Help with processing

[milesy]

I have seen a photo elsewhere that i really love the finished look of, it clearly has had post processing and i would like to know what was done to get the look.

I cant get hold of the original person who did it - am i able to post the photo here to see if people can simulate what was done?

[ameerat42]

You can post a link to it, ie, a link to the web page it is on.
Rather like this:
https://www.google.com.au/search?q=monkey&biw=1920&bih=916&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0CAYQ_AUoAWoVChMIuM-Z6KPQxwIVRiOmCh1Drwh9#imgrc=-2oAFdryD3Ev_M%3A

The link to the page appears, but not the picture. That's on the page.

[milesy]

Thanks Ameerat

well hopefully you can see this

https://www.facebook.com/StudioDivaPhotography/photos/t.1013669423/177916958918213/?type=3&theater

thats the image - i really like the look of it but its not just a B&W photo...so any ideas on how this was done

[ricktas]

The link does not work.

[farmmax]

Do you need to be signed in to Facebook for the link to work? I don't have a facebook account :)

[ricktas]

Do you need to be signed in to Facebook for the link to work? I don't have a facebook account :)

No, cause I signed in and the link was still invalid. Shortening up the link, you end up on the page in question, but as to which actual photo? https://www.facebook.com/StudioDivaPhotography/photos

[milesy]

ok try this link

https://www.flickr.com/gp/25376817@N02/161A0n

[ricktas]

Ok. I reckon they have done several things to this as far as editing goes.

1. It is not a true mono, there is some colour left in the girl's top. So I would say they have desaturated the photo but not by 100%, probably about 85-90% desaturation, and then possibly some selective removal of colour to the faces etc. The other way would have been to desaturate on a layer, then paint some of the areas in the photo to mask out, and bring back hints of colour in selected places. As their faces appear to have the slightest hint of colour about them. This is easiest done as a whole of image. Duplicate image to a new layer, desaturate it, then using the opacity slider, make the opacity percentage enough that a hint of the colour image on the bottom layer is visible.

2. It appears some sort of skin smoothing has been utilised to smooth out skin imperfections and give the 'porcelain' effect on the skin...and the hair. Quite possibly the whole image was 'smoothed'

3. Sharpening of the eyes, lips, has really made them stand out. So again the smoothing was probably done on a layer then selective editing of that layer to allow the underlying sharper layer to come through around the eyes and lips, possibly with further sharpening of those areas to make them pop.

My interpretation of the editing, hope that helps.

[ameerat42]

Milesy. It would also help hEAps if you could say what aspects of this pic you are trying to emulate.

[ricktas]

Just a question. I noted that originally you were trying to link us to a photo on Studio Diva's facebook page. Now though you have linked us to a photo on your flickr. Have you taken someone elses photo from their page and uploaded it to your own flickr? As photos are copyright, I hope you got permission from the owner to take a copy?

[milesy]

thanks for your input here, i could see it wasnt a true mono but couldnt quite work out what they had done