Help me Fix This Boy's Rash

[William Baroo3 2]

I fail pretty badly in situations with random subjects or challenging light, but it seems like it's nearly impossible to take a bad picture of this kid.

How do I deemphasize the rash and excess skin detail in Photolab9? I also have Elements 24 and Topaz AI, and there there is free Affinity. I tried to get help from AI, but it didn't work out.

 

[smoke665]

I know nothing about using the software you have. I downloaded and did a few edits in LR. To get rid of all the red, really need the raw file. Here's a few suggestions. Adjust the white balance, drop the contrast, and highlights. Raise the shadows and white point and black point. Lower the clarity and saturation. I used masking to soften the skin and spot adjusted the color on the cheeks. Also cropped to get rid of the distractions on left. Just an FYI a speed light or reflector can be your friend, red tends to show up more if you don't light up the skin. Cute kid!

 

[William Baroo3 2]

Thanks for the help. I'll try those things.

He is definitely cute, and he is also extremely photogenic.

 

[smoke665]

Thanks for the help. I'll try those things.

He is definitely cute, and he is also extremely photogenic.

Over the years dealt with alot of blotchy skin, Rosacea, etc. The key to minimizing it is to light up the face with soft light, in the 5600k range, don't have them in shadow. Green color correcting makeup can stop the redness at its source.

 

[William Baroo3 2]

Now if there were a way to make this kid pose in that kind of light all the time...

 

[smoke665]

Now if there were a way to make this kid pose in that kind of light all the time...

Sorry but that's a cop out. Is he the photographer or are you? The photographer guides the subject into a pose, sets up the light, and takes the shot.

 

[denum144 169]

I know nothing about using the software you have. I downloaded and did a few edits in LR. To get rid of all the red, really need the raw file. Here's a few suggestions. Adjust the white balance, drop the contrast, and highlights. Raise the shadows and white point and black point. Lower the clarity and saturation. I used masking to soften the skin and spot adjusted the color on the cheeks. Also cropped to get rid of the distractions on left. Just an FYI a speed light or reflector can be your friend, red tends to show up more if you don't light up the skin. Cute kid!
View attachment 293605

Nice edit and explanation of what you did. Thanks

 

[William Baroo3 2]

I like taking candid shots. I saw something I liked, so I grabbed the camera. If I were trying to do something more formal, I would arrange the lighting, dress him up, and hope for a day when he doesn't have a rash.

If you try to move a baby so you can take a picture of him in better light, you are asking for problems. They do whatever they want, and they don't give any warning.

 

[William Baroo3 2]

Interesting fact: today, I realized there are different cropping standards depending on the audience.

If I were just trying to create a nice picture of this child, I would crop it considerably, but because this is a family photo I expect people to look at years from now, I want them to be able to see familiar things in the background. In that sense, these things are also subjects.

I have noticed that when people look at old photos, they like seeing old possessions and so on. A familiar clock on the wall. A car that is long gone. Even a chair. But if they weren't around to see those things in the past, well, might as well crop them out.

 

[smoke665]

I like taking candid shots. I saw something I liked, so I grabbed the camera. If I were trying to do something more formal, I would arrange the lighting, dress him up, and hope for a day when he doesn't have a rash.

If you try to move a baby so you can take a picture of him in better light, you are asking for problems. They do whatever they want, and they don't give any warning.

You asked for help, I gave you solutions. I and countless others have dealt with babies since the beginning of photography. Your argument is without merit, if you aren't willing to accept suggestions then don't ask what to do.

 

[William Baroo3 2]

I receive the suggestions with gratitude, but I can't apply every solution in every situation. I will remember what you said when I can do what you suggest.

 

[PhotoHobbyist143 169]

Here is my attempt at using Gimp's "Heal" which is sort of like airbrushing. Then used Rawtherapee to reduce saturation a bit to hide it more. The rash is still there but less.

 

[Ysarex113 107]

I fail pretty badly in situations with random subjects or challenging light, but it seems like it's nearly impossible to take a bad picture of this kid.

How do I deemphasize the rash and excess skin detail in Photolab9? I also have Elements 24 and Topaz AI, and there there is free Affinity. I tried to get help from AI, but it didn't work out.

I think you could do a reasonable job in PL9 but not using a RGB image -- need the raw file. So with an RGB image a raster editor is a better choice. I used Affinity.

Here's the layer stack:

I used an HSL adjustment layer that I masked to the rash on the face. Shifting the Hue value pretty much did the trick. I made a very minor change with a WB adjustment layer. I used a Gaussian Blur filter to take down the skin texture -- I don't like it much blurrier, but you could certainly do that. Finally a Selective Color adjustment layer to knock some yellow out of the skin tone. Just some slight blotchiness was left from the rash and a couple touches with the Inpainting brush took care of that.

 

[William Baroo3 2]

Thanks. I do have the raw file, so suggestions for editing it are not wasted.

Your edit is very good.

 

[JBPhotog1]

In PhotoShop these layers will get you there without destroying the skin texture. Use a soft brush with minimal flow @1-5%.