How do I get these colors?

[summer_l]

How can I achieve similar colors as the ones on the following website:

http://www.bybobbi.com/index2.php

 

I have tried different things in Photoshop, but the persons skin always ends

up looking orangy or red-ish.

 

Any tips/idea?

[neilambrose]

<p>If you want to do this to your images without altering skin colors you need to learn

about layer masks. There may be other ways to acheive the same effect, but by far the

simplest way is this: just apply your preferred image enhancements on an HSV adjustment

layer, and use a layer mask to the select parts of the image you want to leave unaltered.</

p>

[rob_s___san_francisco_bay_]

You have to know which color channels to bring up and to bring down. Curve adjustments is also a big part of it. Maybe some selection masks and or layers in some cases, but rarely I bet. A little dodge/burn here/there. There's a chance she might be using some pre-packaged actions, or some form of her own. I doubt she's doing anything too complicated that most people aren't also doing. It's not that difficult once you know the basics.<p>

Everyone here can only guess at someone else's workflow (which probably varies over time or even image to image). If you want the real answer, just send her an email and ask her. I bet she'd be happy to answer your question.

[kella_macphee]

I use NIK Filters and Itty Bitty Actions!

[jaimie blue]

In her bio she states she studied graphic design and knowing many graphic designers and how much time they spend on their skills I would say that it is not as simple as the above poster mentions. It can be learned of course, but there is skill and technique in these post processing results. I wish I could do this myself.

[stephen dohring]

What everyone else said is valid but looks like the saturation is the biggest part of it. The skin tones on my monitor looked overexposed, like the others said you can mask them out. I you want to just play right now check out the saturation sliders and you will see. From there you can get into the channel mixer and hue adjustemts and masking out the skin. Light room will let you do this fast selecting one peice of clothing at a time.

[summer_l]

Steve: I tried what you said and it sure does make a difference!

 

I e-mailed her and hopefully I get a reply.

[rob_s___san_francisco_bay_]

<i>"...knowing many graphic designers and how much time they spend on their skills I would say that it is not as simple as the above poster mentions"</i><p>

hmmm... do I smell a photoshop challenge thread coming up <b>:-)</b>

<p>

I guess "simple" can be a relative term.

[jaimie blue]

Hey Rob, I was just remembering my designer friends that own an ad agency going to a week long abode conference spending 12 plus hours a day! And I thought these guys were already mind blowing designers that knew photoshop and they still went thru intensive classes. Simple is relative for me because my photoshop skills are not very adept.

[rob_s___san_francisco_bay_]

Hey Jaimie,<p>

I hear you. I know graphic designers with skills that would put almost any photographer to shame. I certainly don't claim to be in that league.

<p>

Summer - Let us know if you hear anything from Bobbi. This is interesting because I actually almost contacted her a short time ago about something else.

[mreul]

Hi Summer - i'm a graphic artis and photographer. i love bobbi's work and imo she's playing around in photoshop (and i love her style - lots of saturation and hi contrasty colors) some here and there. IMO though, not to the extent that anyone who's not a designer could do...really using photoshop to design and photoshop to edit photographs are very diff skills sometimes i believe. They definitely help oneanother but a graphic artist doesn't hold much over a photographer when i comes to working w/ photographs imo. I know sometimes i use a lot of saturation and if i was going to use any filters there is one in kubota's that is called fassion passion that could achieve a lot of these effects sometimes....i think mainly designers are more used to photoshop but that's about it....bobbi has a great eye and i can see where her design eye plays into the photograph... ;)

[noahfactor]

Im not sure, but it just looks like she's uping the contrast and stauration.

[amandalockphotography]

I was looking through this guy's blog and he had a photoshop tutorial on how he gets his colors. You may find it interesting. www.xanga.com/canon20d It is under the January 29th entry. He goes over layer masks/saturation a little. It's interesting to see how far from the original the finished image is.

[mreul]

i meant to say "not the extent anyone who's not a designer couldn't do" in other words photographer could definitely do this probably more so than a designer who's responsibities usually arn't as involved in photo editing....

