color correction - low contrast on female faces at DVinfo.net

Denez McAdoo · January 31st, 2013, 11:06 AM

sorry, this isn't specific to Adobe, I just can't find a general color correction forum...

So one trick I use in making basic color adjustments to interview footage is to lower the contrast on faces, especially female faces. Poor lighting can have a way of emphasizing and creating flaws and imperfections in a face, harsh freckles and dark spots, eye and neck shadows, wrinkles, and blown out highlights make a person look a bit sweaty and shiny.

Lowering the contrast, especially bringing down highlights drastically, then boosting the mids to bring the over all level back to normal has the magic effect of applying a layer of foundation in post. A slight drop in the shadows restores the blacks from becoming milky (but hopefully don't darken face blemishes, etc.)

The only problem is this often make the hair look dull and often to dark. Does any one else have any different tricks that they use to improve the look of faces in post?

Sanjin Svajger · February 4th, 2013, 05:48 AM

Why not just mask out the hair?

Panagiotis Raris · February 4th, 2013, 01:55 PM

makeup. seriously. nothing worse than a shiny face.

Sanjin Svajger · February 5th, 2013, 10:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Panagiotis Raris

makeup. seriously. nothing worse than a shiny face.

Makeup? If you're referring to my post I was talking about masking the hair out in the grade not about makeup.

January 31st, 2013, 11:06 AM	#1
Denez McAdoo Regular Crew Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Cambridge, MA Posts: 89	color correction - low contrast on female faces sorry, this isn't specific to Adobe, I just can't find a general color correction forum... So one trick I use in making basic color adjustments to interview footage is to lower the contrast on faces, especially female faces. Poor lighting can have a way of emphasizing and creating flaws and imperfections in a face, harsh freckles and dark spots, eye and neck shadows, wrinkles, and blown out highlights make a person look a bit sweaty and shiny. Lowering the contrast, especially bringing down highlights drastically, then boosting the mids to bring the over all level back to normal has the magic effect of applying a layer of foundation in post. A slight drop in the shadows restores the blacks from becoming milky (but hopefully don't darken face blemishes, etc.) The only problem is this often make the hair look dull and often to dark. Does any one else have any different tricks that they use to improve the look of faces in post?

February 4th, 2013, 05:48 AM	#2
Sanjin Svajger Major Player Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Slovenia Posts: 356	Re: color correction - low contrast on female faces Why not just mask out the hair?

February 4th, 2013, 01:55 PM	#3
Panagiotis Raris Major Player Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Reading, PA USA and Athens, Greece Posts: 269	Re: color correction - low contrast on female faces makeup. seriously. nothing worse than a shiny face.