Can someone try to retouch this photo with Byro's method ?
I don't understand last step with calculating with layers ..

Here is the link for original size
http://img178.imageshack.us/img178/7335/before11ib8.jpg

Thanx in advance

Quick method if you just want to use it, but don't want to know why it does it's stuff:

1. Select Filter>Blur->Gaussian Blur and adjust until you almost see the end of what you want to get rid of (you need to be conservative and you can run it more than once), note the number and then cancel.
2. Run Filter->Other->Highpass and use the number you liked with the gaussian blur.
3. Run Filter ->Blur->Guassian Blur and make the number approx 1/3 of the number you used for the highpass
4. On this layer select Image->Adjustments->Invert
5. Change the blending to Linear Light and drop the opacity to around 50%
6. Create a black mask
7. Paint with white on the mask over the details you wish to soften staying away from main details and edges.
8. Adjust the opacity of the layer to taste.

Even this opacity looks a bit overdone according to my eye

Using Ro's technique, I tried values of HP=6.0; GB=1.0 and got this result. Although I tended to go heavy on the brush over. You may not like it as blurred. The other thing I did was a hue/sat adj because the skin looked too red.
BTW, you can also achieve this effect by using the Filter>Blur>Surface Blur in Photoshop CS2 or later. Duplicate the background layer and apply the Surface Blur filter. Add a layer mask (black) and with a soft white brush at reduced opacity (20%) paint over the areas you want to soften.
Regards, Murray

Used Byro's method to start, further cleanup zoomed in.

Can someone try to retouch this photo with Byro's method ?

Hi, aquariusbg011,

While it's very nice to folks having such a good time, :bigthmb: I think with all this "fame" there should be some responsibility too.... :depressed

The de-Grunge is just one of the many tools that you can use for retouching, it is not a "method" in itself and neither does it eliminate other tricks (such as D&B :cool: ) .

De-Grunge is used, basically, for smoothing skin without losing the texture. Without being (too) sexist I can't remember any time ever using the method on male skin because (as Cassidy observed) it can quickly get you into "trouble". :knockedou

In the image you posted there are a whole bunch of things to be done and, although I did apply a little, de-Grunge isn't really one of them. Here's a small list:

1) Change the crop;
2) Fix the queer lights in the eyes;
3) Fix the half-open / half-close mouth;
4) Fix the skin colour;
5) Add some lighting;
6) Fix the blown-out highlights;
7) Lighten the eyes;
8) Clean up spots.

Hope this helps.

Rô