1. Pixelmator White Balance Tool

First a remark: why does everybody here switch to CMYK for skin retouches on pictures that are only viewed on RGB devices? If you want to read color numbers, you can do so in RGB. And if you are not sure, you can set the info-panel in RGB to also display corresponding CMYK values. I have an idea why, because everybody is copying each other. If you google 'skin color chart' you can get nice references that you can use in RGB colorspace. But as you have a base image to begin with, you could also read the numbers directly from that, and adapt the other picture to that.

I'll have a go on it later, might even use L.ab mode. But just from eyeballing it I would say the bottom one has way too much yellow in the skin. So if you take down the blue channel a bit in the midrange, you should be OK. Ok, let me try RGB. But still: is my approach valid?

If I move the midpoint for each of the components, I can make the value match for one point. But overall the contrast may diminish a lot if - lt's say - I have to move the midpoint to the right. JoeyB wrote: First a remark: why does everybody here switch to CMYK for skin retouches on pictures that are only viewed on RGB devices? If you want to read color numbers, you can do so in RGB. And if you are not sure, you can set the info-panel in RGB to also display corresponding CMYK values. I have an idea why, because everybody is copying each other. If you google 'skin color chart' you can get nice references that you can use in RGB colorspace.

But as you have a base image to begin with, you could also read the numbers directly from that, and adapt the other picture to that. I'll have a go on it later, might even use L.ab mode. But just from eyeballing it I would say the bottom one has way too much yellow in the skin. So if you take down the blue channel a bit in the midrange, you should be OK. Padang wrote: Hi, What is the best way to make skin tone match? I tried the following:.

open both photos in photoshop. switch to CMYK. use the eyedropper tool on 3 similar points for each of the photo. add a level adjustment layer on the photo I want to modify. for each of the C,M,Y channels, modify the midpoint so that the value matches the target photo I got a little closer, but still not what I wanted. Make adjustments to change background 3. Mask out model,so that original skintones show through 4.

Make final adjustments with curves I did my edit in the L.a.b colorspace. Target skinstone: (what I want) Source skintone: (attempt to make the skin stone match). Microsd card reader driver windows 8. Put them side x side, and used selective color (Corel software) and visually made them look close. Padang wrote: Hi, What is the best way to make skin tone match? I tried the following:. open both photos in photoshop. switch to CMYK.

use the eyedropper tool on 3 similar points for each of the photo. add a level adjustment layer on the photo I want to modify. for each of the C,M,Y channels, modify the midpoint so that the value matches the target photo I got a little closer, but still not what I wanted. Target skinstone: (what I want) Source skintone: (attempt to make the skin stone match). Apart from just eyeballing it which others here have offered as a methodology, I gather you're looking for a more 'by the numbers' procedure given the attempt you described.

I agree with JoeyB; do not convert the photo to CMYK! Unless you're sitting next to the imagesetter that will generate the press plates for offset reproduction of the photo then you're making a mistake to ever convert the photo to CMYK.

By the numbers: 1. Open both photos in Photoshop. Reference photo: open the color picker. Right click and set the eyedropper to a 31x31 average. Zoom in and select a uniform color area. I would try her right shoulder.

Click with the eyedropper. Write down the RGB number values displayed in the color picker. Switch photos: From the Image/Adjustments menu select Curves. Move the eyedropper to the same spot on the photo (right shoulder) and holding down the crtl/shift keys click the mouse. In Curves change to the Red channel and you'll see a node on the line.

Find the input/output value boxes and change the output value to the Red value you wrote down from the reference photo. Repeat for Green and Blue channels.

That color is now identical in both photos. CAVEAT: The two photos should have similar tone response before you begin. In the two photos you supplied the first has been retouched already including skin retouching and local color correction. The method above will anchor a reference color between two photos but it will not for example remove the yellow stain (light reflection) from her left cheek in the second photo nor will it enhance the color of her lipstick as was done in the first photo. Fabulous job Ronny. I think you are quite right.

