Another Portrait

[Manfred M]

Smugmug have a very good article on correcting skin tones (prior to printing, but it applies to monitor images ) .

"Use the eyedropper tool of your software eg 5x5 sample area of subjects' skin; only look at the CMYK values; then most all you need to know is that you can never let the yellow % fall below magenta % on anyone's skin unless you're trying to show sunburn !. Cyan should be about a third of the Magenta value"

Here's a link to the PDF article (I use the "Easy" correction method) - free download --> http://help.smugmug.com/customer/por...3363?b_id=1644

We discussed this approach during a colour correction course I took at college. The professor was quickly and easily able to demonstrate how this approach does not / cannot work, due to differences in skin tones even within a target demographic group. Images from two Caucasian students from the class quickly blew away that colour correction model.

A neutral target in the shot works very well and is a good starting point. A good quality screen and experienced operator work can get results that are even better than relying purely on a neutral target readying. A purely neutral look is not always the best approach. If you look at the X-rite Color Checker Pro target, it has this shading capability built in.

[dem]

I like the one in post #13 best. The look is more natural (and younger) than in other edits.

[Cogito]

Better?

Yep, your 3rd shot is pretty close to my attempt from your original!



P.s. I removed some of the glitch on her glasses frame.....

[Merlin52]

We discussed this approach during a colour correction course I took at college. The professor was quickly and easily able to demonstrate how this approach does not / cannot work, due to differences in skin tones even within a target demographic group. Images from two Caucasian students from the class quickly blew away that colour correction model.

A neutral target in the shot works very well and is a good starting point.....

There are a couple of other things to check here....
1. The background at top left shows the different colour cast quite well in all the edits apart from Richard where I assume he has burned in the edges. So any correction should at least make this look neutral. It’s essentially Manfreds neutral target..
2. The glasses frame is black, so again any correction should end up with this essentially neutral in CMY values.

Using the Smugmug “Easy” method I found it gets you pretty close to neutral in those areas pretty quickly, then it’s just a matter of fine tuning to personal taste/colour perception...

Finally, we can always convert to Mono for a nice portrait of a lovely subject !!

[Digital]

As explained in another thread the flash for this photo was bounced at or near a red oval attached to the ceiling. This apparently accounted for the reddish tint on the model' s face.
My question is: would placing a cyan gel over the flash prevented this?

Bruce

[Manfred M]

As explained in another thread the flash for this photo was bounced at or near a red oval attached to the ceiling. This apparently accounted for the reddish tint on the model' s face.
My question is: would placing a cyan gel over the flash prevented this?

Bruce

It could have countered the red, but would have added another issue. The rest of the scene would have a cyan colour cast.

Bounce flash works best in an environment where the walls and ceiling have neutral colours. There is no simple solution to getting a clean colour when you shoot in a mixed light environment.

Often the easiest fix is going B&W.

[selig1656]

Many great suggestions , your attempts at correcting are in the direction. Lovely to learn from some knowledgeable photographers.