Hi there, I'm new here. I looove it. I want to try to improve my skills the best I can.

So here's something recent I did. Please let me know what you think could be improved, etc...

http://ic3.deviantart.com/fs14/f/2006/358/4/f/Dreamy_by_nyxxie23.jpg

Thanks!! :)

EDIT: Also, I haven't recieved any comments on photos that I submitted here. I'm not looking for praise, but constructive criticism by people that know what they're talking about. Thanks!

Hi there, I'm new here. I looove it. I want to try to improve my skills the best I can.

So here's something recent I did. Please let me know what you think could be improved, etc...

http://ic3.deviantart.com/fs14/f/2006/358/4/f/Dreamy_by_nyxxie23.jpg

Thanks!! :)

EDIT: Also, I haven't recieved any comments on photos that I submitted here. I'm not looking for praise, but constructive criticism by people that know what they're talking about. Thanks!

FWIW I like the color but it's too much blur for my tastes.

Hmm.. yeah, it could be too much blur. Thanks!

Here is my attempt:
[img=http://img130.imagevenue.com/loc305/th_05532_Dreamy_by_nyxxie23org_122_305lo.jpg] (http://img130.imagevenue.com/img.php?image=05532_Dreamy_by_nyxxie23org_122_305lo.jpg)

HI and welcome,
I think it is cool, but my first impressions is that it could use some more definition around the chin.
how did you do it?

Cross,

I like it. Mine looked similar to that at a point before I went blur crazy. :)


CathyH,

I agree about the chin, thanks.

Sometimes I forget how I do things, I just do it.

Um, Played with Curves and Levels.

I removed the blemishes, not many to begin with.

Removed the straps with Clone/Heal Brush.

I played with the skin tone in Variations. Added more pink to the cheeks and lips. Darkened the eyelids a bit.

I made a new layer and G.Blurred it a bit. then I erased the lines of the face: the eyes, eyebrows, mouth, nose, and the outline.

And then I did some more cloning/heal brush in places. Then I G. Blurred it again and erased.

I burned the background out.

And played with the color some more to give it final touches.

I only do retouching as a hobby and am still in the early learning stage. From the file name I assume you are going for the "softer" look but think the blur is a little overdone. Below is my version using the following:

- Neat Image noise filter to remove noise and smooth the skin a little
- Removed strap
- Her left ear has too red. Used Hue/Saturation layer to change the Hue
- Also used Hue Saturation to add more color to her lips.
- Used burn tool to darken eye lids and eye brows
- Used dodge tool to add highlights to her hair and eye lids.
- Blurred the background

A lot of retouching seems to be a combination of what you're trying to achieve and personal taste so pick and choose the the pieces that work.

nyxxie,

welcome to RP.

this particular critique requires what your purpose is for the image. if it's for fashion, then it falls quite short of the current standards (mostly for the blurring). if it's for art, then that's going to be 'in the eye of the beholder'.

i'll speak to the latter. i like the overall effect. it reminds me of baby shots where the skin almost looks translucent. and, that's a somewhat difficult look to get.

i like the pose and composition. very nice.

i like that you removed the distracting straps. but, you left some cloning marks there. those shld be smoothed out.

i know the compressing down to 100k can create havoc on .jpg's, but even taking that into consideration, there seems to be some blending problems on the camera right neck area and the camera right side of her head. again, those could just be compression problems, but you might look in the higher resolution version to see.

initially, i wasnt too keen about the predominance of yellow in the skin, but it's growing on me :)

edit: actually, i just looked at this again and realized this is posted on deviantart. so, you might want to really look at the blending/transitions on the neck and side of the head.

Duwayne, I really like your treatment of the image. Nyxxie, I prefer more natural looking retouching and the original image and mood are so nice I think simple is better. I think less softening, more neutral skin, and less contrast. Kinda like Duwaynes. :) We're all learning here and I know how hard it is to critique your own work or to know when to stop. Keep it up!

Welcome to retouchpro!
Looked like a fun photo to play with... hope you don't mind. Spent about 15 min.
~Nancy~

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www.PhotoArt123.com

I gave it a try.

Welcome to RetouchPRO nyxxie , Cross and neeceeblack ! I like Cross's version with less blur but that ear needs to be much closer to the same color as the rest of the shaded side of her face. Nice artsy take on this photo with your other adjustments nyxxie. Good photo to work on did you take it.

This is my second pass, inspired be a number of the other posts. My base was my first pass shown in a previoous post.

- Loaded base and duplicated twice on separate layers (label one as Highlights and the other as Shadows)
- on the channels pallet, selected red channel and turned it into a selection (Cntl-Click)
- return to RGB channel and back to Layers pallet
- did Select=> Feather R=20 then Select=>Save Selection (alpha1)

- Selection should still be active (if not, do Select=>Load Selection alpha1)
- select Highlights layer and Layer=>Add Layer Mask=>Reveal Selection

- select Shadows layer then Select=>Load Selection=>alpha1
- Select=>Inverse and Layer=>Add Layer Mask=>Reveal Selection

Now you can select the Highlights and Shadows layer and use Image=>Adjustments=>Levels to achieve different degrees of this effect.

Gorgeous work, everyone.

I do like the blur, it gives sort of a glowing effect.

One question though, why do you burn the background out, rather than just cutting it out and replacing it?

hey guys. i thought i would have a go. im also new at this so any feedback would be appreciated. i wasnt sure if you were going for that 'glowing' look, but i did it anyway. i also was too lazy to remove the strap hehe.

the first picture is with the glow, and the second is a plain and natural one without the glow.