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[margtvl]

Does anybody know of a way to "Adjust Color for SKin Tone" using Elements 3?

[lindajay]

I'm afraid I don't have an answer for you, but I, too, would love some pointers. It seems to be the most difficult thing I do in Elements 3. I try and try, and the skin tone seems okay, then when I reopen it, I realize what a bad job I did! :( Any tips???

--Linda

[Daviskw]

Hi there

Skin tone is very subjective. So much depends on the light when the photo was taken so no particular skin color in HSB will necessarily help.

It is best to select the area you want to adjust and give it a small feather, maybe 2 pixels. You can then put the selection on its own layer or open an adjustment layer with the selection active, which will automatically add the layer mask.

You can use a levels, Hue/saturation, fill layer, or photo filter adjustment layer to actually change the color as needed.

If you still have problems open another picture you have skin tone you like. Then sample that tone with the eyedropper.

In the picture you want to change open a blank layer above and set the layer mode to “Color”. The sampled color should be the foreground so you can paint with it over the skin. Then adjust opacity as needed.

Butch