Hi folks!

This isnt a "check me out" thread, it's a "am I on the right track here?" thread. I need some advice.

I'm not sure if this is a example of decent retouching or not.

http://s6.photobucket.com/albums/y240/camkar/?action=view&current=asian_face.jpg (press full size) or see attachment.


Ive used mostly healing & clone tool on her skin. Added a high pass filter with noise and texture back in. Painted the tattoo, fixed up her hair slightly and changed the colors.
(I still dont get the hang of the infamous D&B techique I hear so much about)


My concerns with this image is:
Have I made her a bit too "picture perfect" maybe. When to stop?
I am also not sure about the colors. Is her skin to fair?

Any input appreciated! thanks muchly!

not at all, she looks fine to me.. great skin job

Jasz

Hi Camilla,

The only thing that I could pick at, is the tattoo being too dark to be a 'real' tattoo. I really like what you have done with the rest of the image.

Hi Camilla,

The only thing that I could pick at, is the tattoo being too dark to be a 'real' tattoo. I really like what you have done with the rest of the image.

yeah it looks a bit fake doesnt it...
thanks for pointing it out!

Very nice work on the skin!

With this kind of work it's always a matter of taste.

Personally I prefer a little less "work", allowing some of the natural beauty of the subject to show through. It is after all the little "flaws" that make us individual. We don't want a picture of a Barbie Doll, but a living breathing woman.

Although you've done a very good job in evening out the skin, I feel in this case you've overworked things a little and lost some of the individual character of the model.

I didn't do too much here. I adusted the levels/contrast of the original, took out the more obvious blemishes, then copied your "after" image over it and reduced the layer opacity to about 35-40%.

Finally I did a general levels adjustment, upping the lighting a touch, then put a graduated mask to darken the RHS a little.

With this kind of work it's always a matter of taste.

Personally I prefer a little less "work", allowing some of the natural beauty of the subject to show through. It is after all the little "flaws" that make us individual. We don't want a picture of a Barbie Doll, but a living breathing woman.

Although you've done a very good job in evening out the skin, I feel in this case you've overworked things a little and lost some of the individual character of the model.

gary:

hi and thanks for your reply :)

I personally I agree with what you say, but unfortunately what we think is not always what a client want to see. Its a difficult balance.

I mean, I know that I always know best and the client has no idea
or I'd like to think that at least... ;)

thanks for inputs guys!

I personally I agree with what you say, but unfortunately what we think is not always what a client want to see. Its a difficult balance.


Absolutely, whatever the client wants is paramount.

Sorry, didn't realise you were working to a spec. If the "polished" look is what you were trying to achieve, then I'd say you've done a good job.

hi all, i'm a newbee when it comes to all of this and hope to post some work for critique one of these days.

Camilla, for a polished look I love your touchup.
Gary, for a more natural look, your touchup is terrific!

I'm wondering what the client ends up saying, and what other members think about the hair on this models arm. Would you tend to get rid or tone it down or leave it alone?

Thanks ahead of time for your thoughts.

hi all, i'm a newbee when it comes to all of this and hope to post some work for critique one of these days.

Camilla, for a polished look I love your touchup.
Gary, for a more natural look, your touchup is terrific!

I'm wondering what the client ends up saying, and what other members think about the hair on this models arm. Would you tend to get rid or tone it down or leave it alone?

Thanks ahead of time for your thoughts.

thank you!

i left the hair there because i liked the diffused light it created on her arm.
same with the her hair. i could probably tone it down a bit, but im not sure if i want to. i like it like that. but hey, thats just me.

Great job with skin. Agree with other post on the tatoo. The detail is lost because its darker than original. Love the color change in background. Overall, I think you client will be very pleased.

The good thing about working on skin on separate layers - it allows the retoucher to show the client different degrees of retouching and letting them decide.

Wonderful job! I think the image is, by no means, too far by today's standards. Like you mentioned, if you're working for a client, and they tell you more, you have to do more. The only suggestion I would like to add is perhaps bringing up the brightness a little bit. I want to be invested in her face and in her facial expression, and I think increasing the brightness may do the trick. Very nice job!