David Silveria , Feb 08, 2012; 11:46 a.m.
I'm interested in this picture (especially the bottom one) and I would like to know how to emulate it whether using Photoshop or camera technique, here's what I know (or what I think I know) about this picture;
-low contrast, low saturation, and the picture seems to have some kind of "plastic layering" to it make it look "flat"(bottom image). probably using "blur" in Photoshop.
links: http://i.imgur.com/t1v2v.jpg
I've learned about "muted colour" and tried to apply it on a similar image, but it doesn't seem to work, and it looks like something's missing.
links: http://i.imgur.com/3v6yQ.jpg
Any ideas?
Simon Jenkins 
, Feb 08, 2012; 01:39 p.m.
The image looks cross processed David, the light is coming from behind the big building giving it some nice subdued light. It could have a colour wash over the original image which means he added a selective or overall colour.
In Photoshop pull your blue curve slightly down on the lower end and slightly up over the midtone end and the same with the red, so the curve looks like a gentle S shape.
It's just a matter of taste as to how much you pull the curve up or down.
Mike Stemberg 
, Feb 08, 2012; 03:25 p.m.
One of the older function in Photoshop has been the Image >> Adjustments>> Match Color function.
You will have to open your own image and also the image that you want to 'emulate'. Choose your image as the 'target' and the other image as the 'source'. This functions can't always get it completely right but it does give you a starting point for color emulation...and then you can tweak away for vignetting, contrast sharpness, light levels etc. etc. from there on. Give it a try.
Marlon Kuhnreich , Feb 08, 2012; 05:17 p.m.
Hey David. When I'm inspired by a vintage look I do kind of what Mike's talking about. I take out my eyedropper tool in PS (press I) and I look at the shadows and highlights with it. When you look in the info pane you can see how the colours are pushed (check the RGB values of the "blacks"), and the contrast (the highest/lowest black/white points) and then just try to emulate with curves. Hope this pushes you in the right direction!
There are also interesting effects you can do with with solid colours or luminosity masks with solid colours on weird blend modes at low opacities.
David Silveria , Feb 10, 2012; 12:31 p.m.
Sorry I'm late,
thanks for the suggestion, here my attempt, I'm using curves (altering the blue just like what Simon Jenkins talking about) but my curve doesn't look like an "s", I also put some solid colour (grey) to make it a bit darker.
I've tried the "color match" but it's not very suitable for my image and I end up not using it.
before, http://i.imgur.com/rMaLm.jpg
after, http://i.imgur.com/iWifc.jpg
seems like its lacking something, the way I see it, it's the texture, and by texture I mean the smoothness of the image.
Its not really about the colour, am I right.
any other ideas?
I would also like if someone could demonstrate it using the original image above.
