Question about post processing

[BabyHopes]

I'm working on some new presets for my work flow and need some feedback. I'm going to provide two of the same image so that you can see the difference that I'm getting at:

1 (A & B)


2 (A & B)


3 (A & B)


4 (A & B)


I've been tweaking this for so long I'm worried I've lost perspective and I need some fresh eyes.

[janikphoto]

I think you have messed up on a couple of the color corrections. You have a couple of the actions going too green.

[MicWayWal]

Manda,

You have a very good color balance in the first images. All the histograms in the first images are perfectly neutral. They are just a little dark. Then your actions come along and mess with the color that takes it too green or too blue. I would take out the parts of your PP that changes the color but leave the rest.

[BabyHopes]

Originally Posted by MicWayWal

Manda,

You have a very good color balance in the first images. All the histograms in the first images are perfectly neutral. They are just a little dark. Then your actions come along and mess with the color that takes it too green or too blue. I would take out the parts of your PP that changes the color but leave the rest.

Thank you, that's exactly what I need to try. If I get a chance tonight, I'll see what I can come up with. I think, it's a matter of staring too long at the same thing until your brain begins to melt and you loose all bearing on what is right. lol. A fresh look tonight is what I need.

[janikphoto]

Originally Posted by BabyHopes

Thank you, that's exactly what I need to try. If I get a chance tonight, I'll see what I can come up with. I think, it's a matter of staring too long at the same thing until your brain begins to melt and you loose all bearing on what is right. lol. A fresh look tonight is what I need.

That's easy to do. I often find myself wanting to warm up a picture every time I look at it. Eventually it has to reach a point where it is just too red, but you don't realize it from staring at the image for so long. I think you just went the opposite way, going too green.

[Toad]

I've always liked the way a little (30% to 50%) Orton Style looks on images. It's quick and so far I've loved the look.
Here's your images in that flavor.
If you like, I will explain how it's done.
Toad

[BabyHopes]

Originally Posted by Toad

I've always liked the way a little (30% to 50%) Orton Style looks on images. It's quick and so far I've loved the look.
Here's your images in that flavor.
If you like, I will explain how it's done.
Toad

I would absolutely love to know how you did that, because that's EXACTLY what I'm looking for.

[Toad]

Ok, In Photoshop;
First, you duplicate the image, and then with the duplicate image you go: Image, Apply Image, and set the blending to screen at 100%.
Then you duplicate the duplicate image, and go: Filter, Blur, Gaussian Blur. Set it so that the image is just out of focus. On small images it's about 2 to 3, on big images it's anywhere from 12 to 17.
Then with the move tool, while holding down shift, drag the blurred image only the first duplicate image. Then on the little layers box thingy, set it from Normal to Multiply.
Flatten that image. That there is pure Orton Style.
Now, using the move tool again (holding shift), drag the pure Orton Style onto the original image, and set the Orton layer somewhere between 30% and 50%.

Attached are, in order:
Duplicate with apply image with blending set to screen
Duplicate of duplicate with Gaussian Blur
Pure Orton
Finished image
Original image for comparison. As you can see with them side by side, it's not a radical change, but it really seems to make images POP to me.

Toad