RetouchPRO - Blogs http://www.retouchpro.com/forums/blog.php RetouchPRO is a free resource for photo retouchers, professional or hobbyist. We have tutorials, retouching contests, retouching challenges, a gallery, and a very active forum. en Thu, 24 Jul 2008 18:57:57 GMT vBulletin 60 http://www.retouchpro.com/forums/images/misc/rss.jpg RetouchPRO - Blogs http://www.retouchpro.com/forums/blog.php Tutorial Posted http://www.retouchpro.com/forums/blogs/cricket1961/113-tutorial-posted.html Mon, 07 Jul 2008 19:59:56 GMT Hey all. Last week one of my tutorials went live on the PIMA site. Although I have written about the Liquify subject on the Retouchpro forum in the past, the pdf there is a more in depth and visual experience. I will be posting new Tutorials/Tips there every 3 months, rotating with some other Photoshop Authors/Users. There are a number of very good tips there from the last 2 years or so to check out. I will post a link here each time one of my postings goes live. Here is the link to Liquifying Productively: http://www.pmai.org/index.cfm/ci_id/36401/la_id/1/document/1/re_id/0/0708_DIMATips.pdf Cheers! Chris Hey all.

Last week one of my tutorials went live on the PIMA site.

Although I have written about the Liquify subject on the Retouchpro forum in the past, the pdf there is a more in depth and visual experience.

I will be posting new Tutorials/Tips there every 3 months, rotating with some other Photoshop Authors/Users. There are a number of very good tips there from the last 2 years or so to check out.

I will post a link here each time one of my postings goes live.

Here is the link to Liquifying Productively:

http://www.pmai.org/index.cfm/ci_id/...8_DIMATips.pdf

Cheers!

Chris ]]> cricket1961 http://www.retouchpro.com/forums/blogs/cricket1961/113-tutorial-posted.html Unfortunate Delays with DVD http://www.retouchpro.com/forums/blogs/cricket1961/112-unfortunate-delays-dvd.html Wed, 25 Jun 2008 05:32:24 GMT It is in the works, just horribly delayed. I am getting like 2 hours sleep a day just trying to finish retouching projects I have, not to mention retouching for the company I work for.
It will be done, and yes it is delayed, and yes I feel bad about it and should have kept my hands off the keyboard instead of announcing it. Don't forget I am doing everything on my own, including distribution and burning copies, etc.
But there will no longer be a bunch of stuff on calculations, or apply image. There might be some Gradient Mapping stuff. BUt all in all its just going to be skin/Beauty work with 3 maybe 4 different models, all different in their needs.

Chris

And I really want to get it right, because who likes complaints? ]]> cricket1961 http://www.retouchpro.com/forums/blogs/cricket1961/112-unfortunate-delays-dvd.html Hey, parents - want to shoot your kids? ;-) http://www.retouchpro.com/forums/blogs/cj-swartz/111-hey-parents-want-shoot-your-kids.html Sat, 21 Jun 2008 23:59:55 GMT From Strobist.com (a website devoted to helping digital photographers learn "how to use off-camera flash with your dSLR to take your photos to the next level.") "...Jason Lee's long-term project photographing his two daughters, Kristin and Kayla... He has spent the last few years documenting his kids with photos that are beautiful, funny, whimsical and poignant. Dinnertime, sick days, water fights, Christmas -- anything is fair game for one of Jason's photos. Or a little after-the-fact fun with Photoshop to whip up an illustration..."

