Three Number RED, GREEN and COLOR VALUES
 

These NUMBERS are OPEN ENDEDED from 000 000 000 (r g b) TOTAL BLACK tp 256. 256 256 (r g b) TOTAL WHITE.
There is a fine selection of VALUES when multiplying 256 X256 X 256 totalling 16 mil 777 thou and a couple of hundred separate values. I guess every color known on the planet is between the outer figures.
First - in PAINT SHOP PRO -> EDIT -> EFFECTS, I put a TIF work copy through a PLUG IN called PERFECTLY CLEAR.
That done - I go to my EDIT -> PALETTE -> MATERIALS SWATCHES PAGE.
Next - I go to my TIF and open it up to 1000% or so MAX and check for any areas needing touch ups. I do this with my probe which gives me a 3 number value. Then I click on FORGROUND BOX to open further. Then I go to the edge TIF correction area and click on it. Those 3 NUMBERS automatically are put in R G B boxes in my SWATCH SCREEN area along with the blended color from them. Then I click on OK to give me my FOREGROUND BOX color for TWEAKING.
Then - I use a very small PAINT TOOL BRUSH SIZE (1, 2 or 3) (for larger tweaking areas I may go up to BRUSH SIZE 10 or so) and then click all over the area needing touch up - very slowly - depending size of enlargement of TIF image. I even use a magnifying glass if the TWEAKING area is particularly small.
If I cannot find the color I want in image - I can scan in any hard copy material from outside sources, do a SAVE AS of any image reproduction off the net. Then I do a scan with the probe for any 3 NUMBER COLOR VALUES or BLACK and WHITE and SEPIA TONAL VALUES and click on those - if need be - the same way I do the above way. I
That done - I go over the whole image doing this. If need be, I can manually adjust my R G B 3 NUMBERS as well to achieve the color needed. Here is a link for 3 number color values - http://rapidtables.com/web/color/RGB_Color.htm
The two illustrations are done this way.

This image is done as described above. I tried to bring out leaves - very subtly - that are in the deeper part of shade - ever so slightly using this technique.

Good and extensive discussion.
Now Norm could you please care to show this method in real action, in an image that is also edited by others? So that one can conclude towards the merits of your method?
I am talking of participating in this "Editing Game" in "Home" section of forum.
& For your convenience there is a direct link below:

LINK
to image you should download and edit by your method.


LINK
to Game section.

I am waiting to see how your three number can be applied over that image, once you upload your result in the forum.
I hope this is not too much to ask, as you have been discussing about this editing method for a long time.

LI will see if I can make it work - otherwise - I will have to post my material here.

Good.
Any time you win any of the games, you continue that game with placing your own material. So you see this can be very exciting.

Here is an example of an original and one I worked on using my 3 COLOR (R G and B) boxes and 3 NUMBER VALUES for EACH.
In the corrected one - I did glass glare removal a bit and toned the bright side forehead edge and cheek edge down a bit - to make it easier on the eyes - using the 3 NUMBER COLOR and VALUES.

For Mo;

In this example I did a SAVE AS of a painting reproduction off the web. In the art program I worked over the bright part of the face to get 3 NUMBER VALUE for R G and B.
That NOTED, I set to work to bring my ORIGINAL IMAGE which is Brighter down to the same 3 NUMBER VALUE for R G B as close as I could. With effort I did bring it very close to the painting VALUES
My brightest image is the Original and the slightly darker one (blue background) is the worked up version. My RED is 253 to 255 in the original and 238 (same as in painting reproduction) in the worked up version.

As I thought about my 3 Number, 3 Color Values, I came to the conclusion that the same procedure stated here could very well be used for BLACK and WHITE plus SEPIA images.

In this example I used an image by Yousef Karsh of Queen Elizabeth II as my brightness guide on the face for my 3 Color and 3 Number Values in B and W. I used the bright spot on the Queen's forehead - above her left - our right - eye as my guide to reach VALUE 200 - 202 on ANNE'S NEAR CHEEK.
The wide view is the original and the Square - Almost is the one based on Karsh image.

Another way to get black and white images for checking one's b and w images.
Take a famous painting and make a b and w of that. Then do the 3 COLOR - R G and B 3 NUMBER VALUES from that and apply them to one's b and w image.

People have asked for scenic and such - so I tried one from early morn on our Alaska cruise.
This one I took a painting by J M W TURNER - 'SNOW STORM - STEAM BOAT OFF A HARBOR MOUTH'. I made a black and white copy of the color image of it and used it for my 3 Color and 3 Number VALUE for VALUE REFERENCES. Ferry's running lights went from a brightness of about 250 to around 220 which is closer to that time of day - 05.20 to 05.30 am - as an example of what I tried to achieve.
My image is the WASHINGTON STATE FERRY heading to KETCHIKAN as we are too.

I know it is a bit slower than normal, but - using the MAGNIFYING LUPE - over the cam screen can help greatly in assessing one's E V exposure setting. By enlarging the image slightly one can see how bright or dark a certain part of the subject is - and can adjust it better with a higher or lower E V - to put in just the correct amount of light - than just using the naked eye - to do this .
That done - one can just compose the image and take it. This works very well in conjunction with the 3 COLOR and NUMBER VALUES.
A LUPE can also be used over high quality printed image hard copy material to check how much - or little - light -is in all parts of the image. This is a good learning tool for checking how much - or how little - light to put in one's own images.

I just finished as well as I could an image using all these ideas - including - using the LUPE to pick out details on peoples clothes to make sure they are showing and not too dark or too light and washed out.
The LUPE is put right on the P C Screen - with care - to not scratch it.

While working with the LUPE on this, I found I could put it right over the area where I was checking my R G B NUMBERS to MAGNIFY them and - with that - I also put it over my PAINT BRUSH POINTER TIP to MAGNIFY THAT as well - for doing MORE ACCURATE job of touching up areas.

I just added THE LINE of the STRAIGHTENING TOOL to my list of TOOLS greatly helped by the use of the MAGNIFYING LUPE

Working with painting measurements
First I work out (with a calculator) the cm measurements to inches.
Then I divide each measurement (width and height) down until it becomes a usable size for posting. These are noted on paper.
Next - on a work copy - in the P C Art Program - I set to cropping to these sizes - without keeping my aspect ratio.
That done (including 2 decimal places) I re set the aspect ratio and make it a s proper size for posting and saving.
With this is an example done this way

First off - I made a pair of TIF Work Copies for B and W and Color.
Next - I did all my TWEAKING in B and W as all my R G B Values were the same number - starting with WHITE BALANCE. All Values obtained here I noted down.
Next I did a Pixel Enhancement with PERFECTLY CLEAR.
Working in B and W all R G B VALUES are the same number which makes it easier to work with.
Next I did a CROP and RESIZE.
That copy is saved as a black and white copy of image in JPG.

Noted Values above are then applied to my Color Version. Then it is put through PERFECTLY CLEAR. Then it is CROPPED and RESIZED for POSTING and SAVING in JPG.
These were done this way: