Hey guys, I put up a tutorial over on my website showing how to use layer masks (and other photoshop tools) to retouch a high-key nude photograph. It's NSFW, but it's artistic nudity so don't worry. It was actually published in Digital Photo Magazine (but here in the Czech Republic where I live). So please take a look!

Dennison Bertram - Layer Masks for Retouching (http://www.dennisonbertram.com/hackmaster/2006/12/using-layer-masks-to-retouch-in_991)

Dennisonbertram.com
Czech fashion Photographer

Just as a side note, I would publish the tutorial here but as the tutorial was originally published in a real magazine (as in printed) I can only post it on my personal site. (I'm the original author though. :-))

Dennison Bertram - Layer Masks for Retouching Dennison Bertram - Layer Masks for Retouching (http://www.dennisonbertram.com/hackmaster/2006/12/using-layer-masks-to-retouch-in_991)

DennisonBertram.com
Czech Fashion Photographer

wow. .ur work is phenomenal... love the beauty and the fashion pics on ur site...
especially the lips and the eye pics... how did u get the lips so shiny ?
regards mario

yep...the lips look great...shiny and wet...yes how?

i guess by Plastic Wrap - filter .. thats what Kathrin Eismann teaches..)
not sure - am i right ?

pls explain

regards mario

Plastic wrap *filter* ?!?!?!?! :dizzy: Oh, no no no no no. There's no funky filters on those images, they are shot like that. They are of course photoshopped but not to such a great extent as you might think. Mostly just the skin, but not the juicyness of the lips. The thing is, filters like Plastic wrap can work when you're aiming for pictures that will be used on the internet, small files. These lip images I have printed in my portfolio a3 size, and one on a wall even larger (poster). At this size and detail level, filters such as plastic wrap don't hold up without destroying massive amounts of detail. Remember it doesn't just look juicy and wet on the internet at 72dpi, it still looks juicy and wet, up close, a3 at 300dpi. You can't do that with a simple filter.

Anyway, the trick is to have a really good makeup artist. The lips here were actually my idea, so I don't mind sharing the trick to it. I coated properly moisturized lips (very important) with a layer of shimmer eye-shadow colors from MAC (also very important- the brand does matter, there is a big quality difference between different brands). Then I took a big squeeze of clear gloss and with my finger patted the gloss onto the lips. But don't smear it. Just pat it. And pat only once in one area or you will smudge it.

Then it's just a matter of lighting it. (Ah the real magic). The trick? Get close. REALLY CLOSE.

www.dennisonbertram.com
czech fashion photographer

http://www.dennisonbertram.com/hackmaster/hack_index.htm

I think it's so beautiful. Your talent is wonderful =)

How sad that we have gotten to the point of blurring out (censoring) a part of a human body. The human breast is beautiful and shame on you for implying (by your act of self-censorship), that it is otherwise.

I was reading the NEWTIMES (Dec. 21-27, 2006 Vol: 21 No.38)
and saw your work...hope you authorized it.

Lasa

sorry folks, but the FAQs are clear on this one, no nudity: Why can't I post tasteful nudes?
This has nothing to do with prudery. I've gotten emails from schools across America and Canada telling me how valuable a resource RetouchPRO is for teaching their children. This makes me very proud, and I do not want to betray that trust. In addition, RetouchPRO has members from countries around the world, and not all of them have the same opinions about what is appropriate. And finally, I don't want RetouchPRO to become a destination for webrats looking for hot pix. (from the faq's written by doug nelson, site owner/admin).

and yeah, i know and you can protest all you wish, but da rules is da rules. i let this one go at first, even though some of the images on the original linked site are not censored, but i can see this fast cascading into a larger breech, so, this thread is closed.