Strobist.com -- Father chronicles his kids' life in photos

Link to Jason Lee's Flickr photos of his kids -
Creative examples to spark YOUR ideas (or just mimic)

Don't those images make you want to get those flashes OFF your camera and dive in to thinking up some possibilities with YOUR family?! ]]> CJ Swartz http://www.retouchpro.com/forums/blogs/cj-swartz/111-hey-parents-want-shoot-your-kids.html carrying on (part 2) http://www.retouchpro.com/forums/blogs/palms1/110-carrying-part-2.html Sat, 07 Jun 2008 18:42:17 GMT Well I have now got a better camera for those who wish to know it is a fuji finepix s5800 and has come in at my usual budget of not paying more than £100 for a camera
This has come about as over at least the last 3 months i have been experimenting more and more with my camera and learning more along the lines of what to do ! plus i always wanted to zoom in more on things and now have more capacity to do so
I could give a lot more reasons to justify my purchase but it is done now :grin:
Straight away i have come against some differences like instead of having a wrist strap to hold the camera i now have a necklace :) and boy does that feel strange and it gets in the way if i turn the camera to portrait, added to that there is a lens cover flapping around as well both quite distracting but i suppose i will get used to them eventually
another thing is in stead of having my finger over the lens it now goes over the pop up flash, and all this is before i take any photo's ( note there i didnt say snaps this is going to be my thinking camera and trying to get it right camera. Thats why i am keeping my old one for the snapping that is )

As i have said i have just taken a few snaps so far here are the first few trying out things

zoom, text, flower, and macro .

well back to the manual now and watching some videos CJ has recommended

Palms
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]]> palms1 http://www.retouchpro.com/forums/blogs/palms1/110-carrying-part-2.html Birds and Forums http://www.retouchpro.com/forums/blogs/doug-nelson/108-birds-forums.html Mon, 12 May 2008 05:30:01 GMT A few months ago I moved to a new house. For the first time in a couple of decades I have a proper back yard. I've taken to doing the standard things, mowing, planting a few pretties, but my favorite thing so far is I've started feeding wild birds.

I've noticed a lot of similarities between the birds at my feeder and the visitors to our RetouchPRO forums here.

There are the wrens and sparrows that feed lightly but often, chirp and tweet the best they can, then quickly leave.

There are the finches that eat voraciously for their size, but only one particular seed, maybe uttering a single peep before they leave, but probably not.

The blackbird comes, eats whatever he can, then generously repays with his unpleasant mechanical buzz. But it's ok, I know he means well, and is doing what he can.

The doves are the most useful bird I get. They constantly scour the ground for dropped seeds that would otherwise sprout. Plus their comical walk and pleasant cooing are so delightful that I feel I'm not doing nearly enough to make them feel welcome.

The cardinals are odd birds indeed. They come every day, but rarely seem to eat. Yet they sing their little hearts out. I suspect that might be the real reason they visit.

The bluejay swoops in, carefully making sure he's disturbed as many birds as possible, takes a couple of cursory pecks, caws once, then flys away. I won't see him for days at a time, yet I know he'll always be back. He does no real harm, and I'd miss his colorful presence.

The dreaded grackles, on the other hand, I could do without. They arrive, usually in a swarm, bully all the other birds out of the way, but then don't seem to have any interest in the food (I suspect they're criticizing it). Sometimes they make camp for a day or so, but usually they pass quickly.

And then there's the mockingbird. By far the most brilliant singer, but he knows it. He bumps aside other birds, but more out of indifference than malice. He eats piggishly, with food flying everywhere, and no other bird will come close when he's around. But then he flies to the top of the feeder stand, cleans his little beak, and lets his improv opera soar.

I love all the birds, but I'd miss the mockingbird the most. So today I gave them their own separate feeder, loaded with just what they like best, but quite removed from where the rest of the birds eat.

I guess the only real difference between birds and forum posters is that posters can choose their species. ]]> Doug Nelson http://www.retouchpro.com/forums/blogs/doug-nelson/108-birds-forums.html Its May -DVD Update time http://www.retouchpro.com/forums/blogs/cricket1961/107-its-may-dvd-update-time.html Wed, 07 May 2008 04:12:01 GMT Well May is here, and I had said that I was aiming to have my DVD done by May.

Its not.

I have been so swamped with Retouching and Alpha/Beta work for Adobe that I have barely enough time to see my 3 sons at eh end of the day.

