new edit

[felix.reichardt]

While I was working on a print edition of this I thought to try to tone down the for- and background and add some vignette with the lens filter.

[Athena]

I like the finished result Felix. Could you show us the before and after so we can see the result of your edit? I'm not clear on what you mean by "tone down".

[rebeccah]

I really like this. I think the vignetting works nicely.

[felix.reichardt]

Athena, here is the "original". I personally like the above version better - what you think?

[Athena]

ok - I see what you mean. The stone has less color, is closer to grey. I like that.

[felix.reichardt]

Thanks. btw nice new avatar ... self portrait? if yes, fantastic.

[Athena]

thank you Felix (yes, SP)

[nldunne]

Felix

An idea that may help. It is similar to my use of my GRAY SCALE/VALUE FINDER.

If nothing else works = try to scan a KODAL GREY CARD into your P C and save it someplace handy.
Next, open your work image - in your art program
Next, open your GREY CARD and DRAG it on top of a GREY TONE in your image over your mid grey tone in your work copy image.
Next, outline your work copy and in SATURATION TOOL in HUE SATURATION, reduce the SATURATION '0' (B/W) all at one go
Next, with the BRIGHTNESS TOOL in HUE SATURATION - MATCH the GREY TONE on the WORK IMAGE to the GREY CARD for brightness, density, contrast and one is not brighter than the other. A good magnifying lens is a good help here
Next, in the SATURATION TOOL, SLOWLY, add back the color a bit at a time until just the two GREY'S MATCH and one is not brighter than the other
Next, click DONE and SAVE
Next, do a check for CONTRAST, SHARPNESS keeping both GREYS even in brightness, contrast, and all.
Next, do a DONE, SAVE
Next do a FORMAT->RESIZE to a posting size
Next, do a FILE ->SAVE AS and make a JPG file for posting or saving or..........

It helps me to stay away from 'guessing' my tone levels.

You may be surprised at your results. It does not take that long to do it - but I would work slowly.

Good Luck

[patterfr]

Love it, the edited one better also.

[Goofup]

Six of one, half dozen of the other for me, but the girl herself looks better in the first one. (Ouch, that's gotta hurt sitting on that thing!)

[felix.reichardt]

Originally Posted by nldunne

Felix

An idea that may help. It is similar to my use of my GRAY SCALE/VALUE FINDER.

If nothing else works = try to scan a KODAL GREY CARD into your P C and save it someplace handy.
Next, open your work image - in your art program
Next, open your GREY CARD and DRAG it on top of a GREY TONE in your image over your mid grey tone in your work copy image.
Next, outline your work copy and in SATURATION TOOL in HUE SATURATION, reduce the SATURATION '0' (B/W) all at one go
Next, with the BRIGHTNESS TOOL in HUE SATURATION - MATCH the GREY TONE on the WORK IMAGE to the GREY CARD for brightness, density, contrast and one is not brighter than the other. A good magnifying lens is a good help here
Next, in the SATURATION TOOL, SLOWLY, add back the color a bit at a time until just the two GREY'S MATCH and one is not brighter than the other
Next, click DONE and SAVE
Next, do a check for CONTRAST, SHARPNESS keeping both GREYS even in brightness, contrast, and all.
Next, do a DONE, SAVE
Next do a FORMAT->RESIZE to a posting size
Next, do a FILE ->SAVE AS and make a JPG file for posting or saving or..........

It helps me to stay away from 'guessing' my tone levels.

You may be surprised at your results. It does not take that long to do it - but I would work slowly.

Good Luck

Thank you so much for your detailed description but to be honest I'm a bit clueless what this should help with? You mean to get the tones correct in the original or the "toned down" version? Sorry, maybe I'm a bit slow it's getting late now.

[nldunne]

My idea here is to give you a guide to work with to help you bring in your mid greys as accurately as possible - like the rocks in this image - to their true color and/or tone. In so doing, you will keep your other tones accurate - or at least they should be - and give you - I hope - a good tonal range through the image.

This procedure is done right from the start - when you first open an image into your art program from the cam. All the notes on this idea are in the thread SQUEEZE BOX PLAYER in this PORTRAIT section.

By bringing in the color a bit at a time, maybe a softer or brighter skin color or other areas of the image may or may not be what is right for the image. This is a person's own choice here.

I like to have control of my tonal range - I am TERRIBLE at eyeballing an image - especially if I am doing an enlargement of any size.

I hope this helps.

[nldunne]

Felix

I got a reminder you posted something here - but it did not come out on my screen. Can you assist me to bring it out from your end. My thanks, mate.

[Maggie_B]

Beautiful Felix...I like the vignette on this one.

Mag

[KellyL]

Felix, very subtle difference. It is a great photo.

[felix.reichardt]

Thank you all for looking and commenting.

[felix.reichardt]

Hi Norme Dunne,

I actually just wanted to isolate the subject from the rock and background by desaturating the color of the same. So I wasn't really on a quest for a middle gray in the rock for this example.

So what I did:

1. Take the original full color version
2. Quick mask the subject
3. Invert the selection
4. Desaturate the rock and see.
5. Add vignette with lens filter.

[DAVE PROUTY]

Your final version is quite nice! It has a feeling of softness even though she's sitting on something we know is quite hard and uncomfortable. Nice job! Beautiful portrait of this girl. If she was my daughter, it would be at least a 20 x 24 on my wall!

[felix.reichardt]

Thanks Dave.

[k9ofkaos]

Felix, I love your work and this one is no exception. I like your edit and she just jumps off the page.

I can't wait until you shoot some more.