Help needed w/color correction for Grandma's 90th

Tamron SP AF 17-50mm f/2.8 Di II LD Aspherical (IF) for Nikon

10/05/2006 11:34:24 PM · #1

I'm trying to get a picture of my grandmother printed as a 20 x 30 poster for her 90th birthday party in 10 days. My mom scanned this pic in and sent it to me. Seems to me it has a strong green cast. Note: this is a very small version; the original's more than 12,000 pixels on the short side (Mom went a little nuts on the scanning resolution).

So into Photoshop I went. My problem is that my CRT monitor isn't calibrated, and in fact I know it's darker than the LCD screens on my laptop and my work computer. So I don't trust my eyes. I tried creating control points on the white and black part of the door and the mortar in the bricks, but I don't know whether I got it right or whether any of these is the right brightness.

I'd really appreciate opinions on which of these is best, esp. from someone with a calibrated monitor. I don't want this poster to be tinted!

Or if you want, use the original and correct the color as you see fit. In that case, I'd love to have your Photoshop file or the specific values in levels or curves so I can replicate what you do on the large file.

Thanks in advance!

Original:

Options:

Message edited by author 2006-10-05 23:37:20.

slickchik

Olympus OM-1

Olympus 12-40mm f/2.8 Pro

10/05/2006 11:40:20 PM · #2

Don't know about printing pictures and I don't know how well my monitor is calibrated but just a simple Auto Smart Fix made this look good to me. Even just an auto levels worked out good too.

ButterflySis

Canon EOS-50D

10/05/2006 11:41:24 PM · #3

I like #2 the best.

#1 - too dull
#3 - colors don't look right.

Can you fix her eyes? Maybe using shadows/highlights? They look hollow because you can't see the pupils. Otherwise, nice lookin' lady...esp. at 90!!

ButterflySis

Canon EOS-50D

10/05/2006 11:42:27 PM · #4

Originally posted by slickchik:

Don't know about printing pictures and I don't know how well my monitor is calibrated but just a simple Auto Smart Fix made this look good to me. Even just an auto levels worked out good too.

Now I like yours best.

:)

Message edited by author 2006-10-05 23:42:35.

Tamron SP AF 17-50mm f/2.8 Di II LD Aspherical (IF) for Nikon

10/05/2006 11:43:20 PM · #5

Originally posted by ButterflySis:

Yeah, I'll get some life in her eyes if I have to paint in catch lights. :) I also haven't sharpened anything or done anything other than changed the colors yet.

Thanks!

10/05/2006 11:49:01 PM · #6

If you want to send me the original, look at my profile page for my email address.
I do have a suggestion though - use the bricks in the background on the right as a background for the left side - in other words, cover up the door with bricks. Bricks made a nice background and, well, I'm playing with an edit at the moment to share.

Tamron SP AF 17-50mm f/2.8 Di II LD Aspherical (IF) for Nikon

10/05/2006 11:51:58 PM · #7

Originally posted by BradP:

Thanks, Brad. I forgot to mention that, too. I definitely intend to cover the door with bricks! I'm glad to know you agree, though. :)

I'll send you the original Photoshop file - it's less than 1 MB and has the three options I've posted as adjustment layers for your reference.

Tim

Nikon D300

Nikon AF-S Nikkor 50mm f/1.4G

10/05/2006 11:52:06 PM · #8

Simple - convert to B/W and the colour cast is gone!!!

Forgive me but I'm on a uncalibrated computer at the moment, with no photo software, so thats the best suggestion I can come up with - none of your versions look very good on this screen (it's alright people I don't vote on this computer)

jfriesen

Panasonic LUMIX GH5

Canon EF 24-105mm f/4.0L IS

10/05/2006 11:52:30 PM · #9

BradP works restoration wonders...

:)

scalvert

Canon EOS-5D Mark III

10/06/2006 12:08:02 AM · #10

Handy Photoshop Tip:
In the Levels window, select the middle (grey) eyedropper and then click someplace in the photo that's SUPPOSED to be neutral- in this case the back of the chair or the mortar between the bricks. Click around to find the right spot. When you hit a truly neutral pixel, the color balance will be corrected. Here's a quickie...

