Giving myself a tan..How?

[patch]

I stay out the sun a lot so I want a tan the healthy way using PE5,any ideas as to how just to darken my skin so it looks like I have been sunbathing?

[Daviskw]

Hi there

Here is an easy way...

Open a photo filter adjustment layer from your layer pallet and use a warming filter. I use (85)

Click on the color swatch and pick a starting color you like... I darken the color somewhat to begin.

Uncheck Preserve Luminosity.. This will darken your picture

Now slowly move the density slider to the right... if desired go back and change the color on the swatch.

When you are satisfied with the color press OK.

Now click on the layer mask ....the white box to the right. hold the ctrl key and at the same time press I... this fills the mask with black and hides the adjustment you just made.... Use the Command+I on the mac.

Now pick a soft white brush... reduced opacity to around 30 percent and paint your tan on your skin. Don't forget to leave the skin a little light under the chin or the eye sockets...or where you were wearing sunglasses.... anywhere the sun may not hit. This little tweak will go a long way to make things look realistic.

If the color looks too strong just adjust the layers opacity

If the new color looks too flat... group a levels layer with the photo filter and move the black and white points towards the center a little to increase contrast.

Sounds a little complicated but really easy.


Here is another way;

Open a levels adjustment layer

Move the shadow slider… the one on the left… to the right a little

This will darken the picture… you may need to click on the channel box and adjust the channels individually to fine tune the color. I usually use the blue channel and adjust the center slider to add yellow.

Now as above click on the mask and press Ctrl+I to hide the adjustment and paint back in with a soft white brush at reduced opacity.

You could always fill a layer with an orange brown color then use blendmodes as needed and erase or mask out but I like the ease of adjustment layers.

Butch

[patch]

Thanks,I have only tried the first method but it's really good.

[TonyW]

Butch's ways are good ones but if you have PSE5 you might also want to try Enhance>Adjust Color>Adjust Color for Skin tone. Sometimes that will give you a one click tan (just play with the sliders)

Tony