I don't think I can go any further with this one without more eyes on it. Mine are still seeing red and pink..
(https://i.postimg.cc/R6cfpNj2/Reynolds-C-12-02-2x3.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/R6cfpNj2)
(https://i.postimg.cc/w7xfJpN9/First-Try.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/w7xfJpN9)
I can see here the right arm is to light. I went back and matched colors with the left arm and it look better.
Hi Alvin. The color on this one is a bit tricky. Used the Threshold layer to find the white and black points. Tried an Auto Levels and Auto Curves and came up close to where you are so I went back with the Curves layer and set the values as shown - 244/244/244 for the white point and 15/15/15 for the black point. Thinking the background is probably closer to this color. Hopefully, the color gurus will weigh in. Good luck!
(https://i.postimg.cc/RZBTXrgG/2018-10-17-Reynolds.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/Mv9RpL2j)
You are probably right. I am the first to admit I am not good with colors. I did a couple of white balances and kept coming up with blue even on the dress. I selected the dress by itself and did a white balance and got the white on the dress. Not sure what you mean by Threshold, I thought you meant blending mode but I went back and looked and there is not one. Please explain to me what Threshold you used. Thank you.
Oh, I see it is an adjustment layer, working on it thanks.
Hi Alvin, here's a quick video to show you how to use the Threshold layer to find your black and white points. When you have an image with a frame (that will usually be 255/255/255 when corrected), it is best to choose a white point from an area inside of the frame instead. Another thing to watch for is that the white point is not damage.
https://petapixel.com/2012/03/06/how-to-quickly-find-and-select-black-and-white-points-in-photoshop/
I'll give you my take on the color for this, bearing in mind that I'm guessing this is a very young baby whose skin is still a bit red and blotchy. If you look at the red channel, it's way, way too light. I started out using a channel mixer adjustment layer to see if that would make for an easier path to fixing this, but decided on something else. Here's a visual to explain:
(https://i.postimg.cc/5XT2KrXD/Reynolds-C-12-02-2x3-explainer.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/5XT2KrXD)
The order of the layers does matter, but obviously there's no one right way to do this - just be aware that if you move things around in the layer order you may get some wonky results. The basic approach was to use a Hue/Saturation adjustment layer to drastically cut the red saturation and very slightly nudge it to yellow. Then, use a curves adjustment layer to get a gray point. The problem with trying to go for a white point is that not all images have one (and the white border doesn't count). I picked a gray point in the shadows of that bib thing and then set a white and black point by hand.
The rest of the cleanup was just rough to give an idea - that you can remove magenta, remove blue, recolor the pale blue background using a solid color adjustment layer set to Color (or Hue) blend mode (try both and see which one gives the best results).
So I think the background of that cartoon animal thing is pale blue - and you can see the bear's bib has a white part, so I think that makes sense.
Don't do anything weird to the baby's hair to darken it - when you tone down the whites, it looks right as is.
Thanks, I see what you mean in the Red Channel. I have never used channels before so I will need to get in the habit of looking at them. Well, I have the background just about complete in the grey shadow recommended, I will scratch that and go with a pale blue> I know what I did wrong, I use a layer filled with 50% gray with a difference blend mode to find my grey point. I went that way to find my black point, just wasn't thinking I guess. I have my layers all screwed around now trying to use the background layer to color balance with. Will do my best to do what you recommended, Thanks.
Alvin
Best as I can tell this looks more like yours. The red channel is still light but not like before so some of the red is out.
(https://i.postimg.cc/0K6CqQG9/2nd-try.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/0K6CqQG9)
That's getting there, but still looks a bit pale but oversaturated in the reds. Look around he nostrils - the shadows are glowing :)
The hair has some darkening that doesn't look right - if you added with an adjustment layer of some type, lower the opacity a lot. You can see the baby's scalp because he has so little hair.
Will do, be back later, Thanks
OK, I can see his head now, pulled the reds down in the shadows a bit.
(https://i.postimg.cc/KKDKR2cB/So-Far.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/KKDKR2cB)
So that looks more like your first try with a very dark blue background but more saturated in the reds than "First Try". Perhaps take a break and then come back and have another look.
So far your 2nd try is the closest...
OOPS, I uploaded he wrong photo, be right back
Sorry, wrong photo. I noticed the guy riding the elephant was missing his head so I put that in. It is a slight difference to the hair, not as much as I thought in PS, but I took some red out of the shadows
Alvin
OOps
(https://i.postimg.cc/68yqBvFs/3rd-try.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/68yqBvFs)
That's much better :)
The baby's scalp is still artificially dark and doesn't look right. Look at this baby picture (http://www.littlewingsphotography.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/babyphotographymanchester-1080x675.jpg) as an example of how the skin is the same color on forehead and scalp in a newborn
I see, I will work on it some more in the morning, Thanks, Good night
Decided to go ahead and give it a Try, How is this?