The background affects the perceived skin tone. However I kept it because I was playing with a great tool in Pixelmator that I just discovered! I also reduced the purple reflection on her face to some extend. Thanks for play padang, I guess the left one is my edit! Ronny Harris wrote: I used my eyes for matching the skin tones of the two images. However, the entirely differently colored backgrounds will affect how you perceive the skin tones.

Pixelmator White Balance Tool

Because of this, I desaturated the backgrounds so I could focus better on the subjects. I used Selective Color, targeted Yellow, and set Yellow to -22. That is the only change I made for the skin. I edited the lipstick separately. I didn't try to remove the background magenta color spill/cast from her left face and hands.

I'm going to make a guess and say that you had your camera set to do Auto White Balance. Auto WB changes the WB every time the colors of the subject's clothing or the color of the background changes. It will also change the WB every time the ratio of subject to background areas change as you zoom or move closer or further from the subject.

The end result is that the WB changes almost every time you press the shutter. Using Auto WB when photographing people results in the skin tone changing from shot to shot, just like in your images.

The best way is to set a Custom WB using a neutral gray or white target. If you can't set a Custom WB then shoot one image with the gray/white card in the image and set the WB later in post processing. I recommend the Digital Gray Card from Robin Myers. If you don't have a neutral card to let you set a Custom WB then just look at the lighting and make a guess at the proper WB and set that manually.

The results may not have the perfect WB but at least it will be consistent. With a consistent WB you can easily change the WB of all your images and get good looking and consistent skin tones.

Get it right in the camera and you don't have to fix it later. Using Auto WB is a good way to force you to spend long hours fixing images in Photoshop.

Padang wrote: Hi, What is the best way to make skin tone match? I took a much different approach. And it is simple and fast.

I use Capture One Pro as my main editor for raw shots. In it, you can define a skin white balance (temp & tint) by simply clicking on a spot with an eye dropper. I use it all the time for shots of my grandkids. I then took your target photo, defined 3 spots - forehead, chest, and upper arm to see how they compared. Here is a composite of the shots There is a slight difference in the three because of reflected light from the background and the angles of the body.

Yep - that is what I realized too after reviewing the images! Since the background wall was changing color thanks to the LED-lightning, shooting in AWB was making the colors to be all over the place. I still have the RAW though, I will double check if the skintone is still the same color. Still, I thought matching skintone was a useful exercise and I am glad I discovered Lab in the process. I always assumed CMYK was the way to go. Sailor Blue wrote: I'm going to make a guess and say that you had your camera set to do Auto White Balance.

Auto WB changes the WB every time the colors of the subject's clothing or the color of the background changes. It will also change the WB every time the ratio of subject to background areas change as you zoom or move closer or further from the subject. The end result is that the WB changes almost every time you press the shutter. Using Auto WB when photographing people results in the skin tone changing from shot to shot, just like in your images. The best way is to set a Custom WB using a neutral gray or white target.

If you can't set a Custom WB then shoot one image with the gray/white card in the image and set the WB later in post processing. I recommend the Digital Gray Card from Robin Myers. If you don't have a neutral card to let you set a Custom WB then just look at the lighting and make a guess at the proper WB and set that manually. The results may not have the perfect WB but at least it will be consistent. With a consistent WB you can easily change the WB of all your images and get good looking and consistent skin tones. Get it right in the camera and you don't have to fix it later. Using Auto WB is a good way to force you to spend long hours fixing images in Photoshop.

Thanks a lot. Maybe there is a plugin in photoshop or LR that will do something similar, I will check. Jim B (MSP) wrote: padang wrote: Hi, What is the best way to make skin tone match? I took a much different approach. And it is simple and fast. I use Capture One Pro as my main editor for raw shots.

In it, you can define a skin white balance (temp & tint) by simply clicking on a spot with an eye dropper. I use it all the time for shots of my grandkids. I then took your target photo, defined 3 spots - forehead, chest, and upper arm to see how they compared. Here is a composite of the shots There is a slight difference in the three because of reflected light from the background and the angles of the body.