Help pls. Colour balance problems

[Rudesing]

Hi all

I wondered if someone could give some advice on colour management, pretty please!

I've been doing studio photography but have not been happy with the colour of prints I have got, particularly skin tones.

I use a grey card and do custom balance
I take shots in RAW
I use Photoshop CS4 and the image on screen matches the print when I print using Windows (but not if I print in Photoshop:bang

However, I am just not happy with the colours, and can't seem to find the right temperature / tint combination to get it right. The skin tones (particularly of tanned or darker skin) looks too red but when I change it the babies skin look washed out.

Here is an example:

Edit: When I view the photo on this thread it doesn't look at all red, even though it does when I view the same photo in Windows / Photoshop or print it.

Is this a problem with my computer / Photoshop set up or should I be working on adjusting the photograph?

Any ideas welcome!

 

[Freester]

When you export your image from RAW to JPEG what colour space / browser are you using? If you are exporting as Adobe most browsers by default can't support that colour space. Try sRGB.

 

[awp]

This is about colour space - this is shot in Adobe RGB - change to sRGB for viewing on screen - use which ever your printer requests if sending out to a printer.

 

[Just Dave]

Could be your using double colour management in the printer, when printing from photoshop, Click Linky to video first parts using a mac, 2nd part using window more or less same though HTHs

 

[Rudesing]

Thanks to all for taking the time to reply, most appreciated.

The original RAW file says the colour representation is sRGB, but the jpeg says 'uncalibrated'. When I open the RAW file in Photoshop it seems to be changing it to Adobe, so I have changed that now (thanks!)

However, it hasn't changed the problem on screen - the image still looks too red in Photoshop & Windows.

Just Dave - thanks for the link but I am having trouble opening it at the moment

 

[Rudesing]

Could be your using double colour management in the printer, when printing from photoshop, Click Linky to video first parts using a mac, 2nd part using window more or less same though HTHs

Haven't been able to access link but did a search and yes I'm using double colour management. Will have a go at some more printing tomorrow. Fingers crossed.

 

[Chappers]

First thing to bear in mind is that there is no standard skin colour. Its unlikely the baby has be allowed to sunbathe by it's parents so it may well be whiter than theirs.

If you want to warm the babies skin tone up you'll probably need to simply add a warm "tint" over the skin with Photoshop

I think the main problem you have is one of colour management. Photoshop is CM aware, most native windows programs aren't. Now switching to sRGB probably helped. Now do the images on the screen look close to the print, when viewed in Photoshop. ( I wouldn't worry about windows at the moment as I suspect you are doing all imaging work in Photoshop.) If they do then that's the main problem solved.

If not have a look at how you have configured Photoshop to print to your printer. Are you using profiles or simply letting the printer manage colour? I fit's the former is it set up correctly from both Photoshop and for the printer.

 

[Rudesing]

Thanks everyone.

I have done a 'quick fix' for the current photographs and will be spending a lot of time looking at configuring Photoshop to my printer/paper combination so I don't waste so many prints getting it right next time.

Thanks again for your help, most appreciated.