Hey everyone,

I'm new here, and I have been reading a lot on RetouchPRO. I like to retouch as a hobby, but one of the things I have noticed by reading these forms is my way of retouching skin is outdated.

When I retouch, I like to use the clone brush at a low opacity, while using a Wacom Tablet to brush the new skin on. But from what I have read, a lot of the people that work for the high end retouching firms frown upon it. So I’m just curious what is the new way of retouching skin.

I cant help but think that there are models out there that don’t have perfect skin to begin with, maybe a bit sun damaged perhaps. So if your not covering it up with a new layer of cloned skin, or perhaps a slight blur, how do you still achieve that model perfect skin?

Do a search on the forum Flint. "I cant help but think that there are models out there that don’t have perfect skin to begin with" - no actually they are all perfect specimens with pefect complexions, dont do drink, coke, and completely unaffected by the sun

Ya, I was being sarcastic, when I wrote that.

Hey everyone,

When I retouch, I like to use the clone brush at a low opacity, while using a Wacom Tablet to brush the new skin on. But from what I have read, a lot of the people that work for the high end retouching firms frown upon it.

?

news to me... I've been a retoucher for 8 years (low level) and the hi-end retouchers I know use the method you describe!

I've used the duplicate layer and blur only a couple of times to try out.. it can be okish if used very gently - mostly on poor quality images that have been scanned from textured prints.

its all about dodge and burn, baby ..

dont do drink, coke, and completely unaffected by the sun[/QUOTE]

You must be talking about Kate Moss Mark?

This woman takes it a bit furthe rthan that, check it out.

its all about dodge and burn, baby ..

Yes, I have seen ads that are looking for high end retouchers and they will specify "no blurring", pores have to show through and it takes hours of retouching to work on hi-rez images going to press especially, most shot digital med format.

I learned the easy 3 step blurring trick in a NAPP day seminar, which is fine for a fast fix, but not good enough for the high end files or magazine work

I have looked on youtube for a D&B how to video and so far, nothing has come up. Sometimes, I have to see things in real time and in video rather than following along in books

The D&B technique can takes hours of fine tuning as well and can go pixel by pixel to get a uniform look

steve

I actually do some of that work for some high end new york beauty clients. What I do is a bit of a cheat , but it saves hours. Don't get me wrong , it still takes hours, but I first run Imagenomic Portraiture software(takes some learning on this software) then I do the remaining blemishes pixel by pixel. No one has ever known the difference. This software is amazing, but something I like to keep as secret as possible. We don' twant soccer mom photographers getting ahold of it.

The 4 steps you attached, is the way I retouch. I think it’s still used a lot still, because I see in a lot of fashion ads (PRADA, D&G) that are still using that heavy plastic look.

The 4 steps you attached, is the way I retouch. I think it’s still used a lot still, because I see in a lot of fashion ads (PRADA, D&G) that are still using that heavy plastic look.

A long time is spent on those ads, they use D&B to even the skin.
You can't destroy pixels and get that sort of result on files of that size
and quality. Considering how much it costs to place a ad in one of those magazine they dont mind spending some time and money on the retouching

There's nothing wrong with retouching the way your doing it but thats not the way its done in a high-end environment.

The 4 steps you attached, is the way I retouch. I think it’s still used a lot still, because I see in a lot of fashion ads (PRADA, D&G) that are still using that heavy plastic look.

You must look at fashion ads heavily under the influence... Not blurred, ever. Like stated, say you want to run a full page ad in, say InStyle, it's costing them $116,400. The photographer and makeup artist are paid well as well as the others on the team to make the ad, including models. So, paying $40,000 maybe 40-60 hours in retouching and release fees is a drop in the bucket and nobody is accepting blurred images. These images are often repurposed also and made into point of purchase displays and billboards so the file has to look right and well printed in a mag as well as 10x lifesize....

Imagnomic is an amazing software, and leaves all the wrinkes and texture if done right, then to go in and remove by hand. I do use it for mag print.

because I see in a lot of fashion ads (PRADA, D&G) that are still using that heavy plastic look. ! crikey. One way or another its evened out manually. There are sometimes plastic fantastic (mens mag) stuff where we still airbrush the hell out of everything and then drop it back, but its still done manually, no quick fix. You'll rarely find that crap on the pages of Vogue (even US Vogue! ). If you do see it there, everyone who knows anything is taking notes "where the hell was that done, Ill try and remember never to work with them". Skin has a complex pattern and you got to paint it in generally

http://www.jeffstephens.com this guy is a skin god. And hey look at his client list ... Spanish Vogue! HA!

