s-curve.
Depending on the photo you might have to play around with the adjustments. It makes a really cool kind of expired film effect though.
I attached a photo to give you an example. And here is a link to see it higher res http://www.flickr.com/photos/3031541...35916/sizes/o/

[davidpz888]

Originally Posted by purpletofu

You can also achieve part of that look by mimicking the cross- processed look in the curve adjustments. It's as simple as making the red and green channels in the curves dialogue s-curves, and making the blue channel an inverted s-curve.
Depending on the photo you might have to play around with the adjustments. It makes a really cool kind of expired film effect though.
I attached a photo to give you an example. And here is a link to see it higher res http://www.flickr.com/photos/3031541...35916/sizes/o/

Great results purpletofu! May I know if this was an universal adjustment or did you use mask layers as well? Thanks

[Jessi_ca]

Cool thanks!
I had a go anyhow, and this is one of the shots...not yet finished but getting on its way...comments?

[igot2pman]

The face and background look really good, but the yellowish color on her body looks fake. Try lowering the opasity or burning it into the skin.

Also, in the original pictures the models have a lifeless purple skin. I dont know if you were going for an "new" look but you might also want to add that in. The purple was used as a burn, so dont make her all purple.

But all in all you did a great job.

[Jessi_ca]

the green was actually paint on her skin and hasnt been altered so no idea how it can look fake

[igot2pman]

I think my monitor is not very calibrated, I am now looking at it on a different computer now and it does look better. It looked yellow on the other computer, here is does look more green and the skin even has more purple.

But you still might want to burn it in a bit.

-just my opinion

[purpletofu]

Originally Posted by davidpz888

Great results purpletofu! May I know if this was an universal adjustment or did you use mask layers as well? Thanks

Hi David, I didn't use any masks for this technique, but just lowered the opacity of the adjustment layer, although I'm sure you could use this technique selectively to a photo to bring out certain shadows and clothing or something.
I also believe I did a duplicate of the adjustment layer, switched the blend mode to soft light and lowered the opacity to around 10% for some added pop.

[davidpz888]

thanks for the info purpletofu

And Jessi_ca, great results! The only thing I've noticed is that the skin is a little too desaturated relative to the background. But considering the theme of the photo, it still works for me. May I ask which method you ended up using?

[Jessi_ca]

thanks for the comments,

I have not desaturated her skin tone, she was just very pale, but im liking the effect of it against the darker background ( I am not trying to exactly copy the other artists work I was just meaning the oddd colours )

I used a few adjustment layers, mainly curves by adding blues and selective colour for the same thing...was actually rather quick only took about a half hour to complete the image

[HuBBa]

Jessi, i saw your entire series over at the fashion spot and must say very good work. Really enjoyed that series. Could you perhaps shed some light on the production of this? Any reason why not shooting it on film / polaroid to start with?

[davidpz888]

Jessi_ca, would you mind sharing the link that HuBBa mentioned? I love the image you posted here and would love to see the rest

Also, may I ask how many layer masks were used? My obvious guess is one for the model and another for the background. But if you used more, could you please comment where and why you decided to use it?

Thanks

[Jessi_ca]

hmmm i have no access or the $$ to buy polaroid film. shooting digital is so easy and all your shots are free!

Its really simple to do in photoshop so why not? I played till I liked it...

just a grade (a black and white layer set onto soft light) and reduce opacity till happy.
a curve layer adding blues into the blacks.
selective colour, toying with each colour till it looks fakey
a mid gray soft light layer painting in with white and black to change contours and make more interesting highlights and shadows
skin smoothing using degrunge
sharpening
lighting hair and adding contrast with curves and a grade....

[HuBBa]

Jessi, hope its ok to post the link.

http://www.thefashionspot.com/forums...&postcount=677

(And if you keep shooting that with digital you will have the $$ in no time

The main difference is in the grain and the colour fluctuations. Yes you can get it just as well in Digital, but the exact is very very very timeconsuming as it will not be as perfect colourfluctuations as a normal curve will give you. And its also is a lot more fun =)