(https://i.postimg.cc/QVs8qkRb/4th-Try.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/QVs8qkRb)
I am still trying to figure out how I missed that white balance so bad. I loaded original back in PS and corrected white balance like I have been taught and got this.
(https://i.postimg.cc/4mVnrX3C/White-Balance.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/4mVnrX3C)
I have been doing it the way Jesus Ramirez (Adobe Instructer) Teaches in this video.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B-W44JJToG8
Alvin, the reds in the shades can also be lessened some by desaturation locally. Newborns are usually a little reddish.
(https://i.postimg.cc/kDfkqpTT/babs2.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/kDfkqpTT)
OK, Are you talking about using the sponge tool? Thanks
I desaturated at 20& with the sponge tool..To much or better?
(https://i.postimg.cc/21YPFL8K/5th-try.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/21YPFL8K)
Looking good. Thanks for sharing your work Alvin. And thanks Jo Ann for sharing your process. Enjoy learning how others tackle tricky restorations. :)
I applied some color corrections I just learned in a video workshop from Adobe. How does this look. Maybe not enough red now for a newborn???? I see it did get the red out of the shadows. Looks a lot better to me but like I have previously said I am not good with colors.
(https://i.postimg.cc/R3mkh2yy/with-color-corrections.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/R3mkh2yy)
Added a little red back, which one is closest to how it should look?
(https://i.postimg.cc/R3mkh2yy/with-color-corrections.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/R3mkh2yy)
(https://i.postimg.cc/9RmsxqjJ/Just-a-little-red-added-back.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/9RmsxqjJ)
I think you're heading away from a "nearly done" image with the two latest versions.
Different issues, but both versions have problems. The super-pale version looks unwell, the bib has a yellow cast and the shadows on the baby's arms are blue.
The one with a bit more red has too much saturation - in addition to the yellow bib and blue shadows.
It's great to try out methods in tutorials but the resulting image doesn't appear to have benefitted in this case.
If you have a version from before the tutorial edits, perhaps go back to that and try to follow Hannie's suggestion to desaturate the reds in the shadows. Above all, watch for any blue shadows on the skin (which shouldn't be happening).
OK, deleted the curves layer I used today. This is where we left off with Hannah's suggestion used Sponge tool set to desaturate at 20%
(https://i.postimg.cc/N2gFc2JK/Restart-from-here-Oct-18.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/N2gFc2JK)
Jo Ann, I have saved so many of these things they are running together. I started cleaning out my folder tonight. One of these two is where we left off, is the one with more color better or the lighter one. I believe I used Hannah's suggestion on both.
(https://i.postimg.cc/N2gFc2JK/Restart-from-here-Oct-18.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/N2gFc2JK)
(https://i.postimg.cc/tsHqQxsp/Restart-from-here-Oct-18-more-color.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/tsHqQxsp)
OK, comparing the two to the photo above where you told me to lighten the hair it is the lighter one.
So this is where we left it, is this what you meant about the hair?
(https://i.postimg.cc/N2gFc2JK/Restart-from-here-Oct-18.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/N2gFc2JK)
Your most recent post is back to the "nearly there" state :)
There are a couple of white spots on the baby's checks, chin and hairline that need to be removed and there's some very odd colors on the baby's hand on the left side of the image. The shadows are blue. the baby's skin on the face is a bit gray - just watch the highlights when you adjust so you don't blow them out.
Once you've fixed those, send it back to your distributor to see if they're happy with it.
The key thing is to develop your own ability to see what's wrong and how best to fix it - it takes more time at first, but it will get easier the more you do it :)
Thanks Jo Ann, I really appreciate your help. I saw the blue shadows and hand just wanted to concentrate on getting the face right first. Will follow your recommendations and send to distributer, Thank you.
Made all the corrections the Distributer wanted. The only thing holding this up is the hand. I haven't uploaded this yet, thought I would see of any of you had any suggestions to help improve the hand.
(https://i.postimg.cc/68Nd8YMB/2-Reynolds-C-12-02-2x3.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/68Nd8YMB)
(https://i.postimg.cc/Z9bpc0kg/Put-background-color-corretion-Oct-20-8-PM.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/Z9bpc0kg)
Alvin, looks like you're getting there. Not sure how to improve the hand ... maybe the gurus will weigh in with the tip that puts it over the top. ^-^
Thank you, it has been uploaded and approved. Thanks again.
Congrats Alvin! :up:
Thank you, had a lot of help from Jo Anne