Skin Tone Pinning - Overexposed Skin Areas?

[billbrandi]

While working through the skin tone pinning exercise in Week 3's class, I wondered if Curvemeister could be used to correct overexposed areas of skin, in addition to applying/correcting the skin tone.

Thanks
Bill

[-default]

Yes, indeed.  If you have an example image perhaps we could work on it here.

[billbrandi]

Thanks.  Attached is a picture of my daughter on our recent trip to Alaska.  I took the photo in a helicopter on our way to a trek across a glacier.  You can see that her face is overexposed-a common problem with a digital camera.  How would it be fixed using Curvemeister?

Thanks
Bill Falzone

[ggroess]

Hey Bill,

I took a look at the image and here is what I would do. 
Using Lab Mode
Adjust the curve to bring the highlight back into place a bit.
Set a neutral on the back wall behind her...and pin using a nice skin tone.

This is a very common problem as you point out...I hope this is an acceptable solution for you...

You can load the ACV file from inside CM by clicking on the load button and selecting the file.

Greg

[-default]

Very nice image.  Here's a quick take on the sort of thing that can be done with this image, using the L channel of Lab.

1: is a threshold move that gives a little more wiggle room for shadow detail.
2: controls shadow detail, and detail in the darker clothing and hair.
3: controls detail in the background woman's face.  It's interesting that you can move this point around a fair amount without affecting detail elsewhere
4: controls the contrast of the main subject's face
5 and 6: form a "lizard tail" maneuver, point 6 adding detail in the highlights while point 5 keeps the remainder of the curve from bowing out.

[-default]

The original color is an acceptable "lunch hour" on the hue clock, but I actually like Greg's use of the skin tone pin.

The lightness curves are very similar.  I should mention that there is jpeg artifacting in the face, which should not be present when you work on the original image.

[mikemeister_admin]

Very interesting how diffferent the renditions are - just shows you how difficult it is to get the 'right' answer - not that I think there is one!

So here is my bash in rgb - neutral pin and slight curving in the master channel

[mikemeister_admin]

hit the button too fast! - here is the image!

[mikemeister_admin]

Out of interest, I then tried Dan's skin enhancing action - I just love the wild effect it has had on the far red jacket (I think it is the Green channel biting in) - which should really be masked out.

[-default]

Nice, Zog!