I'm new so hello everybody - only my second thread so ill repost what i wrote in the last one... which i probably posted in the wrong sub forum :S

"I've been using photoshop since i was a kid (24 now).. been doing graphic design for a while - but i really want to move into digital compositing and retouching, as such im practicing as much as possible in the evenings with the view to get good enough to be paid for it one day"

anyways yeah, just did this, not very high rez unfortunately :( but it was the first thing i could grab from google. but please don't hold back, trying to learn as much as possible

Before (http://img255.imageshack.us/img255/7558/beforels2.jpg)

After (http://img255.imageshack.us/img255/5277/after2fb7.jpg)


(edit: scroll down for newer version)
thanks everyone

from what i can see, you've blurred the skin far too much...

new version:

New version (http://img187.imageshack.us/img187/9456/after2bh9.jpg)

i added in more of the skin texture and added some more exposure to the eyes

i added in more of the skin texture and added some more exposure to the eyes

Instead of adding more skin texture, what about not taking it away
in the first place?

Find yourself some good books (lots recommended on this site)
look at the tutorials here on this site
try and find people that do what you want to do and
1)find out how they do it
2)emulate them and eventually create your own style

this is a great site so ask a ton of questions ,no matter how stupid you might think theyare ask away people here are really nice and helpful
Zganie

new version:

New version (http://img187.imageshack.us/img187/9456/after2bh9.jpg)

i added in more of the skin texture and added some more exposure to the eyes

Don't Blur :)

Where's Ant btw? ;)

Thanks for the advice everyone, i gather ant is the guy that comes in and tears me a new arsehole? hahaha, its all good tho.. i'm not precious about this at all - want to learn as much as possible. I do think the second version i posted is much better than the first tho? But yeah going to have to learn some non blur techniques, thanks everyone


edit:

rather than create a new thread - here's another image i did:

before (http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2003/2028242760_77cc305cfa_o.jpg)

after (http://img205.imageshack.us/img205/4262/grungecompressedby0.jpg)

would like some critical opinions

cheers

Oh my, what a beautful photo (original)! I'm gonna have a go at it as soon as I get som spare-time!

I think most have been said here technique-wise. I found here eyebrows a bit boring so I would add some shadows to make them more appealing and make the underline smoother :)

Well I'm not an expert in natural retouching, which was the goal with this one, right?

yeah, here is what some pros did with it : http://photosorcery.blogspot.com/2007/08/you-got-to-see-before-and-after-shots.html


i didnt like the way they took out teh lines around her eyes, i think that adds character and is quite distinctive, without them it doesn't look like "her" but yeah - i think maybe the colors in the eyebrows and the iris's could be more vibrant in my version

It bothers me that I really can't see her right cheek.. I assume that her right
arm is along side her head... try deleting it so that the outline of her face
clear...
Tom

thats a really good point, pissed i missed that, thanks for pointing it out - gona give it a shot now

Are you the photographer or did you get permission to use it? Seeing as this is a celebrity photo, I assume it's not royalty free.

googled "retouch" and "before", found a blog (see previous link) had a semi decent rez before image, so i had a go... not gona use it for a portfolio or anything, just for learning

Photo rights should not be an issue as it is not being cited as an original work, nor being used for profit. It's just being used privately (this forum qualifies as private, although an open site, it has a membership that gives it less-than public access) and for retouching practice. I don't mean to sound all high-and-mighty on this, just work with this sort of thing a lot.