Retoucher required for overflow work

[jagerman]

Well then tell use how not to do it with out the cloning and blurring. We all want to know. -W

[videosean]

If you read the comments of established retouchers doing VERY nice work you will see the comments over and over: Don't blur. Don't use the healing tool. They aren't being snobs, they're telling you what you're doing wrong. I don't care what a book or training DVD says as anyone can write a book saying anything they want. There was something that I've seen a lot of people do and I could never figure out why they did it that way... then one day I saw a particular video from Katrin Eismann where she said to do it and it clicked... monkey see, monkey do, no questions asked. Real skin doesn't look blurred. PERIOD. Go out and look at magazines with multi-page fashion advertisements, not low-res images on the web retouched by anyone that can get ahold of Photoshop through whatever means possible. Does the skin look blurred in those magazines? To think that anyone submitted blurred skin to Jeff... well it shows a lack of attention to detail IMO because I'm sure he's said "don't blur" himself in previous posts on these forums. All you have to do is click on his name to find his posts if his name doesn't ring a bell for you.

If you want to do GOOD retouching, it's up to you to figure out how to do it without blurring. Dodging and burning techniques are the only techniques that I know of but I'm neither a respected nor established retoucher. I never did things the old way but I know blurred skin when I see it and it does nothing but make someone look like they're made of plastic or some material other than skin... even if you add noise on top of the blur it still looks blurred. I think I've seen one or two people in these forums post something that was blurred and didn't look wrong. 1, maybe 2. Ever.

Certain comments/critiques from certain members of these forums are often greeted with a 'how dare you' type of attitude. They're just being honest and don't care that you spent 3 hours on something that still looks wrong because there's no point in spending ANY time on anything if you're not going to do it right. Most of the retouched images posted in these forums are crap*. I don't say that because I can do better I say that because I can tell when something doesn't look like human skin. I'm not one to single out any one person and tell them they suck... unless I could tell them how to do it better. I wish I could but I can't. I practice on probably half or more of the images posted in the 'image help' and retouching forums as time permits... and show almost none of them because I'm not happy with what I've been able to do. Not because I'm afraid of harsh comments but because it's an image I wouldn't want associated with my name.

*= It's not that I think people shouldn't post crap images in an effort to learn how to do things better... that is what most of us are here for I think... but if you can't see that most of them are crap or don't look real...

[ftp-Jeff]

WoW! I think you have hit the nail on the head there! Next time I am at the Mopar Nationals, at Columbus... Remind me to buy you a beer.

Jeff

[041567970]

Videosean, I can only put my signature under your post, I agree totaly with everything you sad.

[ftp-Jeff]

Why do I go to Columbus? Here is one of my toys....

[jagerman]

There is no how dare you attitude hear. I just want to know how. I have been doing this for ten years and I am stuck. You can not buy a book on how Jeff, Dresser, Dorman, etc... do this stuff. I do not want to copy them but learn from them. How do you learn this stuff? And trust me, I have spent thousands of hours playing and trying to bridge the gap with little luck.

[Sunniee]

Good stuff guys.... I'm self taught... just learning what I read on the web, books and in various forums. Most of what you read is geared toward the everyday photoshop user.... NOT to the high end professionals. I have combined several techniques in my workflow.... but had no idea some of those might be no-no's in the pro realm.

Now Im sure my submission will not come close..... but thank you for the opportunity!

Thanks for the input!

[ftp-Jeff]

No one taught me.... I had to figure it out myself!

[jagerman]

Come on Jeff, give use a hint, starting point, something...

[stopa]

Jeff - You promise to send yours "after" image on the forum - please do it.

[ftp-Jeff]

OK here is where you should be looking, And thats it guys, then you are on your own! Study, look and practice... NO blurring, No cloning, No healing, 5 mins work.

Look at them in order. (1-4)

Then let me know how helpful it was. You will have to think, but all you need to know is there. THINK ABOUT IT!

Jeff

http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c1...6/Picture1.png
http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c1...6/Picture2.png
http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c1...6/Picture3.png
http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c1...6/Picture4.png

[Rohape]

Not trying to be the bad guy, but I think this thread has gotten out of hand. This is after all the "Classifieds" section.
ftp-Jeff already said he doesn't want to give classes online.

edit:
This was posted 2min. after ftp-Jeff posted his, didn't see his post.

Thank you for the pics!

[ftp-Jeff]

Your right... it is not the place, and I should've gone home 2 hrs ago.

[Sunniee]

Thanks Jeff... those illustrations help alot! I will be practicing that.... Did anyone send you anything that came close to what you were looking for?

[pggphoto]

is it me being stupid or do those links not work?