Which do you think is closest to correct?

[elyshiamadison]

I did a quick test run processing 1 image with 2 different raw editors and photoshop.

Just want opinions as to which one you'd think is closest to "correct" skin tones (my daughter is quite fair and has no ruddy red tones - which is what I have been trying to work around.... without much luck.

My monitor is calibrated and all images were saved as sRGB. I've removed the exif data, just to see an honest opinion. I tried to keep the image adjustments as close as I possbily could across the different programs.

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1259/5138023529_ca294a1efc.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/elyshiamadison/5138023529/)
1 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/elyshiamadison/5138023529/) by elyshiamadison (http://www.flickr.com/people/elyshiamadison/), on Flickr

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4063/5138021061_af07a3becb.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/elyshiamadison/5138021061/)
2 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/elyshiamadison/5138021061/) by elyshiamadison (http://www.flickr.com/people/elyshiamadison/), on Flickr

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1379/5138627866_b3f81afd25.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/elyshiamadison/5138627866/)
3 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/elyshiamadison/5138627866/) by elyshiamadison (http://www.flickr.com/people/elyshiamadison/), on Flickr

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4145/5138625604_91ed33b513.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/elyshiamadison/5138625604/)
4 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/elyshiamadison/5138625604/) by elyshiamadison (http://www.flickr.com/people/elyshiamadison/), on Flickr

Just a quick 1, 2, 3, or 4 answer will do :) I'm not looking for CC.... Thank you

[salnel]

My personal preference (and I am a very new photographer) is for the first photo. I feel that it is giving the most natural color, especially as your daughter is so fair.

[MarkChap]

Can't say, why
Well
I wasn't there on the day
I don't know your Daughter
There are lots of things that affect what is "correct" white balance at a given time of day etc etc
In saying that maybe number 3, just a wild guess

[elyshiamadison]

Thanks for your replies ;)

Mark that's fine - I understand what your saying .... Maybe I should have posted a jpeg straight out of camera as well to judge off..... (again though the WB issue would still be there :( I spose)

[I @ M]

#1 looks healthy and clean and then #2 but it is rather "flat" and grey.
#3 & #4 don't look right on this monitor.

[WhoDo]

IMHO #3 I'd say!

#1 has a slight pinkish cast.
#2 has a slight bluish cast.
#4 has a very slight greenish cast.

I'm glad you only asked for "opinions" because you're more than likely to get as many different "answers" as there are replies! (pun intended). Cheers. :beer_mug:

[ZedEx]

In my opinion, number one is the nicest looking reproduction, all things considered. I'd rather a warm tone than a blue or green cast (even if only slight) for a child portrait. It also has the most natural contrast

[LJG]

I have to agree, it is out of 1 or 3, but for me 1 wins the day, it is more natural looking.

[kiwi]

Used a whibal card before ?

[cinvala]

number 1

[James T]

I'd go somewhere between 1 and 4.

1 a bit heavy and red.
2 is flat and heavy.
3 has a green cast.
4 similar to 3 but a bit better. Although I think that may be skewed by viewing 3 next to 2 where the difference is more pronounced.

[elyshiamadison]

Used a whibal card before ?

No but that's my next purchase! I brought one of those white balance caps - but I can't get the hang of remembering to use it.... a card might be easier to get into the habit of using.

Thanks everyone for your replies..... I actually was starting to think the green cast was something I was imagining..... because it's not there in processing, only after I save as a jpeg!

But the general consensus seems to be a lightroom & photoshop edit is the most accurate ;)
I think at some stage whilst I was trying to calibrate prior to getting the Spyder, I must have done something to my RGB icc file, I think from memory one of the programs I tried had me save over the rgb icc file.... I managed to load another one I think yesterday - will see if that makes a difference with the colour casts as well.

[Dan Gamble]

Slightly off topic sorry: You mentioned you shot in JPG. Is RAW an option? Whit Balance can be adjusted non-destructively in Adobe Camera Raw or Lightroom.

On topic: I like #1 as a personal preference. :)

[elyshiamadison]

Sorry Dan - I reread what I wrote ;) I was meant to say I should have taken on in JPEG to load as well.... Because I shoot all the time in RAW...