I actually do some of that work for some high end new york beauty clients. What I do is a bit of a cheat , but it saves hours. Don't get me wrong , it still takes hours, but I first run Imagenomic Portraiture software(takes some learning on this software) then I do the remaining blemishes pixel by pixel. No one has ever known the difference. This software is amazing, but something I like to keep as secret as possible. We don' twant soccer mom photographers getting ahold of it.

Is the Imagenomic Portraiture software a Photoshop action/plug-in or a separate program that complements Photoshop? Does the program do anything that cannot be achieved in Photoshop?

steve

WOW, I never new that it could take 40-60 hours to retouch a picture. No wonder they look so amazing when you see them in magazines.

So dodge and burn is the best way to retouch. I have used D&B before but not to that level. I’m guessing that a really skilled retouching could change someone’s face and body just by adding shadows and highlights, as well as perfecting that person’s skin?

WOW, I never new that it could take 40-60 hours to retouch a picture. No wonder they look so amazing when you see them in magazines.

So dodge and burn is the best way to retouch. I have used D&B before but not to that level. I’m guessing that a really skilled retouching could change someone’s face and body just by adding shadows and highlights, as well as perfecting that person’s skin?

40-60 hours seems like a long session for a single image. Is that really how long it takes to do a complete "makeover" of a hi-rez fashion or cosmetic ad file? Billing per hour would be in a range of $60-300 per hour, depending on what coast you're on I suppose.

That must be literally working a few pixels at a time and perfecting them to match the overall photo

I don't know; I've had images that were a challenge, but even ad projects where you're creating something more or less from scratch should only take 20-30 hours at the outside. I'm having trouble wrapping my brain around spending 60 hours on anyone image that isn't a digital painting that had no original image...

You may have trouble, but it's the norm. Depends on the image and what is involved with composited elements, etc of course, but the thing is, you don't get to decide when it's done, the Art Director/Creative Director and Client does. Many rounds and many proofs. Art direction changes direction, file evolves, it's not cut and dry. We are talking ads here, not editorials btw.

Typical spread, make up client. Left of page: close-up of beauty, retouched heavily, makeup applied, hair perfected, colors matched to actual product, hairline extended for bleed, new hair added. Right page: Lifestyle image (3/4 shot or full body) same as before, add these legs, make dress flow over shoulder as if blowing in the wind as per AD comp. Background: pick up supplied main image, composite elements, fix perspective, colorize as per comp. Match blues in eye shadow. Product: floats above panel of color in the same color family of whole ad. Retouch to death, add drop shadows and effects, match to supplied product in job bag. In-house round before round 1 shown to client. Tweaks made, reprint at size for showing ad agency first round. Repeat rounds as per AD mark-ups -- finally where art director happy with it to show client. Creative director happens by meeting, spies art. Says to AD "What are you thinking doing that? Make another select for the lifestyle. Blue? What are you nuts, go aqua. That product is a mock up, the actual product packaging is going to be green". Make those changes. Client finally sees it. "Hmmm. Looks pretty good, but push that in over here, soften the texture near her lip. Her lipstick looks to vibrant and this is an eyeshadow/lash ad so lets make them more nude and less bright. Let's go back to the original legs, shoes should be more gold, less bronze looking. The copy won't read here so lets darken that area slightly so it stands off the page a bit more. Eyelashes need to longer and fuller, pop the eyes. Add hair here." repeat. could be a month before it's released.

I wish some images would only take 20-30 hours, Make my life a lot easier.

Chris

take all your blur, median, softening methods and chuck them in the bin

dodge and burn all the way, at first it may seem like madness but it is worth it!

speed will come with practice

The high end photographers and magazines do not blur

take all your blur, median, softening methods and chuck them in the bin

dodge and burn all the way, at first it may seem like madness but it is worth it!

speed will come with practice

The high end photographers and magazines do not blur

Thanks, I am going try and learn the dodge and burn technique!

I'm new to the whole dodge and burn techniques of skin retouching. Does anyone have some before and after shots they are willing to talk about step by step?

It would be much appreciated. I only fiddle with photos as a hobby, I went to a wedding on Saturday and have some lovely snaps I'd like to touch up and give to the bride and groom as a gift.

Thanks x

Where can I find a tuto on the D&B technique for skin retouching?

Here is one (http://www.retouchpro.com/forums/photo-retouching/12869-great-tutorial-skin.html#post114354) thanks to shellby

http://www.jeffstephens.com this guy is a skin god. And hey look at his client list ... Spanish Vogue! HA!

Arrr that's nothing compaired to my work tsk..tsk..tsk.. :knockedou ...wow!

"This woman" is Ms. Suzette Troche-Stapp @ "GlitterGuru" whom I got to meet and assist on one of her projects.

--Ron
www.ronaldntan.com

This woman takes it a bit furthe rthan that, check it out.