Learning colour.......

[NicolaB]

My eyes are not yet calibrated! I am finding colour tricky. I loved this one until I put it next to the others, now I am not sure which ones are out.

I know the light is not fantastic - I am only just learning to see this in pp (long way to go before I can see it when I am shooting!)
All cc much appreciated:

[IMG][/IMG]
Exposure 0.008 sec (1/125)
Aperture f/3.5
Focal Length 70 mm
ISO Speed 400
tia

[RLucas]

Hi Nicola! On my monitor it looks like it may be a little too cool and magenta.
A quick and easy way you can check, depending on what program you have, is to use the color picker tool. I usually use the lightest part of the image to do this. Just click on something you know is supposed to be white, and it will show what color it actually is in the foreground color box. This one was a little on the magenta side. You should be able to correct for it in RAW, by warming up the WB, and taking some of the red out.
I did download it, and corrected for it the long way around. lol!
It took about 2 minutes.
I duplicated the layer, and changed the blend mode to soft light and reduced the opacity to about 30% and merged down.
I created a new layer, and bucket filled with a navy blue, and set blend mode to difference. I lowered the opacity to about 20%. If you have PS, the exclusion layer mode works well for this.
Lastly, I created a new layer, and bucket filled with bright yellow. I changed the blend mode to soft light, and reduced the opacity to about 20%. It warmed it up quite nicely.
To my eye, it looks correct now, but as we all know, it is subjective.
I will take it down if you wish.

[SusanH1970]

Agreed with Luke that it's definitely too magenta and cool. In CS2, I did a 5-second fix: New adjustment layer > color balance > added a bit of green and yellow to offset the magenta and blue. Flattened and saved.

Actually, what is it about the light you don't like? It's not bad at all. Maybe a tad flat, but in kids' portraits that usually doesn't bother me that much, unless I'm trying to do a BW conversion. The light here is even and you've got beautiful catchlights.

ETA: Sigh, the attachment isn't showing. Uploaded to Flickr just for now:

ETA again...now that I'm looking at it, it could still stand a touch of warming up.

I think somewhere between yours and Luke's is correct!

[SusanH1970]

Originally Posted by Papa Rotzzi

I think somewhere between yours and Luke's is correct!

Agreed. I think this looks better, I took my last edit and added a warming filter (85) at 34%.

[RLucas]

To bad Gimp doesn't have the filter options like PS does. I have to make my own! lol! Looking at mine now, her skin looks a little green.

[NicolaB]

Originally Posted by RLucas

Hi Nicola! On my monitor it looks like it may be a little too cool and magenta.
A quick and easy way you can check, depending on what program you have, is to use the color picker tool. I usually use the lightest part of the image to do this. Just click on something you know is supposed to be white, and it will show what color it actually is in the foreground color box. ........

Brill Thanks Luke - I hope this becomes my 'Eurika' moment. I have been seen this once before but can only see the numbers of the colour when I try. There must be a way the actually colour swatch comes up in CS5.

Originally Posted by SusanH1970

Actually, what is it about the light you don't like? It's not bad at all. Maybe a tad flat, but in kids' portraits that usually doesn't bother me that much, unless I'm trying to do a BW conversion. The light here is even and you've got beautiful catchlights.......

Thanks, I can see now. I am sure it will click sooner or later! Re light; It just seems flat esp across her eyes and nose. I like a tiny bit more shadow down the side of the face to create more contours and life. (Get me - I am getting to understand 'flat' light - lol) Do you know how to use the colour picker in CS Susan?

Thanks all for your input

[SusanH1970]

Originally Posted by NicolaB

Re light; It just seems flat esp across her eyes and nose. I like a tiny bit more shadow down the side of the face to create more contours and life. (Get me - I am getting to understand 'flat' light - lol) Do you know how to use the colour picker in CS Susan?

Thanks all for your input

Yeah, I like more shadows too, but with kids, flat light doesn't bother me as much, like I said. When I know I'm going to be doing BW though, or if I want something moodier, I make darn sure I have depth and shadows, though. But sometimes flat works for me....light, bright and airy.

Good for you for seeing light, though! Recognizing what is wrong (for you) in an image that you've taken is the first step in learning to see it before you press the shutter.

As for using the dropper in CS, I've done it many times and I'm not happy with the results...I don't trust it, LOL! Some swear by it, I prefer to do it by eye.