But it is in the works and has not been forgotten about. Most of the content has been meshed out. I have consents from many hi-end Models to use their shots for this. Now it is just a matter of picking which images will be used and for which circumstances.

While I don't do ALL of my retouching with the softlight technique, it is at least 85% of it. Which is not to say that I can't retouch with other techniques.

They will be shown, hopefully a few different ways to use softlight/d&b, even some blurring techniques that CAN actually work given a good enough resolution file. And have been used by me.

There will of course be other content but it is not yet known how much or what.

All images will have been shot from a Canon 1ds Mark II and will be available to practice on only.
I will let you know when, in the meantime there seems to be a worth while e-book making the rounds by grygarness that seems to be doing ok with some members. You might want to check it out.

Chris ]]> cricket1961 http://www.retouchpro.com/forums/blogs/cricket1961/107-its-may-dvd-update-time.html new dude in the blog department! http://www.retouchpro.com/forums/blogs/superkoax/105-new-dude-blog-department.html Mon, 31 Mar 2008 23:19:04 GMT ok, to start out fresh to all the 3 readers(that includes my mom) I just want to say: "hello!"

This is my first blog ever, so why not do it here on RetouchPRO.com where I spend all my hours, right? :)

I have learned a lot about retouching here. I can not express how much I appreciate this site! My shouts goes out to Ant, for his honest words, good advice and also fun reading. To Chris Tarantino for his educational replies. Always helpful. Edgework, you give alot of good advice!

I try everyday to better myself, training and training. I stopped retouching others for a bit now and try to retouch my own photographies and I must admit that my camera skills is what I need to approve.

So this will be my photo-blog as well...

Well, for now, this is what you can read...More to come!

Stay cool, retouching dudes!


Gerry ]]> superkoax http://www.retouchpro.com/forums/blogs/superkoax/105-new-dude-blog-department.html The Reality of Models and their Skin http://www.retouchpro.com/forums/blogs/cricket1961/104-reality-models-their-skin.html Wed, 26 Mar 2008 18:28:32 GMT At my seminar in Vegas last January, a lot of the attendees sort of gasped really loud at the before shots of some of the images I have worked.

Loud and very audible from at least 50 feet away.

Quite amusing really and at the same time quite a eye opener for me. You see, most of the class were already involved with what they called "Hi End Beauty Retouching" or were Photographers in the industry. Their response took me by as much surprise s the images did them I believe.

The reality is that the vast majority of models out there do NOT have good skin, never mid perfect or flawless. Usually no where near it.

Are there models out there that make it easy for retouchers? Sure. But far and few between and usually out of most photographers price range.

Are there every day people like you and me in the world that have better skin than some models? Oh yeah. The vast majority of us is my belief.

Just to inject at this point, having a 22 or 30 or higher mega-pixel camera is NO guarantee that you will automatically get flawless skin. You are better off with spot on lighting and a good makeup artist to minimize.

Most of the models out there are chosen more for their bone structure and aesthetics than their skin. Or their weight. Or their height.
Hair color, shape of the mouth, and such are more important than how beautiful your skin is unless of course you are shooting for a makeup line. ( and even then I have touched up some dreadful skin)

I have done Beauty retouching to models who are overweight, out of shape, had a hair makeover disaster (or nails), and the list goes on.

But the one thing they ALL had in common were beautiful and classic bone structure. Someone who no matter how they presented themselves would look like she spent a lot of time doing it. Even at the bare bones level. ( no pun intended... sorry)

When I lived in Ct I was asked several times to talk to women's groups or at schools about the
" apparent attempt to influence how we feel about ourselves visually" by the media.
At the majority of most of them when it ended there were more comments on the line of "we do it to ourselves" more than "The media was to blame". They understood that it wasn't a weight issue as much as many were lead to believe. or that you needed to be over 5'9" to be thought of as perfect.

