Working with digital images

[Thiago]

^{The following question is posted here on behalf of a Digicamhelp site visitor. It was originally received via email. The writer has been notified that the reply will be posted here. We ask that all questions be posted at the Q&A Board, not sent to us via email.}


I would like to know what filter was used on this photo (I like the skin tone it has).

thanks, Thiago

_{Moderator Note: here is a crop of a small area of the photo}

[ShutterbugGail]

It's difficult to tell if a filter was used, particularly since the photo appears to be greatly reduced in size. If one was used, it may have been a "warming" color-conversion filter.

Some digital cameras let you control the hue which will be applied to a photo as it is taken. For example, my camera has a Color Effect menu to select "cool," "warm," "black and white," or "sepia." I can also use the white balance setting to change the hue. But remember, these affect the color of an entire photo, unlike image editing software where you can select which areas to apply changes.

Images can be warmed up using the color balance menu found in some image editing programs. In fact, some programs have actual filter effects which can be applied to digital images during editing. A knowledge of using selection tools and/or how to use layers is necessary.

Here's information about camera filters:

http://www.tiffen.com/camera_filters.htm

Here's a little program that let's you apply filter effects after your photo is taken:

http://www.mediachance.com/digicam/filtersim.htm

The photo also looks like a soft-focus filter may have been used too. A soft focus, or slight blur effect, can also be done in image editing software.

[Thiago da Cunha]

I have warming filters and all they do is  give the photos an "amber" look. In this photo, the skin tone is almost "orange wich is what I'm looking for. Any idea,
Thiago

[ShutterbugGail]

I have warming filters and all they do is  give the photos an "amber" look. In this photo, the skin tone is almost "orange wich is what I'm looking for. Any idea,
Thiago

Hi again Thiago,

As you and I already mentioned, a filter would change the hue of an entire photo, not just selected areas of it. All three moderators have looked at the photo and discussed it between ourselves.

We believe that the orange skin tone was adjusted with image editing software. PaintShop Pro, for example, has an option which lets you adjust color saturation for "Skin tones present." In other words, you can change skin tones in a photo without affecting other areas.

PaintShop Pro can be downloaded for a free trial period so you may want to give that a try. If you do, and you have a moment, let us know if it works.

Here's the link:

http://www.jasc.com/products/paintshoppro/?