Fix for Faces?

[nkeevers]

My brother sent me some pics from a recent party I couldn't attend. He took this picture inside at night with his 3.2(?) Olympus. The flash whitened out the picture and especially their faces. Any ideas on the best way to fix. I tried using a levels adjustment layer first but that only hightened the red in my dad's face and my stepmom's face didn't look good either. Here face seems to be brown around the edges in the original and then too white inward. I also didn't like the way their faces looked when I used the hue/sat adj. layer. Should I use an adjustment layer to fix the whole picture and then select their faces to adjust the tone? I don't think it'll look great no matter what I do but I'm sure I can get it better than it is. I'm just not sure where exactly it looks the best.

http://www.pixentral.com/hosted/16okdfGp8Prsk77AcsRUD6dnn5UNa8_thumb.jpg (http://www.pixentral.com/show.php?picture=16okdfGp8Prsk77AcsRUD6dnn5UNa8)

[Byron Gale]

Norma,

As a starting place, did you try just duplicating the whole layer, and then change the blend mode of the new layer to Multiply?

That can bring up colors fairly well.

HTH,

Byron

[nkeevers]

Byron, gosh thanks for the tip! I'm going to try that right away to see how it goes. I had duplicated the layer and was trying either the levels or the hue/sat adj. layers 1st but they just weren't doing what I wanted them to do. I didn't even think of trying the Blend mode to Multiply. Since I'm still a novice, I keep forgetting about those blend modes. I'll get back to you on how it worked.

[Daviskw]

Hi Norma

This may not be the effect you are looking for, color is so subjective, but I first used levels to adjust the exposure some on the duplicate background layer.

Then I sampled three colors from the woman and opened a gradient map set to color mode using those colors. I sampled the colors from her forearm.

Then I used Ctrl I to hide the gradient and used the mask and white color brush to paint her face and left hand. I used the same map on the man in front.

I made a separate map for the older gentleman and painted his face and hand.

Then I boosted the color just a bit with a Hue/saturation adjustment layer.

Butch


http://www.pixentral.com/hosted/1yHBPVXOUZZAydq3FvwEbYrSndlhl0_thumb.jpg (http://www.pixentral.com/show.php?picture=1yHBPVXOUZZAydq3FvwEbYrSndlhl0)

[nkeevers]

I tried using the Blend mode with Multiple and it seemed to be too dark. So I went back and used the selection tool and tried both the shadows/highlights, and the brightness/constrast. Here's what I've come up with so far...I'm still working on it.

http://www.pixentral.com/hosted/1FK5WEu5opk5jVKlmEYa1Mo7OrEuV1_thumb.jpg (http://www.pixentral.com/show.php?picture=1FK5WEu5opk5jVKlmEYa1Mo7OrEuV1)

[Cmcburnett]

Butch, you did a great job on the picture. I am going to try your techniques on a couple of my washed out photos. You repaired a picture for me a couple of weeks ago, it was a "bad wedding picture". I intend to frame it. Thanks so much for all your help.

[Rusty]

Butch, that is wonderful!

Rusty

[nkeevers]

Butch, I forgot to say I did like your technique. I'm going to try it out today. I'll post it when I'm done.

[msbrad]

What a difference in the before and afters!!!
I need to remember both the multiply tip, (think I can do that one),
and then save Butch's idea.
Butch I love what you did, but shall copy and paste it in my folder of things to do later when I get up to that level (no pun intended. :)
I do not understand gradient maps yet...I do hope to eventually get there and be able to apply your technique soon. That's another video requiring re-watching from me!
Goodness knows I have photos that need it!!
m

[nkeevers]

Michelle, I'm not too great on gradient maps either so who knows if I can duplicate Butch's technique.

Butch, wish me luck because I'm not sure if I can recreate what you did.

[Pauline]

Norma keep in mind when you use the blend modes that you do not have to keep the layer at 100%. If the effect is too strong, lower the opacity of that layer until you get what you like.

[nkeevers]

Thanks Pauline! I completely forgot about that. I'll try it again.

[msbrad]

Norma,
let me know how it comes along and with which method.
I may have to bribe Butch into an easy version for me. But I will try at it too.

