Yet another skin tones problem.

[megkunert]

I took this photo of my daughter yesterday. Maybe it's just me, but her skin tones look awfully pale here. This is actually how she looks in person (my little albino ), but I just didn't know if there was any type of editing I could do in CS5 to warm it up a bit, without oversaturating the other yellows in the photo - like the daffodils in the background and her dress. I have the original RAW if anyone would like to see it. The only thing I did to this photo was sharpen just a little bit and lighten the eyes.



I feel like the overall photo could use a little more "pop/vibrance", but I definitely do not want to oversaturate anything or make it look too processed.

EXIF:
1/160
f/2.8
50mm
ISO 100

[autofocus]

she looks OK on my laptop (but I never trust a laptop to display colors correctly)...cute too!

[teaking]

To warm up the skin tones you could apply a curves adjustment and increase the red channel, choosing red from tbe channel list in curves and pulling the curve upwards from the middle will increase red if you like you can alter the blue and green channel to get the right tone by pulling downwards from the middle of the curve on both green and blue channel. Apply a mask so your adjustment only effects the skin area. Another way is to add a new layer choose a colour that represents the tone your after and change the opacity of the layer till the skin looks closer to what your after you can change the blending modes to try colour and see which you like this will apply an overal tone to the skin. Once again apply a mask to limit the editing to certain areas.

That being said... I dont see a problem with the skin it looks natural

[megkunert]

Originally Posted by teaking

To warm up the skin tones you could apply a curves adjustment and increase the red channel, choosing red from tbe channel list in curves and pulling the curve upwards from the middle will increase red if you like you can alter the blue and green channel to get the right tone by pulling downwards from the middle of the curve on both green and blue channel. Apply a mask so your adjustment only effects the skin area. Another way is to add a new layer choose a colour that represents the tone your after and change the opacity of the layer till the skin looks closer to what your after you can change the blending modes to try colour and see which you like this will apply an overal tone to the skin. Once again apply a mask to limit the editing to certain areas.

Thank you - I will try this. Maybe it's just me and my nit pickiness.

[SusanH1970]

Skin tones actually look warm enough to me; I think the issue you're seeing is very flat lighting, and perhaps that's why it doesn't look quite "right" to you.

ETA: The eyes do look a bit overdone, particularly the one that's more open.

[LeeR]

I am almost afraid to say this after the beating I got from Susan the last time I mentioned this, but the skin tones are a bit overexposed. If you will open this image in CS5, then open the "levels" option and push the little gray triangle to the right for a figure of about 0.69 you will have a much better image, with skin tones, as well as the grass and bow colors, looking a lot better. (Still love you, Susan.)

[SusanH1970]

Originally Posted by LeeR

I am almost afraid to say this after the beating I got from Susan the last time I mentioned this, but the skin tones are a bit overexposed. If you will open this image in CS5, then open the "levels" option and push the little gray triangle to the right for a figure of about 0.69 you will have a much better image, with skin tones, as well as the grass and bow colors, looking a lot better. (Still love you, Susan.)

I agree it may be a tad overexposed, actually. But I tend to ETTR and prefer photos of kids to be slightly overexposed.

Now, 30 lashes with a wet camera strap!

[LeeR]

I happen to agree with the ETTR concept, but the idea is to get as much information as possible into the data stream so you can fine tune in post. It makes no sense to expose to the right and just leave it there. I know there are some who like the slightly overexposed look, and if that is part of your "style", go for it. I just know that when I made the corrections in PS the little girl looked a great deal less anemic. So did the grass.
(I don't know that I would tolerate this impertinence from anyone but you, Susan, but occasionally you do make a truly wonderful image and for that you deserve a bit of 'Lee-way')

[SusanH1970]

Originally Posted by LeeR

(I don't know that I would tolerate this impertinence from anyone but you, Susan, but occasionally you do make a truly wonderful image and for that you deserve a bit of 'Lee-way')

Geez...."occasionally"???


LOL!