Damien Symonds

I don't understand what you think the problem is. Each time a subject steps up, get them to hold the WB sheet on their chest for the first shot.

If the light was changing too fast for a single white balance sheet shot (which it definitely was), how did you think Shade was going to work for all of them? Yes ... but only if you'd positioned each subject in EXACTLY the same position relative to the tree, which you didn't.

How are you not convinced of that? I've looked back through the threads, and you don't seem to have had ANY method of setting the white balance.

Yes, because most of them seem to be at a slightly different angle; and at that time of day, angle makes a LOT of difference, as you've found out.

Well ... where was your white balance sheet?

I definitely don't think you should try to use the "artistic effect" layers to match the two photos. If they don't match, it's the fault of your clean processing. Go back to your Levels and Skin work until it's perfect.

Yes. Well, whatever method works. That's what we're here to figure out.

What did you end up doing, @DaniGirl?

Are you still there, @ishootfor3?

Well ... that depends how far off they are, I guess. Could you post a couple of files for me to see?

Hey @Eran, you haven't downloaded the file yet!

How did the recalibration go, @cathm?

Fix the skintone in what way? What will "better" look like? Here's the file: Download PSD Well, it's the same matte crap with which people have been ruining their photos for years. If you've looked through the downloadable files in this section, you'll see heaps of other examples.

I'll have to keep experimenting for the first two. For the third one, I think it's this?

Then that's what you need to address. Calibrate again, with lower screen brightness so that it matches the prints. Ignore colour for now. Only brightness matters.

Who took the photos?

Interesting. And are you ABSOLUTELY POSITIVELY 100% sure that the overall brightness of the prints (not individual colours, overall brightness) is not significantly different from your screen?

The red of Santa's suit is ok?

Is the Christmas one printed exactly the same way as the others? Same lab, same paper?

Oh gee, is that all you got? There's no variety there. There are a heap of colour of the spectrum that aren't represented.

What? No, upload the same digital files that you sent to the lab. Unless you have solar-powered internet, the brightness of your room has nothing to do with it.

From the posting guidelines:

Excellent.

Hi Cathy, thanks for reporting in. Can you post the photos here for me to see? Upload the exact jpeg files that you sent to the lab.

I reckon the hard dark rim of shadow around it looks odd.