Granted that that is not ALWAYS the case, but it is the larger reality of things.

But back to Retouching and Skin...

There isn't going to be a guarantee that you will get flawless skin ever. Most likely you will get what you have already been seeing, good all around skin with acne and scars (possibly), but mostly skin that you and I already have.

I really hope that none of you get the skins I have had to work on. But you will get a chance because they surely will be on my skin dvd coming soon.

Cheers!

Chris ]]> cricket1961 http://www.retouchpro.com/forums/blogs/cricket1961/104-reality-models-their-skin.html smudge/ahb sharpening action http://www.retouchpro.com/forums/blogs/palms1/103-smudge-ahb-sharpening-action.html Tue, 19 Feb 2008 14:04:12 GMT When i have done a smudge or ahb painting, there are a few ways that i finish of including sharpening, Knowing which one to use ( as different images i find work better with some ways than others ) is a bit time consuming so i came up with this action to speed things up a bit The action is meant as a guide so that you can then apply the sharpening you want and the settings you want to your actual image The action creates a duplicate of your image for easier comparison and hopefully so no accidents can happen :eek: When the action has run just click the visibilty of each layer ( click the eye symbol) you could always use a combination of the layers using blend modes and masks I hope this is of some use to someone ( I do anyway :grin:) This action has been updated to the one posted in the smudge resources post ( and that one has been updated ) Palms When i have done a smudge or ahb painting, there are a few ways that i finish of including sharpening, Knowing which one to use ( as different images i find work better with some ways than others ) is a bit time consuming so i came up with this action to speed things up a bit

The action is meant as a guide so that you can then apply the sharpening you want and the settings you want to your actual image
The action creates a duplicate of your image for easier comparison and hopefully so no accidents can happen :eek:
When the action has run just click the visibilty of each layer ( click the eye symbol) you could always use a combination of the layers using blend modes and masks

I hope this is of some use to someone ( I do anyway :grin:)

This action has been updated to the one posted in the smudge resources post ( and that one has been updated )

Palms
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]]> palms1 http://www.retouchpro.com/forums/blogs/palms1/103-smudge-ahb-sharpening-action.html <![CDATA[oval ahb brush's]]> http://www.retouchpro.com/forums/blogs/palms1/102-oval-ahb-brush-s.html Mon, 18 Feb 2008 20:27:40 GMT A while ago somewhere on the forum ( Sorry I cannot remember which post but should i remember where, i will edit that post) I posted some brush's i made from "Ovals" well i have added to them and here they are ( i might now be able to remember where they are :grin:)


Also i have added a couple of images using the two different sets so that you can see the differences between them . Also it will show you the difference you get when you click on the dynamic setting in your brush palette ( more brushes)
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]]> palms1 http://www.retouchpro.com/forums/blogs/palms1/102-oval-ahb-brush-s.html How far is to far? http://www.retouchpro.com/forums/blogs/cricket1961/101-how-far-far.html Sat, 09 Feb 2008 17:58:06 GMT Recently I was working on an image for a client. I was doing my normal everyday skin work to some models who had devastating skin. As I was working, a question that a attendee to my Las Vegas retouching class asked popped into my mind.

How do you know when to much has been done? Is there ever a clear way to know when to stop retouching an image?

Its a great question and one that a lot of retouchers ponder over probably daily. It is also a question that has no easy answer.

Some Photographers like freckles and some don't. Is the mole on the check supposed to be there? Is it the Models trademark? Does smooth skin mean NO texture or pores? It is also not necessary to remove ALL the hair on a face in hi-end retouching. As long as it is just light peach fuzz though!

First thing that comes to mind is that you do whatever the Photographer wants. He does after all have creative control over the image. Sometimes along with a creative director. Either way, the RETOUCHER has little to say in the matter unfortunately.

