Looking to create similar effect-any ideas?

[pixelpreacher7]

I hope I'm posting in the right place (total noob)-apologies if not.
A friend recently asked me if I could retouch a few images for him using the effect on these images-
http://www.e4.com/picture/178553D7-B...E346D8/view.e4
(the images are from the new skins show-hope the link works OK)

I'm guessing dodge n burn/ highlights n shadows etc-but I'm confused as to how to achieve that grey undertone-anything i try doesn't come out quite as good!
any ideas?
thank you

[Nanls]

http://www.lucisart.com/
Hope this helps!

~nls
________________

www.photoart123.com

[0lBaldy]

pixelpreacher, welcome to RetouchPRO! Nice to have you aboard and hope you enjoy the experience.

Maybe you are over-thinking the process! The "Gray-undertone" might only be some masked Desaturation.

What retouching software do you have? This will help focus the tips to the programs you have available to work with.

It would be better to attach images, since the link will inevitably go dead, rendering the information provided in this thread useless to future readers. By attaching an image to the post it will be viewable forever.
The following links may help!

Attaching Files or Images to Threads or Posts

Size and quality for Attached Images!!

After you post your less than 100K version here, you could also post a link to the site that is hosting a larger version Use one of your own or any of these other host options:
ImageVenue.com (3Meg max, free) or pixentral.com (2Meg max, free) or photobucket.com (1 Meg max free,... 5 Meg PRO)-- .Flickr.com (5Meg max free.. BUT they resize to 1024 long side if you don't pay)

[MaximMorin]

Well it for sure selective desaturation (desaturat each channel independantly), after as you said, B&D to model everything and it's finish by a big HighPass on softLight.... Hope it help a little bit. But their is all different way to achive that, it's what i personnaly will do...

[pixelpreacher7]

Thank you so much,really useful answers-I'm going to have a play around with everything said and hopefully soon I will have something that looks decent!
Thanks 0lBaldy for the info on posting images-I will def keep that in mind
Oh and I have Lightroom and CS2 if that helps.

[igot2pman]

This is how I did it.

1. Make two copies of background.
2. Desaturate the first copy, then high pass both at max.
3. Hide top colored layer and select B&W one. Increase contrast to this layer and do any D&B needed. Also do any healing necessary.
4. Unhide the color layer and make a hide all layer mask for it. Then paint with white anything you want color with med opacity brush. ie: eyes, lips, hair, cloths. Paint with a very low opacity brush over the skin to bring a little color back.

Picture could have had more colors in it but I didn’t take this picture to try this effect on. Also, people with colored hair seems to look a lot better with this effect.

Hope it helps,
-Keven