Achieving Similar Colorization of Mr. Olaf's

[OperaFan1981]

How do you do everyone. Thank you for your time and I am humbled before your retouching expertise.

This post is oriented towards retouchers whom use PhaseONE CaptureONE PRO in their workflow.

My question is: what is the "proper" and right way to go from the following (properly white balanced image) to looking like the attached photograph from Mr. Olaf's "PORTRAIT" series.

I gave my attempt (left photo).

http://ronaldnztan.com/temp/TAN_C1PR...shot_James.jpg

My inspiration image: http://www.erwinolaf.com/#/commerce/...an_cruijff435/

I could see from the enlargement that Mr. Olaf utilized three lights as seen in the catchlights. I only used a single, large Photek Softlighter II to lit the image.

I am interested in the COLOR TONING. Will you please offer and share tips on how best to accomplish my goal in the RAW software stage?

I am fairly proficient with Photoshop as evidenced from my website, I was just wondering if there are more "proper" way to skin the cat, so to speak.

Thank you for your time.


With sincerity,

Ron

[nebulaoperator]

From just a quick look I can say that his toning is selective. Your shadows are too strong in colour compare to Olaf. Also you have quiet strong colour shift in the skin. His skin is richer.And mostly without a cast. You also brought a strong cast to the clothing. Too strong. Take a look at it : http://www.youtube.com/user/mpretouch
Good study

[P_fuzz]

nothing to say about retouching... I just want to express my appreciation for the photek softlighter... god i love that modifier!!!

I really miss using it since I can't find it anywhere here in the UK!

[OperaFan1981]

@P_fuzz: I love it! I have seen many instances where my idol, Ms. Leibovitz used the Softlighter 2 in her behind the scenes look at her photoshoots.

[OperaFan1981]

Thanks for the tips and tricks.

I managed to finish the image, but decided to gave it my own color treatment.


Link to image from my blog: http://s3.amazonaws.com/data.tumblr....eJvCe%2B1vg%3D


I am proficient in Photoshop to know that the BEST and PROPER way is to use masking layers and all that good stuff, but I wanted to know if any retouchers here—whom primarily use PhaseONE CaptureONE PRO—could give me tips on how I could achieve the look at RAW so that I could save it as a preset when I shoot tethered.

Originally Posted by nebulaoperator

From just a quick look I can say that his toning is selective. Your shadows are too strong in colour compare to Olaf. Also you have quiet strong colour shift in the skin. His skin is richer.And mostly without a cast. You also brought a strong cast to the clothing. Too strong. Take a look at it : http://www.youtube.com/user/mpretouch
Good study

I have a "prototype" or testing version where I had James hold the 24-array of color checker card. I used CaptureONE's color selector and picked the "average Caucasian skin tone" and gave it the colorization close to Mr. Olaf's.

Retoucher friend of mine told me that my previous version (not the one linked) was "too inspired." She was telling me that in addition to the rough draft I was working on with the tonal bleeding, she was telling me that I was a copycat and rather encouraging me to have my own "look" that she knows me for.

[nebulaoperator]

I never used any of this programs you mentioned just from experienced of soem automatic features on CS5 I can tell you that programs not always think the way human thing and can produce over exaggerated or generalised results. I think your version on madelmayhem is much better.

[OperaFan1981]

Originally Posted by nebulaoperator

I never used any of this programs you mentioned just from experienced of soem automatic features on CS5 I can tell you that programs not always think the way human thing and can produce over exaggerated or generalised results. I think your version on madelmayhem is much better.

You mean this one? This is my finalized image:

http://photos.modelmayhem.com/photos...f20a34475e.jpg

I know this colorization is nowhere near that of my intended target, but I fancy it.

Have we ran into each other on ModelMayhem? If so, drop by and say hi! You know I am super friendly.

[nebulaoperator]

Yes , this one Ron. I like colourisation of this one. If I were to retouch this one I would knock down the ,,lights,, on his face through the luminosity mask for it. Also I would try to use midtones luminosity mask just don't know which one yet. In my eyes this image has potential.

[jbedford]

Hey Ron,

Looking at your CaptureOne screenshot, I have to say, subjectively, I like the original (cool cast) one better - it's unexpected. You used just one light as opposed to Olaf's key light, and two fills - which allows him to achieve more gradual tones from highlight - midtone - shadow, giving him more leverage to achieve a 'hyper-real' look in post-production. What you have going in your image is edge. The deep shadows almost warrant a cooler tone...When you color balance 'correctly' it renders the shot too generic in my humble opinion. Going with that 'mood', his expression - could it have been a touch more somber - could have tied the portrait (considering the clothes) together nicely.

Again, just my two cents. I think the best version is the 'original'.

*afterthought* his eyes also seem to be sharper with 'more life' in the original.

