Damien Symonds

Which version do you have?

You'd still run into the problem with the hair.

Oh Jess, I'm so sorry, I've played around with it, but I don't think it's possible. Extending the patterned backdrop isn't too problematic, but masking it plausibly around the hair - it ain't gonna happen, sorry.

No, it's banding. Is it visible in the SOOR?

Gosh no, not at all. Add an overall Levels layer: Red channel 20/0.70/255 Green channel 20/0.70/255 Blue channel 10/0.70/255

Gosh it's stubborn, isn't it? The best I can suggest is to add a Solid Color layer of pale yellow (maybe sample the side of the barge) and set it to "Color" blend mode, then very patiently paint it on to the worst areas with a low-opacity brush.

Still quite clipped at the left end.

Ok, well go ahead and process the raw file without any clipping, then post it again for me.

Gosh, surely the lighting is part of the appeal?

Yeah, no, sorry.

Maybe instead of speaking in hypothetical verse, why don't you explain the actual situation?

No, if it was a perfectly calibrated world it wouldn't be necessary at all, don't you see? The colours you edited on your calibrated screen would be the same colours they see on their calibrated screen. No grey card necessary.

Examine both photos closely. Is the focus exactly the same on the hair? We can't replace sharp hair with blurry hair, or vice versa.

No. You copy layers from one photo to another, as I described here.

Only if you have another photo (or photos) where the hair is against white, so you can do a swap. It can't be done in this photo alone.

Only if their screen was properly calibrated. I love how you wrote your question as a poem, by the way

Yep, the blurred one is good!

Agree.

No, Quick Mask does not enter into this. Just follow the directions exactly as I described. Add a mask, then paint on it with the gradient tool.

No, I think you can achieve something nice. I'd make the background a radial gradient - pure black at the outside, and very very dark grey in the middle. So that the tonal shift is very subtle.

Hi Kristin, can you link me to any photos that inspired you for this?

Both of them will work, you'll just need to spend some very patient time fixing the warm cast. I'd say that we'll have to abandon the Screen method. The masking method it will have to be.

You really messed up your lighting, didn't you? The practice doll photo you took the other day was really well lit. The actual baby photo has horrid mixed lighting.

No, as long as it's perfect black, you're safe. Well, as long as you use a good lab, that is.

It's gotta be a typo. It must mean ICC.