Message edited by author 2006-10-06 00:12:04.

jfriesen

Panasonic LUMIX GH5

10/06/2006 12:20:48 AM · #11

I did a method very similar to

scalvert's method execept I did the levels using the "black point" (to the left of her head) using GIMP. Also did a little sharpening.

10/06/2006 12:32:50 AM · #12

Just a quick idea of where I wanted to go with it:

---to--->

(jacket unchanged at this point)

The original scan would be a plus.

Message edited by author 2006-10-06 00:33:29.

Tamron SP AF 17-50mm f/2.8 Di II LD Aspherical (IF) for Nikon

10/06/2006 12:36:35 AM · #13

Originally posted by BradP:

Just a quick idea of where I wanted to go with it:
---to--->
(jacket unchanged at this point)

The original scan would be a plus.

Well, it's 534MB. How fast is your connection? ;)

That looks very good, Brad.

Didja get my original small version?

10/06/2006 12:40:42 AM · #14

Originally posted by levyj413:

Originally posted by BradP:
Just a quick idea of where I wanted to go with it:
---to--->
(jacket unchanged at this point)

The original scan would be a plus.

Well, it's 534MB. How fast is your connection? ;)

That looks very good, Brad.

Didja get my original small version?

I did get it, but it is a small (640 pixel) and can pretty much do everything with the original as I did.

534 huh.... eh....
If you had a way of putting it on a website, I could download it from there. Only other alternative is to sent a downsized (100MB) unedited version to yousendit.com at my email address.

Tamron SP AF 17-50mm f/2.8 Di II LD Aspherical (IF) for Nikon

10/06/2006 12:49:51 AM · #15

Uh, sorry. That 534MB is the full-size PS file. The original JPG is 14MB.

While this has been going on, I asked my Mom to rescan it at 1600 ppi instead of 3200ppi, which yielded a 4.3MB file. Could I email that to you?

I'm a bit overwhelmed at the generosity of you and everyone else on this thread. DPC truly is an incredible community!

Jeffrey

Edited to add: my Mom also says she's overwhelmed, and thank you, thank you! Oh, and she's learned her lesson and will take higher-resolution photos to begin with from now on, so we don't have to scan prints. :)

Message edited by author 2006-10-06 00:57:35.

10/06/2006 12:55:50 AM · #16

My email will accept up to 20MB, so the original scan is fine, and would love to fix this for you as I know it's an important thing in life. Our elders deserve the best, and if this picture can bring joy to anyone's hearts, it's all that matters.

Tamron SP AF 17-50mm f/2.8 Di II LD Aspherical (IF) for Nikon

10/06/2006 01:15:07 AM · #17

Okay! Just sent you the 1600 ppi scan. That should be plenty - will be more than 300 ppi when printed at 20 x 30.

I sent it from my gmail account, so you can send the final JPG back to that account, whatever size it ends up. If you want to mess with the background, sharpening, etc., to make it a final print-ready image, go for it. But you're doing so much with the color already that if you'd rather, you can send me just the color correction.

Again, thanks so much!

Jeffrey

dancerfolk

10/06/2006 01:17:29 AM · #18

I'm Jeffrey's mom and just want to thank you a ton, Brad. It is truly generous of you, and I am very appreciative of your help. My mom will be so pleased. This photo was taken at an art show where she lives last June. I take many photos of the residents during these shows and then give them to the retirement home, where they are placed in albums. Thanks again!
And thanks to eveyone for your willingness to help!
Karen

Canon EF 85mm f/1.2L II USM

10/06/2006 01:30:54 AM · #19

My pleasure!

Got the original scan Jeffrey.
I'll have her looking like Julianne Moore in no time.
(just kidding...)

NstiG8tr

Canon EOS-5D Mark IV

10/06/2006 02:25:13 AM · #20

Here's my try at it.

10/08/2006 02:25:04 AM · #21

Originally posted by levyj413:

Original:
--edit-->

9000x6000 pixel 20MB file will be on the way shortly...
(damn thing in layers locked my puter up once too - PS temp file was over 2GB!)