Clay-like Skin Tones

dcpropilot · 01-15-2015, 05:42 PM

I am trying to figure this out...for some reason, many of the skin tones of the people I am photographing are coming out unnatural using the K-3. Kind of a clay-like rendering. Wasn't a problem with my K-30. I am shooting RAW, and has happened with multiple lenses on the K-3. Anyone else experience this and can suggest a solution?
Thanks!

Unregistered User · 01-15-2015, 05:43 PM

What ISO are we talking about? How about a sample.

j2photos · 01-15-2015, 05:51 PM

Also what are your scene settings? I tend to use the natural setting and leave everything at 0. This way I tend not to blow out any colors and I can adjust everything in post. It yields a more muted picture in camera but gives you more flexibility.

Na Horuk · 01-15-2015, 05:52 PM

If you are shooting raw this really shouldn't be a problem. You can easily adjust WB, contrast, saturation, vibration, hue, skin tones..
Please tell us what camera settings you used, what the light situation was like, and what software you use to develop the raw, then we can diagnose the problems

dcpropilot · 01-15-2015, 05:59 PM

Here's an example..

enoeske · 01-15-2015, 06:00 PM

Originally posted by dcpropilot

Here's an example..

wrong white balance

j2photos · 01-15-2015, 06:01 PM

are you defining white balance or are you leaving it on auto? Typically the K-3 is pretty spot on with auto white balance.

dcpropilot · 01-15-2015, 06:03 PM

I've been using auto.

j2photos · 01-15-2015, 06:34 PM

What scene setting are you using?

Steve.Ledger · 01-15-2015, 07:36 PM

If you are shooting RAW as you say, then how are you processing them??

dcpropilot · 01-15-2015, 08:09 PM

It was shot in bright mode. But yes, it was raw, then processed in LR 5.7

Steve.Ledger · 01-15-2015, 09:16 PM

Should definitely be correctable in LR.
Looking at the napkins, they aren't white, the shadows on the napkins are cream coloured. These should be grey.
So yeh, a WB issue.

**dms** · 01-15-2015, 09:56 PM

I assume your software allows you to set the WB by sampling an area of the picture (I only use bridge in photoshop). Using this you usually can find a neutral white area to sample. In your photo there are the white napkins--but if there weren't even the white's of the eyes works. Other areas that may work are teeth or buttons, small patches of white in the fabric, etc. Sometimes you will have a neutral gray somewhere. Presets for tungsten, daylight, etc. are also obvious things to try. You also can put a gray card or white paper in the scene and photograph it, then remove it and take your photo's, and later you have it to do a WB. And if nothing else, adjust the temperature and tint till it looks good.

DSims · 01-15-2015, 11:36 PM

Also, if you're shooting RAW+JPG, are you using AdobeRGB for the color space? You nearly always want sRGB for JPGs, and then for the RAW files you don't need to have AdobeRGB set because all the color info is in the RAW file anyway, regardless of this setting. I can't remember if this is quite the appearance you get, but AdobeRGB makes for some rather poor and dull-looking color in JPG files.

In general, the K-3 along with your excellent lens collection should yield rich-looking colors.

Cyril_K5 · 01-16-2015, 12:34 AM

Originally posted by Steve.Ledger

Should definitely be correctable in LR.
Looking at the napkins, they aren't white, the shadows on the napkins are cream coloured. These should be grey.
So yeh, a WB issue.

I agree and I also noticed that there is a slight greenish hue to the skin. You should try different colour spaces (sRGB, AdobeRBG) and see what differences you get.

01-15-2015, 05:42 PM	#1
dcpropilot Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Vermont Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 941	Clay-like Skin Tones I am trying to figure this out...for some reason, many of the skin tones of the people I am photographing are coming out unnatural using the K-3. Kind of a clay-like rendering. Wasn't a problem with my K-30. I am shooting RAW, and has happened with multiple lenses on the K-3. Anyone else experience this and can suggest a solution? Thanks!