[OperaFan1981]

@Joel, I want to see your modeling portfolio. ;-)

Thanks for your input. The C1PRO screenshot on the left was my attempt at mimicking the colorization of Mr. Olaf's. After a few messages with retoucher, Ms. Tafferal (whom is a good friend of mine), she used the word, "too inspired" to tell me that I shouldn't be a copycat.

So, I just went with the version I have now: http://photos.modelmayhem.com/photos...03bedded4f.jpg

This one, Nebulator suggested, I tune down the highlights and in this version, I did.

In an alternate version, I could isolate the BG via the pen tool (which I have already) and add more blue to the shadows only via the Color Balance.

Originally Posted by jbedford

Hey Ron,

Looking at your CaptureOne screenshot, I have to say, subjectively, I like the original (cool cast) one better - it's unexpected. You used just one light as opposed to Olaf's key light, and two fills - which allows him to achieve more gradual tones from highlight - midtone - shadow, giving him more leverage to achieve a 'hyper-real' look in post-production. What you have going in your image is edge. The deep shadows almost warrant a cooler tone...When you color balance 'correctly' it renders the shot too generic in my humble opinion. Going with that 'mood', his expression - could it have been a touch more somber - could have tied the portrait (considering the clothes) together nicely.

Again, just my two cents. I think the best version is the 'original'.

*afterthought* his eyes also seem to be sharper with 'more life' in the original.

[OperaFan1981]

Here is the pen tool isolated on the BG and I used the color balance on the shadows selected to add +10 blue and -10 cyan.

http://ronaldnztan.com/temp/TAN_20111020_025_2.jpg

[OperaFan1981]

I did something what Joel suggested...about the cool color toning so I got this:

http://ronaldnztan.com/temp/TAN_20111020_025_3.jpg

I know of "like" this since it is aiming back towards the coloring from Mr. Olaf's.

[nebulaoperator]

Do you use luminosity mask at all?

[OperaFan1981]

@Nebulaoperator: No I didn't, I just dampen the highlights by sampling a nearby color and fading it's opacity. The highlights are dampened.

[nebulaoperator]

I can see that the whole colour shifted unless you don't mind it.. Looking at Olaf's light on the face what i see: next to intense highlights which are not in abundance you have midtones and some controlled highlights which all together form fine gradient/rather rich illusion of depth face. it is a bit more then to crank up or down the curves Also when adjusting curves do you do it in luminosity mode?

[OperaFan1981]

Here my layered TIFF file in 8-Bit mode if you're curious at my layers.

Feel free to fix things for me, if you like.

http://ronaldnztan.com/temp/TAN_20111020_025.zip

[nebulaoperator]

tell me where to send you tiff file? have no clue where to store it with a link. Cheers

[OperaFan1981]

You can send it directly to me via email attachment since the file size is small. contact [at] ronaldnztan <dot> com.

[nebulaoperator]

just sent it to you.

[OperaFan1981]

I got the filed and sent the edit. :-)

Originally Posted by nebulaoperator

just sent it to you.

[Siciliana]

Say, would you mind posting the layered file with edits by nebulaoperator? I'm interested to see what he suggested. Thanks! Amy

[OperaFan1981]

Hi Amy,

He only augmented a single layer to the file I uploaded earlier. He basically added a curve set on luminosity blending mode with the curve slightly pulled downward in the highlight zones to dampen the highlights.

He also deactivated my already "dampen shine" layers in which I sampled nearby colors and painted over the highlights and decreased layer opacity. Tomas also deactivated my original curve set on luminosity blending most that added contrast to the model's cheeks.

In my final edit, I liked Tomas' suggestions as well as Joel's cooler color suggestion. This (the cool colorization) was after all, my original intent and I detoured away and finally came back.

Originally Posted by Siciliana

Say, would you mind posting the layered file with edits by nebulaoperator? I'm interested to see what he suggested. Thanks! Amy

[Siciliana]

Gotcha! Thanks.

[Flashtones]

Originally Posted by OperaFan1981

Here my layered TIFF file in 8-Bit mode if you're curious at my layers.

Feel free to fix things for me, if you like.

http://ronaldnztan.com/temp/TAN_20111020_025.zip

Very generous of you to share this. Also that D&B PSD/tut on MM some time back. Your contributions are always helpful.

[OperaFan1981]

You're welcome! :-) When I first started teaching myself around 2006/2007, I was lurking on these forums. I feel I have experience and voice to share what I've learnt over these 4 years.

You know that I am super friendly and so please feel free to ask questions and I shall do my best to render assistance. :-)

--Ron

Originally Posted by Flashtones

Very generous of you to share this. Also that D&B PSD/tut on MM some time back. Your contributions are always helpful.