..: Imaging and Photoshop Tips for Brokies! :..

[LauraGigs]

I thought that the prg might have had the ability to let me 'point' to an area of consistent color and then adjust ONLY that color.

I have used that magic wand on occasion but find it unwieldly at best at exactly what it selects.  Is there a sensitivity control for this tool?

Yes, it is called "Tolerance".  Enter a number from 0 to 255.  The higher the number, the greater the tolerance (the wider the range of color it will select).


Alternately, you can use the Color Range command under the Select menu.

[The following is from Photoshop Help]

Position the pointer over the image or preview area, and click to sample the colors you want included.

Adjust the range of colors using the Fuzziness slider or by entering a value. To decrease the range of colors selected, decrease the value. The Fuzziness option partially selects pixels by controlling the degree to which related colors are included in the selection (whereas the Tolerance option for the magic wand and paint bucket options increases the range of colors that are fully selected).

[Br. Patrick]

Here is an example of the 'yellow skin' that we have been talking about.   When I make her skin flesh tones her hair changes too - for the worse.

[LauraGigs]

Color film in the late 50s, 60s and early 70s tended to print with a yellow cast. (Color photos of people today are enhanced toward a yellow or red cast, for a healthy look.)

Keep in mind, this Marilyn photo has probably been retouched quite a lot. Were you trying for a more natural look? What is your goal with this? (not that I mean it argumentatively — I'm just saying that someone has taken pains to do the opposite with this image, and that you will be working to 'undo' this, more than if this were a "from-scratch" photo.)

Anyway, blondes and grey-haired folks are tough; the hair will go green or cyan in a second if you're not careful. I would select the hair carefully (either with the lasso or a pen-tool path) and save the selection so you can always go back to it. Then mask it off as you correct the skin.

= if you're correcting for color this carefully, I trust you've calibrated your monitor carefully, right? =

[LauraGigs]

I'm on a better screen now: I see what you're saying. This photo was modifed and the contrast turned way up, so her skin color jumps from a natural color in the midtones, to a vivid reddish-yellow in the shadows.

This is a tough one, Patrick. Tough for even a pro to retouch it the way you want it, I think.

[Br. Patrick]

= if you're correcting for color this carefully, I trust you've calibrated your monitor carefully, right? =

No, I don't know how to do this.  In Control Panel, Displays, Advanced; I have installed the Color Management files that came with my monitor.  Monitor = Dell 2007fpw 20.1" WS; Video is ATI Radeon 256mb; digital connection.   In my startup folder, Photoshop has it's "Adobe Gamma Loader.exe" loading.   FWIW, with any photo editor my system has just about the same color.  This wasn't true with my last system.  In it, files saved in photoshop had to be corrected by 'over correcting' the color.

This pic that I attached, although typical, does not have any background color which would be overly yellow as well.  I just assumed the problem was with the first scanners.

[Kelpersmek]

Hello!

Useful tips already, so thank you.  I'm interested in monitor calibration too.  I know a graphic designer who essentially told me that it's not worth his time to calibrate the monitor properly, because there are so many variables that still affect the output.  Is there a sweet-spot sort of quick-fix for the calibration where you don't spend too much time doing so, but it improves the overall output?  Or is it a process which is simply a necessity to get a good image?


One other question while I'm yakking away (and not to derail the monitor-calibration...) but I find it difficult to resize and combine images.  When you get a while could you share anything you know about that?  I'd really appreciate the help on manips.

[LauraGigs]

Is there a sweet-spot sort of quick-fix for the calibration where you don't spend too much time doing so, but it improves the overall output?

Hi Kelpersmek! Yes, there is. If you're on a Windows machine, go out of Photoshop and into Windows Control Panels and click the Adobe Gamma icon.

[from Photoshop Help:]
To use Adobe Gamma:
Start Adobe Gamma, located in the Control Panels folder (or in the Program Files/Common Files /Adobe/Calibration folder on your hard drive).
Do one of the following:

• To use a version of the utility that will guide you through each step, select Step by Step, and click OK. This version is recommended if you're inexperienced. If you choose this option, follow the instructions described in the utility. Start from the default profile for your monitor if available, and enter a unique description name for the profile. When you are finished with Adobe Gamma, save the profile using the same description name. (If you do not have a default profile, contact your monitor manufacturer for appropriate phosphor specifications.)
  
• To use a compact version of the utility with all the controls in one place, select Control Panel, and click OK. This version is recommended if you have experience creating color profiles.

* At any time while working in the Adobe Gamma control panel, you can click the Wizard button to switch to the wizard for instructions that guide you through the same settings as in the control panel, one option at a time.

There is a similar process for Mac users depending on your OS.  -LauraGigs

[LauraGigs]

I just assumed the problem was with the first scanners.

So what is your goal with this (the Marilyn images)?  What are you trying to do, ultimately?  Will you be printing these?

[Br. Patrick]

So what is your goal with this (the Marilyn images)?  What are you trying to do, ultimately?  Will you be printing these?

Probably not going to need to print.  I'm just tired of yellow skin.  I have many more pictures that are worse than the one I posted.  You have given me good advice as to what I can do, now I just have to 'do it.'  Obviously it is a problem with the original scan.  There are things one can't correct without messing up the color for everything else. 6 of 1,  half dozen to the other...

[LauraGigs]

I find it difficult to resize and combine images. When you get a while could you share anything you know about that?

A useful thing to do first is to go into Preferences (Ctrl-K or Command-K) Units and Rulers and set it to the units of measure you're most comfortable with (pixels, inches, mm, etc).

Resizing: There are 2 choices: changing the Image Size (enlarging your picture) or changing the Canvas Size (adding to the physical size of your document while leaving the picture alone).

Under the Image menu, go to Image Size. There are 2 options at the bottom of the box: Constrain Proportions (I always keep this checked) and Resample Image (keep checked, unless you want to change the resolution without actually resizing the image). Then, enter the values you want in the Dimension or Size areas.

* * * * *
Under the Image menu, go to Canvas Size. There will be a box with 9 squares (like tic-tac-toe) indicating where you want to put your additional space. The white square represents your original image; the others, the space you're adding. (If you want to add to the top-right area, click the bottom-left square.)

You can always Undo if the results aren't what you want. This is a bit detailed, but easy to get the hang of after a while.