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01-15-2015, 05:43 PM	#2
Unregistered User Guest	What ISO are we talking about? How about a sample.

01-15-2015, 05:51 PM	#3
j2photos Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Manteca, CA Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 1,653	Also what are your scene settings? I tend to use the natural setting and leave everything at 0. This way I tend not to blow out any colors and I can adjust everything in post. It yields a more muted picture in camera but gives you more flexibility.

01-15-2015, 05:52 PM	#4
Na Horuk Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Slovenia, probably Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 11,186	If you are shooting raw this really shouldn't be a problem. You can easily adjust WB, contrast, saturation, vibration, hue, skin tones.. Please tell us what camera settings you used, what the light situation was like, and what software you use to develop the raw, then we can diagnose the problems

01-15-2015, 05:59 PM	#5
dcpropilot Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Vermont Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 941 Original Poster	Here's an example..

01-15-2015, 06:00 PM	#6
enoeske Veteran Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Surprise, Az Photos: Gallery Posts: 2,136	Originally posted by dcpropilot Here's an example.. wrong white balance

01-15-2015, 06:01 PM	#7
j2photos Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Manteca, CA Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 1,653	are you defining white balance or are you leaving it on auto? Typically the K-3 is pretty spot on with auto white balance.

01-15-2015, 06:03 PM	#8
dcpropilot Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Vermont Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 941 Original Poster	I've been using auto.

01-15-2015, 06:34 PM	#9
j2photos Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Manteca, CA Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 1,653	What scene setting are you using?

01-15-2015, 07:36 PM	#10
Steve.Ledger Veteran Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Far North Qld Posts: 3,301	If you are shooting RAW as you say, then how are you processing them??

01-15-2015, 08:09 PM	#11
dcpropilot Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Vermont Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 941 Original Poster	It was shot in bright mode. But yes, it was raw, then processed in LR 5.7

01-15-2015, 09:16 PM	#12
Steve.Ledger Veteran Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Far North Qld Posts: 3,301	Should definitely be correctable in LR. Looking at the napkins, they aren't white, the shadows on the napkins are cream coloured. These should be grey. So yeh, a WB issue.

01-15-2015, 09:56 PM	#13
dms Site Supporter Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: New York, NY Photos: Gallery Posts: 2,192	I assume your software allows you to set the WB by sampling an area of the picture (I only use bridge in photoshop). Using this you usually can find a neutral white area to sample. In your photo there are the white napkins--but if there weren't even the white's of the eyes works. Other areas that may work are teeth or buttons, small patches of white in the fabric, etc. Sometimes you will have a neutral gray somewhere. Presets for tungsten, daylight, etc. are also obvious things to try. You also can put a gray card or white paper in the scene and photograph it, then remove it and take your photo's, and later you have it to do a WB. And if nothing else, adjust the temperature and tint till it looks good.

01-15-2015, 11:36 PM	#14
DSims Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Southern California Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 3,236	Also, if you're shooting RAW+JPG, are you using AdobeRGB for the color space? You nearly always want sRGB for JPGs, and then for the RAW files you don't need to have AdobeRGB set because all the color info is in the RAW file anyway, regardless of this setting. I can't remember if this is quite the appearance you get, but AdobeRGB makes for some rather poor and dull-looking color in JPG files. In general, the K-3 along with your excellent lens collection should yield rich-looking colors.

01-16-2015, 12:34 AM	#15
Cyril_K5 Forum Member Join Date: Jun 2013 Posts: 73	Originally posted by Steve.Ledger Should definitely be correctable in LR. Looking at the napkins, they aren't white, the shadows on the napkins are cream coloured. These should be grey. So yeh, a WB issue. I agree and I also noticed that there is a slight greenish hue to the skin. You should try different colour spaces (sRGB, AdobeRBG) and see what differences you get.