Getting skin tones warm

[BitterJester]

I'm building a very, very small light kit one piece at a time. By getting creative with the smaller pieces, I'm learning a lot and building up a foundation of knowledge for a larger kit. Right now I'm working with a Coollights 4-bulb dimmable CFL softbank (5600K bulbs).

Lots of fun playing with different keys and positioning. What I can't figure out, though, is how to get warm skin tones off of a normal white balance. I've tried using the 5600K preset on my HMC150, and AWBing against a white card, and in both cases, skin tones are pink, pink, pink. Judging by some crude color charts, the balance is pretty much correct... but I just don't see that pink skin tone in professional work.

I'd like to warm up skin tones, or at least de-magenta them, but I'm not sure if I should be fussing with my white balance, with gels, or just tackle the project in post.

How do you create neutral-to-warm skin tones?

 

[filmat11]

There are several ways to go about this , and it depends on the final look you want. You can trick the WB by using "warmcards" www.warmcards.com.
You can mix the Kelvin Temp of your "Cool Lights" with tungsten and daylight bulbs. You can add 1/4 or 1/2 CTO or straw gels to your lights.(CTO= Color temperature Orange)
If you want to use gels or mix bulbs, take a neutral WB with your 5600 bulbs, then add or subtract the different colored gel to your lights or then try adding one or two tubes of tungsten to your key light.
You must experiment and try to find what combination you like and what makes the most sense given your assignment,taste and if it looks natural or a little over the top. I too like my talent to look if they have a good,healthy glow to their skin. Start with these suggestions and experiment, before you shoot another interview.

 

[FBAS]

In addition to everything filmat11 said, I would also buy a sheet or two of Lee 187 cosmetic rouge. It works wonders for skin tones, it's an amazing gel.
I never tried the other gels from the "cosmetic" series (cosm. peach and so on) all I can say is that I love the 187 Cosmetic Rouge for interviews.
You'll have to white balance without the gel, of course, and then add it to the key and fill lights.

 

[Barry_Green]

For a free/experimental option, try adjusting your COLOR TEMP scene file setting; a -1 or a -2 might give you the look you're looking for.

 

[Postmaster]

I used 2 different flou bulbs for this setup 5500ish and 3500ish- I do that often cause I like the look of daylight coming in from a window and some tungsten from the inside.

I also do a lot of grading in post and shoot rather flat, wich gives me some headroom to adjust in post.

I whitbalance most shots without any cards. but the actors face.

Using a ton of light helps pretty much to saturate the sensors and keep noise at a low level.

This here are two "raw" (no colorgrading) shots of my Loss Fest entry, made with that setup. Check out some more in my thread: http://www.dvxuser.com/V6/showthread.php?t=156044&page=4

Frank