Unless the Retoucher has a long standing relationship with the Photographer or Creative Director, the retoucher needs to just do what is asked and try to get a feel over time for what the final goal is. This can take quite a while, sometimes a couple of years, very rarely in a couple of months. At that point the retoucher can voice thoughts over artistic direction and they might be listened to.

One thing that surprises me a lot, even after all my years in the business, is that sometimes the Photographer (rarely) and often a Creative Director gets so used to "crappy" retouching that when they get good retouching they don't know what to do. All of a sudden they are seeing on FIRST show what they usually see after the THIRD or FOURTH show. And this throws them for a loop because they FEEL THAT THEY NEED to mark something up. They will study the image for a while, and finally mark up something that is not really wrong with the image but starts to lean the picture back towards what they were so used to getting. And didn't really like, hence the use of a new retoucher. Call it their normal comfort zone.

So now an image that looks good and needs minor work has headed down the road to looking way over retouched. Something that is different than the original intention.

This has happened to me to many times over the years and has lead to some images that I am not so proud of. But it is a reality in the industry. It has also lead me to make sure that I get as much information about what needs to be done ahead of time. Lack of direction and wrong assumptions are very bad practices in Retouching. ]]> cricket1961 http://www.retouchpro.com/forums/blogs/cricket1961/101-how-far-far.html Stitching software http://www.retouchpro.com/forums/blogs/frank-lopes/100-stitching-software.html Thu, 31 Jan 2008 01:15:03 GMT This is by no means an exhaustive list of panorama stitching software packages.

It is instead, a list of software that I tried at one time or another, or have come in contact with by the recommendation of others.

The notes come from the publisher's websites and the prices are current as of January of 2008.

Some releases are free, some commercial. Some of them work on multiple platforms others don't, so buyer beware.

Consult the websites for availability and latest prices.

Click the table image below to see the complete list.

]]> Frank Lopes http://www.retouchpro.com/forums/blogs/frank-lopes/100-stitching-software.html Tips from a sports photog -- nope, not me! http://www.retouchpro.com/forums/blogs/cj-swartz/99-tips-sports-photog-nope-not-me.html Wed, 30 Jan 2008 20:02:18 GMT I've never been athletic, nor well-coordinated, but I have had some favorite sports teams -- the Chicago White Sox when I was in grade/high school (Nellie Fox, Luis Aparicio), the Pittsburgh Steelers, and, of course, the PHOENIX SUNS. I've been impressed with some of the great sports photos, and appreciative of the skill and timing necessary to capture some of these shots.

There was a link at the DGrin forum that I followed and found this guy's site -- he has the credentials, the photos, and he has some tips on sports photography as a career, a business, and as a hobby -- which is the most likely category for most folks with an interest in sports photography from what I've read in his site. Worth a read for all action photographers, whether sports-minded or not.

Catching the Light-- Sports Photojournalism by Jerry Lodriguss ]]> CJ Swartz http://www.retouchpro.com/forums/blogs/cj-swartz/99-tips-sports-photog-nope-not-me.html Editorial versus Fine Art versus Snapshot http://www.retouchpro.com/forums/blogs/janet-petty/98-editorial-versus-fine-art-versus-snapshot.html Wed, 30 Jan 2008 02:25:23 GMT Recently, in the Photography thread there was a heated discussion regarding what was "legal" regarding picture taking. I've sort of jelled some thoughts in that area and would be interested to see what others think about them.

Mind you, I'm not eloquent nor do I communicate with 100% clarity. But that is the nature of the beast. No one person understands perfectly what another person says. But that is a different discussion for another time.

Editorial pictures are left pretty much untouched. They are the photojournalism type pictures such as those found in newspapers, and news magazines. They reflect reality with all of its nuances and starkness. They tell a story, often graphic; and hopefully truthful. I guess another word would be documentary.

