Damien Symonds

No, that's nearly square. It can't be the SOOR.

In the very foreground, vertically down from the forehead, see the repetition and little lines where you accidentally cloned some edges? You have to watch out for this stuff.

No I don't. That's why I'm worried that your screen is poor quality (as laptop screens often are). Actually, calibration can make the problem worse, ironically. But only in cases where the screen isn't great to begin with. Anyway, I'm sure your SOOR is ok. So may I see a screenshot showing your layers panel of your edit?

It is pretty much impossible to have banding in a raw file. If you're seeing banding in a raw file, it means your screen is imperfect. I see "Mac laptop" listed in your details. Is that the screen you're viewing on?

A similar situation to this, I figure.

It's not perfect, but it might be passable.

While waiting for Brian, is there anything here that helps?

Yes, prints do. But your files aren't prints, they're just files. When you get to the output stage, you'll crop to size at 300ppi (or whatever resolution your lab requires) as usual.

Please read Modules 5 and 6 of the Raw class again and again and again and again and again until they stick.

Why PPI doesn't matter.

It's fun, and I love it, but the white balance is all wrong (on the subjects) May I see one of the individual photos?

I see what you mean, but I don't see that you have any choice. I would remove it completely, then lower the opacity of that layer to where it looks most plausible (thereby restoring some of the bulge). This will also help with the texture problem. For the slight visible crease at the armpit, just some gentle cloning, I think. The Handyman Method should take care of this.

I was skeptical when I thought of this, but now that I've tried it, I think it might work? Borrowing wrap from the other side:

Ok, check when you get onto your computer tomorrow, and let me know.

Do you see any banding in the SOOR?

May I see it?

I tried Hue/Sat first too, but you were exactly right - the channel clipping made Hue/Sat look yucky.

It's simply a blank layer, on which I used the Clone Tool. The "Levels 2" layer doesn't do anything, it's just there to provide the mask for the rest of the layers (so the painting didn't encroach on the child). The four Color Fill layers are just there to paint colours onto the photo (you'll notice the top one has a different blend mode). When you're examining the Levels 3 layer, make sure you look at all the channels.

Definitely closer, well done. May I see the SOOR?

It is a lot of zoomed in masking, I'm afraid. First, add a Channel Mixer layer, check the "Monochrome" box, and enter 0/+100/0 for the values. This will make the whole photo black-and-white. Add the Levels layer above it and clip it to the Channel Mixer layer. Enter these values: Red channel: 0/0.60/230 Green channel: 0/0.70/230 Blue channel: 0/0.90/230 At this point, the whole photo is a blue tone. Click on the mask of the Channel Mixer layer, then Cmd I to invert it to black. Start the painstaking masking. Make sure you do this.

Is there a funny little line at the top?

The clipping sure does complicate things. How does this look?

May I see the SOOR for reference?

Do you mind sending me the raw file?

ALL NOISE MUST GO. http://www.damiensymonds.net/2015/10/noise-reduction-and-sharpening-leap-of.html