[syphotography]

These effects are done by using Kubota Actions Vol 1 and 2 - http://kubotaworkshops.com/store/catalog/category_249_Software_Actions.html

[jennifer_nichols]

It looks like she uses a cross-processing technique. This term originated when film was processed as slide film, resulting in rich, bold colors and high contrast, while retaining naturalistic skin tones. One way to get this look is to purchase Kevin Kubota's action sets, and the Boutwells just came out with a great action pack too. Huge time-savers, but I guess it is cheating a little:)

I was able to get a similar look by playing around with curves, color balance, and saturation. I love this look and use it all the time. It's very trendy right now. Good luck!

[roxyandkaidotcom]

That's Bobbi! She's my wedding photographer and she's AWESOME! I love love love her. She'll

answer your email ... she's always been great help to me, too :)

[rob_s___san_francisco_bay_]

Here's a quick example. Obviously this is just one image and everyone uses different

techniques on different images. And of course, I'm not Bobbi. I'm Rob. I'm looking

forward to learning something from what Bobbi has to say.<p>

Just to illustrate that you don't need to boost saturation or create complicated masks to

get bright colors, the top image is right out of the camera, no adjustments in ACR. Pretty

flat, huh? The bottom image just has an exaggerated s-curve applied. If you're familiar

with film, you know what s-curves are. Basically, taking the characteric curve of the film

and adjusting contrast through varying exposure/development. Okay I also boosted the

"vibrance" slider up to 10. Nothing else. Most of the effect is really accomplished from

the simple curve adjustment. Try it!<p>

Cross processing techniques are just as easy with the new split-toning controls in ACR

and Lightroom.

 

<p><div></div>

[KenPapai]

Here is another example...<p>

 

<img src="http://www.kenpapai.com/images/aimeePN.jpg">

<p>

I shot this at her wedding in summer 2001; the original film image is at the left. In a matter of 30 seconds I upped the saturation, tweaked the contrast curve, and then selectively lassoed the faces and desaturated a little in the RED so as to not be too sun-burny. In an expert's hands and another 5 minutes you can "perfect" everything you shoot.

[amandalockphotography]

Wow Rob, that's awesome! *Amanda runs off to try it*

[summer_l]

Rob: For some reason it did not work for me. You said you also changed the vibrance. How do you do that? Is this is PS?

[KenPapai]

Yes, it is in PS (version 10 beta, AKA "PS CS3"). Rob is using ACR 4.0, which has the new VIBRANCE slider. PS CS3 is still in Beta mode.

[stephen dohring]

Summer Rob said ACR that means Adobe Camera Raw. He is doing this in the RAW converter before the file opens in Photoshop, it causes no degredation to the raw file like it will on a jpg file. Though I like the look of Rob's shot carefull with this as it may have a little too much contrast for some people. Ken's example I'll quote Borat "This one not so much" in my monitor it is a great example of what not to do to the skin tones when doing this. (no offense Ken)

[summer_l]

Thank you all. I will let you know if Bobbi replies.

[rob_s___san_francisco_bay_]

Yup, I'm using the new Beta version of CS3/ACR which is amazing btw, except that Bridge decides to unexpectedly quit every now and then.<p>

But the curve adjustments can be applied using any editor that has that functionality... CS2, Photoshop 7, Lightroom, the old ACR, etc. <p>

The Vibrance control was new in Lightroom and Adobe incorporated in into the new ACR. It's similar to saturation, but more subtle. But honestly, the biggest factor is the curve adjustment.<p>

As mentioned, these push/cross processing kind of effects are cool and all, but they can easily be overdone. Most trends eventually die. I actually prefer a bit more natural look to my images with only a subtle boost in contrast/saturation. Of course there's endless possiblities and directions you could go. It's just a matter of first knowing the look you want and utilizing any of the many tools at hand to achieve it and develop your own individual style (that's why I never liked pre-packaged actions).