I keep losing which threads I'm checking the progress on today.
Hey I may just stick to the golden one!!!
m

[nkeevers]

I've tried again using the blending mode - lowered the opacity but still didn't like the faces (and not sure if still do). Used the lasso tool on the faces and put on their own layer and tried changing the brightness.

http://www.pixentral.com/hosted/1eF8cjeBGNN10OuU4WJVICQtf1sFq_thumb.jpg (http://www.pixentral.com/show.php?picture=1eF8cjeBGNN10OuU4WJVICQtf1sFq)

[Cmcburnett]

Norma, good luck with your photo. At least your giving it a good try. I need to work on patience, I seem to get frustrated and find a reason to quit when I can't get something to work:rolleyes: :rolleyes: . Maybe I should visit the Golden thread, it makes me smile.

[nkeevers]

Yeah, maybe I should visit there right now to get a laugh! I'm certainly having a lot of patience :eek: trying to fix this photo.

[Rusty]

Norma,

That looks really, really good -- especially when I look back at what you started with.

One thing you might want to take a look at -- there is an excellent Video titled "Removing Shadows" (12/30/05). That might take it to the next level (pun not intended) :)

Rusty

[nkeevers]

I was going to clone the shadows out next. Unless there is a better way??

[Daviskw]

Looks real good to me Norma... very good job

You know you could try and extract them to a better background leaving the shadows behind... But it is very hard to change the overall lighting of flash

Butch

[msbrad]

Norma it really looks good.
I need to try that blending mode idea. Not just too good in the understanding of that department yet. I do save the tips, hopefully one day the light will come on.
m

[nkeevers]

Looks real good to me Norma... very good job

You know you could try and extract them to a better background leaving the shadows behind... But it is very hard to change the overall lighting of flash

Butch

I was thinking of getting rid of the background because I don't like it but I didn't know an easier way then just cloning everything out. Is there a way if I copy the picture, that I can extract them by themselves and then do another an extract the background; and they put them back together? Or something to that effect.

[msbrad]

Sure can.. You can select the family members and then move them....to Paris or wherever. Those are fun!
use your favorite selection method and once you have them, either copy/paste or the drag method over to your new background.
,
Just for fun I recently took a dance photo of 4, 16 year olds in costume, and placed their mothe's heads on their bodies...it was great!
m

[nkeevers]

Michelle, I knew it could be done. I'm just wondering how much they'll stand out on some background that they weren't meant for (does that make sense?).

[msbrad]

Sure it makes sense...I meant what you knew!!!:D
Play with a few backgrounds, and then maybe gaussian blur(sp)
it a bit. Oh...another idea is the tutorial called Making a Portrait Background by Wendy.
Have fun. Anxious to see the final!
m

[nkeevers]

I'll check out the Portrait Background. And maybe I'll try out the blur too. Thanks.

[Daviskw]

Hi Norma

I took your last creation and cut it out....I just threw it on a less than perfect background but it does look like it will cut out ok and look just fine when you find a decent background.

If it were me i would clone out the glass in front of his arm

Butch

http://www.pixentral.com/hosted/1p6411TG2nvVgKzjesqBRF92J69yd1_thumb.jpg (http://www.pixentral.com/show.php?picture=1p6411TG2nvVgKzjesqBRF92J69yd1)

[nkeevers]

Butch, that does look good! Was wondering what would happen if I tried that. Did you just use a selection tool to cut it out?

And I'm laughing at myself because I was so busy trying to fix the faces that I didn't even see the glass:eek: :eek:

[msbrad]

Norma,
I'm laughing too, as I did not notice the glass until Butch
mentioned it! Good to know I was not the only one.

When I've selected people to move elsewhere, I do use one of the selection tools.
And not always the same one. sometimes its the magnetic lasso, and sometimes just the lasso loosely and then use Grant's mask.
Sometimes even the magic wand works for me. However , I am no good at the magic selector tool.
m

[Cmcburnett]

As usual Butch, you did a great job.

[nkeevers]

I've been using either/or too! Actually, I've had a little more luck sometimes with the Magic Extractor. Yeah, isn't it funny we didn't notice that glass right in front of our noses:eek:

I don't use the masks that much yet because I still don't get them! How do you use Grant's after cutting the image out? I think they should have a course on masks. I'm still kinda lost when it comes to those.

[msbrad]

Once I have my selection roughly selected, I move it to its own layer or another background where it is going to stay.

Then in the layers palette,
go to effects and find grant's mask layer
click the more button top right
click apply
a little white thumbnail appears next to the selected photo on that layer.
press d for the default black foreground and white background color.

then b for brush and zoom in and mask away the part (in black) you wish to hide from the rougher selection. If you goof and remove too much, go to x key which switches the brush to white and replace the error.
I think I have all that correct.
Working out of my head (scary place).
But I do love that mask!
m

[nkeevers]

Thanks Michelle, I'll try it out on that picture.