Ok so I'm getting into DnB now, what a great tool for retouching!!!

I know it's not perfect (1st try n'all) but the improvement is definitely noticable. I'm now thinking about having two layers of adjustment (dodge) one for pores and blemish scars etc and another much broader level for general inconsistancies in the overall tone of the skin. Is this a good idea?

Anyways, I'm rambling now so have a look and leave your thoughts please good or bad, it'll only take you 2 secs

Thanks

http://img105.imagevenue.com/img.php?image=25751_Picture_0913_copy_122_969lo.jpg

Original

http://img41.imagevenue.com/img.php?image=25753_Picture_091_122_396lo.jpg

FROM THE SECOND PAGE.......

http://img31.imagevenue.com/img.php?image=78907_Picture_091_skin_tweak_copy_122_1159lo.jpg

very nicely done :)

Stille not sure what y'all mean with dodging and burning skin (pretty new here). Can someone post a link or preferably a tutorial? I tried a search but the few I read seemed to end up with discussions insted of technique :-)

Burning is making an area darker and dodging is making an area lighter. I think it comes from working with film, when you're projecting the image on to the light sensitive paper in the dark room you can hold back the light from various areas exposing it less and this results in a lighter part of the image. Alternatively you can expose the paper to more light, essentially 'burning' the area more and making it darker.
Ok so that's my understanding of dodging and burning, there are tools to do this in Photoshop but I use a curve adjustment layer which lightens everything then apply a layer mask and invert it. I will then paint in the areas I want lighter with a white brush on the mask set to a low opactity. So if you have a dark patch on the skin (any size) you can lighten it up so it matches the surrounding area. This smooths out the skin without having to use any blur.
If I'm wrong on any counts please feel free to step in and correct me and if ur still not 'getting it' Peer a search on t'internet will show you all you need to know, that's where I found out.

Thanks Schlinky - I do know the regular dodge and burn tools. I'm not just not completely sure how you use the technique for skin retouching.. My own approach is good makeup and spot healing/patch/clone stamp - but there's always room for improvement :-)

You still need a lot of D&B on the skin, but it's a very good start.

Now, don't blur the hair, remove it if you don't like it, but don't blur it.

your looks great, don't lose it. I'd recomend copying the one from our left and invert/transform it to fit the other ear.

There's a LOT of magenta in her ear and body, take care of that too (Selective color adjustment layer, down with magenta in the reds, then mask out everything but).

Just my two cents, hope this helps you know where you're standing :)

Dodge & burn isn't a one-tool-fixes-all-probs solution. Imo, the appropriate tool for fixing the skin in this photo is careful skin selection and blurring.

Less is more:

http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i319/RokcetScientist/20yearsOff.jpg

Thanks for the input GM, it's still work in progress and I have got a long way to go, you're right. The blurring was my attempt at a simulated depth of field. I hadn't noticed the ear lol I did a gradient fill to match the lips. I'll have a look at the magenta thing in general tho.
RS can't really see what you've done at that resolution and a fairer comparison would be my retouch as the before picture. 20 years off?!! How old do you think she is?!! ;)
Regarding the 'careful skin selection' you've lost me there, what exactly do you mean?

How long did it take to do the D&B that you've shown so far?

Not too long, about half an hour from before to after, so around 15 minutes DnBin. I've gotta tighten up my technique I know! :D

Dodge & burn isn't a one-tool-fixes-all-probs solution. Imo, the appropriate tool for fixing the skin in this photo is careful skin selection and blurring.

Less is more:

http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i319/RokcetScientist/20yearsOff.jpg

You don't know what you're talking about. Your final image does not look good, it just looks blured.

Schilly..nice job on the skin.
Lasa

Hello. I'm new here and a complete novice. I'm still reading through my Zero to Hero book. Anywho, if you're looking for opinions, I'm good at offering them :happy: . The second photo is good, but the editing makes it look like she's wearing make-up. You don't need to cover up all of her natural beauty. Also, you lost her smile when you edited out the smile lines. There is nothing wrong with smile lines :happy:. Oh, but I just love the lip color! Unfortunately, I'm just a worthless bag of opinions. I have no knowledge to share. I don't know how you could improve the picture via software or tools. But I am going to make use of that dodge and burn stuff I keep hearing about :tongue:

Lovely Lady! - I have not mastered the art of dodging/burning skin but a number of people on this site have. I used the degrunge tutorial (found on this site) and the used a high-pass filter layer to restore the pores. Tweaked the eyes, lips and eye brows.

I would forget about simulating the depth of field. There are really only two planes in the image. The back wall and her face. BLurring the back wall doesn't make a lot of sense.

MoI Thanks for the input, good to get a different perspective eg not technical just a gut reaction and I have to agree on a lot of your points especially the laughter lines.
Du I like what you've done there although it does ring of the technique used. I'm still trying to find a happy medium and like I said this is my first try @ DnB I think a combination of the two techniques is the way forward. I agree about the blurring thing, it just complicates things

Had another quick go, tried to keep it more natural looking, lost the blur and the magenta! ;)

http://img31.imagevenue.com/img.php?image=78907_Picture_091_skin_tweak_copy_122_1159lo.jpg

Hope you don't mind, but I think this picture is not very flattering as a shiny shimmery one and I am not too fussed about the colour. I had a play and felt a warmer tone and less de-wrinkling was more flattering, mind you this is not dodge and burn either

This is a 2min. retouch with "PortraitPro"

Here's what I did with your pic (I re-worked it from your revised pic).

This is a 2min. retouch with "PortraitPro"

this looks extremely fake.
this looks like something that took 2 minutes. Something from a store in the local mall.

But at least we have an example of what NOT to do :)

Rocksteady,
Danno~

All this posting what you've done is all well and good but to my eye they aren't necessarily an improvement. I'm a learner looking for advice on the techniques I've used and whether any seasoned pros can point me in the direction of where I'm falling short.
Even an 'Ant bashing' would be appreciated! ;)

What I'm now doing is healing major flaws and curve correcting colour issues. Flatten. Then using DnB to even out skin tone. Flatten. Applying a very subtle 'degrunge' based effect. Flatten. Enhancing contrast and colour, tweaking things like whites of eyes. Using a dupe layer (overlay, 50% grey) for overall shadow enhancement and finally sharpening.

its all about the dodge and burn ..

Had another quick go, tried to keep it more natural looking, lost the blur and the magenta! ;)

http://img31.imagevenue.com/img.php?image=78907_Picture_091_skin_tweak_copy_122_1159lo.jpg

that looks nice :)