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        SC Photo Designs 
           
           
         
          
          Joined: 28 Aug 2014 
          Posts: 401 
          Location: United Kingdom
 
  
         
       
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				 Posted: Wed Oct 15, 2014 4:00 pm    Post subject: What do you guys think? | 
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        Patrick 
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          Joined: 14 Feb 2003 
          Posts: 11945 
          Location: Harbinger, NC, U.S.A.
 
  
         
       
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				 Posted: Thu Oct 16, 2014 4:49 pm    Post subject:  | 
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        SC Photo Designs 
           
           
         
          
          Joined: 28 Aug 2014 
          Posts: 401 
          Location: United Kingdom
 
  
         
       
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				 Posted: Sat Oct 18, 2014 11:17 am    Post subject:  | 
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				Hi Patrick   I see what you mean, she also has a weird nostril, I think I need to take more time on the faces as they seem to be the hardest to get right x  | 
			 
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        PhotoshopKL4060 
           
           
         
          
          Joined: 31 Oct 2014 
          Posts: 13 
          
 
  
         
       
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				 Posted: Sat Nov 01, 2014 1:33 am    Post subject:  | 
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				I think the brush you're using is a little too hard. Maybe soften the edges a little. This is most noticeable in the first picture. Look at the guy's hair. I hope that helps.  | 
			 
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        SC Photo Designs 
           
           
         
          
          Joined: 28 Aug 2014 
          Posts: 401 
          Location: United Kingdom
 
  
         
       
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				 Posted: Sat Nov 01, 2014 12:22 pm    Post subject:  | 
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				Thanks PhotoshopKL4060    | 
			 
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        LB69 
           
           
         
          
          Joined: 03 Dec 2014 
          Posts: 4 
          Location: United States
 
  
         
       
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				 Posted: Sat Dec 20, 2014 12:11 pm    Post subject:  | 
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				Nice skin colors. One of the hardest things to accomplish. Looks like good work to me overall. _________________ Today's best labor saving device-Tomorrow!  | 
			 
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        SC Photo Designs 
           
           
         
          
          Joined: 28 Aug 2014 
          Posts: 401 
          Location: United Kingdom
 
  
         
       
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				 Posted: Sat Dec 20, 2014 12:48 pm    Post subject:  | 
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				Thanks LB69   x  | 
			 
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        Frank1263 
           
           
          
          
          Joined: 09 May 2012 
          Posts: 221 
          Location: Spain PS Version: CS6 OS: Windows 7 
         
       
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				 Posted: Mon Dec 29, 2014 4:07 am    Post subject:  | 
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				Looks good overall but if you want it to be credible for us critics then you need to pay more attention to detail.
 
E.g. the books in the background in the first picture and the reflection of the man's legs in the hubcap.
 
 
Have fun.     | 
			 
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        thehermit 
           
           
         
          
          Joined: 05 Mar 2003 
          Posts: 3987 
          Location: Cheltenham, UK
 
  
         
       
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				 Posted: Mon Dec 29, 2014 5:09 am    Post subject:  | 
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				I think the stand out point for me is the skin tones/hues, at the moment they are too uniform in that they have no variation in tone and the colour that you have chosen is uniformly incorrect and based upon 'skin is pink' type of logic. Don't apply a global solution to a local issue like skin. What technique are you currently using to get your colouring? Have your tried experimenting with gradient maps? If not look them up in retouching terms.
 
 
Here are some links to aid you in skin tones. skin tone chart artistic
 
Bruce Beard's chart skin tone chart
 
This bloke is pretty spot on with tones and keeping the 'original feel' I coloured it for you
 
 
Also, it's a pet peeve of mine due to my meticulous nature, but don't be tempted to wing it on colouring by block filling. This is really evident in the first image. Do you know the colours for the campaign bars etc? Probably not, in truth it would be difficult to work out, but I would try. Did the soldier fight with any unit or in any battle? Go to someone who knows history of the regiment and battles, ask them. Failing that, at least make an educated guess and give them some colour.
 
 
Last thing.... Don't ever leave any portions of the image b&w, sometimes you can get away with it for really small details, but not as you have attempted with the background and the box behind the soldier. The flag is passable but the shadows need work.
 
 
I don't want to sink your enthusiasm and my critique is based only on the first image, I realise it is a practice image, but I always think you should work as if for a client - otherwise adding it to a portfolio is going to be tricky.
 
 
Look at a hundred, no a thousand vintage real colour images and photographers, look at the different cameras and film stock and then start to make decisions about colouring. Nothing is monotone in life.
 
 
A few more links for fun  
 
 
LAB colour adjustments
 
Basic use of Blend If, but a fundamentalcolourise a b&w image
 
 
Oh and layers, layer, layers of different tones and if needed techniques and layer stamps, adjustment layers aplenty and obscurer methods from Variations to colour space switches and curves.
 
 
Good Luck!   _________________ If life serves you lemons, make lemonade!  | 
			 
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        SC Photo Designs 
           
           
         
          
          Joined: 28 Aug 2014 
          Posts: 401 
          Location: United Kingdom
 
  
         
       
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				 Posted: Wed Dec 31, 2014 2:33 am    Post subject:  | 
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				Thank you The Hermit, I really do appreciate your feedback, it's given me lots of different variation to try out x  | 
			 
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