Fine Art pictures are just that. They have been manipulated either in the darkroom or digitally to show what the artist/photographer wants you to see. In other words, his or her vision of a place, event, or object. Real estate or architectural photography would also fall into this category because the photographer will move objects and create lighting to better show the subject. I love to take macros of various items and old, abandoned cars, then manipulate the colors and sharpness until they really make a dramatic statement. I push some of my photography into the realm of fine art and enjoy every minute of the creation process. It is much like being able to create a masterpiece as if I were a painter with brushes and a canvas.

Snapshots (for me at least) are the documentary pictures taken of people or scenery to remember the moment. Candid people photography is a good example. There is nothing posed. The lighting is often bad. There are dirty dishes in the sink, or the table needs clearing...but the moment is priceless and needs to be captured. These are the shots that parents or grandparents pull out of their wallets and proudly display for others. They are memories of places and times we want to remember. They are meaningful to us regardless of the distractions in the background.

In a discussion a few days ago, some friends and I listed the some types of photos. Categories if you will. These are a few; and they often overlap into other areas. Can you think of more? And which ones are enhanced to bring out the best?

Fashion/Glamor
Advertising/Commercial
Fine Art
Editorial/Photojournalistic
Snapshot
Architectural
Portrait
Wedding/Event
Sports/Action
Macro
Landscape/Scenic
Nature/Wildlife/Insects
Vehicles
Foods
Medical
Travel

The discussion referenced below centered mostly on whether a photo should be manipulated. I personally believe that unless a photo is destined for the newsroom or a documentary of some kind where integrity and honesty are paramount to a story that removing the unsightly and distracting content actually enhances one's viewing experience. What are your thoughts on this. Please keep it civil.

http://www.retouchpro.com/forums/pho...mpetition.html ]]> Janet Petty http://www.retouchpro.com/forums/blogs/janet-petty/98-editorial-versus-fine-art-versus-snapshot.html Are you a member of a camera / photography club? http://www.retouchpro.com/forums/blogs/cj-swartz/96-you-member-camera-photography-club.html Mon, 21 Jan 2008 06:45:43 GMT I've thought off and on over the years about joining a camera club, but backed off for several different reasons -- 1. Meetings were always in another city and required driving thru traffic at night to attend. 2. I'd heard from members of some groups that clubs could be very formal and strict -- Robert's Rules of Order for meetings and strict guidelines for photo submissions -- didn't sound like me. 3. Some initial shyness.

Last week I decided to use the internet search engine (not supposed to say I "googled") to again look for camera clubs and I found a website called Meetup.com that lets people with all types of interests meet-up with other people of similar interests - for free. (!) I quickly found a camera club in my area that had been active for about a year. They had an online forum for messages about interesting places and events that folks might like to photograph and a calendar to give the date/time/location details. As I looked through the group description and the calendar of upcoming events, I found that members ranged from folks who recently got a new camera as well as pros who wanted to relax doing some shooting of subjects outside their usual field. No mention of Robert's Rules.

I sent in my request to join and received a friendly invite to join the next morning. Yesterday they had set up a meeting at a local historic site - a "Mystery Castle" built in the 1930's - 40's out of stone and spare parts by a man who came to Arizona when he found he was dying of T.B. (tuberculosis). His daughter still lives there and sells tours; we met in the parking lot, and we all talked while waiting for the gate to open. Everyone wandered about the site during and after the tour and chose what shots they wanted while conversing with the owner, tour guides and each other. When we were done, there was discussion about lunch and about half decided to go eat nearby. Casual conversation over Mexican food with topics ranging from spicy foods from other countries to the Nikon D3 that one of the guys just bought. Again - no Robert's Rules.



When I got home, I downloaded my card to Bridge, and did some post-processing, then uploaded some to the club's area on Meetup. A couple of other members had already uploaded about 18 images, and by tonight, there are about 75 images for everyone to enjoy. A couple of members uploaded some shots of other members, so I even have some help in learning their names. ;) ]]> CJ Swartz http://www.retouchpro.com/forums/blogs/cj-swartz/96-you-member-camera-photography-club.html