DB critique please

[Sveltepig]

Hi all
I have been experimenting with DB for the first time since the post by miss liz with that great video. I am finally understanding how it all works. This is my first finished attempt. Please crit.
thanks
karin

[Markzebra]

your before image has been touched over very badly with some crude blurring or smudging. Choose a better before image

[igot2pman]

I agree, as sharp as the retouched picture is, there are easily places that you can see missing texture. In my opinion I think you over sharpened it.

As for the D&B, there are still some spots of discoloration, mostly in the models right cheek.

Keep working at it,
-Keven

[Sveltepig]

Hi Mark, keven
thanks for your comments
unfortunately not my call to use this image.
I will keep practising
k

[Sveltepig]

Hi Keven and Mark (and others?)
here is another image I have been working on.
comments please?
thanks
Karin

[psdbunny]

Originally Posted by karin l

Hi Keven and Mark (and others?)
here is another image I have been working on.
comments please?
thanks
Karin

Hi Karin,

I would soften the fold a bit on the right side of the face and raise the cheekbones a bit (particularly just below the base of the cheekbone). I think that change would greatly improve the image's symmetrical balance.

You're looking for feedback on Dodge/Burn, I know, so I'll watch for the pros to come in and comment on that.

Sincerely,
PSB

[igot2pman]

This time it was a lot better...you can tell you learned something from the last. I cricled in red where i see discoloration. It seems like a lot but i think you did good.

I also tried to fix them myself to give you a feeling about what it may look like. Mine is still not perfect... My edit is on the left in both pictures.

To edit:
Changed the overlay black layer to softlight>> 80% opacity
On a new layer>>> circled in red bad areas>>> turned this layer on and off while editing to show where i needed to go
Zoomed in 800% on the thumbnail
Used soft brush 8% opacity, 15% fill (1-8 px brush size)

Hope it helps,
-Keven

[Sveltepig]

Hi Keven
Thank you so much for your comments - it is so great to get such a direct response. I DO feel like I'm learning a lot about how to do this - I can tell it'll take time, but I don't mind because I am feeling very excited about the results and the possibilities.
About the problem areas - is it the uneven detail that you are pointing out on forehead and upper cheek? What is the issuue on the nose flare? I struggled with that crease - couldn't decide what to do about it - it seems to leap at you, but if minimised, her nose shape looks all wrong...
(It is SO easy to get carried away and change the structure of the underlying object - in a bad way)
heh

About the black layer - I didn't actually use it - the skin felt too dark and I did feel I needed to see the colour of the original. Like someone said on the other post (I think it was Markzebra, maybe?), I didn't want to smooth the skin too much because of getting a false preview throught the tools layers.

This sample I haven't sharpened yet at all. Do you think I should? I know you felt the other one was oversharpened, but I was very happy with the result when it printed on press (notwithstanding the problem areas etc).
Do you think it is a context-specific thing?
I have noticed people often sharpen men more when retouching that they do women - I think it's about the image that men are usually portraying, as opposed to that of women. But that is another discussion, for another time.

I find the dark skin very challenging. I've noticed that people tend to emphasize the glow on dark skin a lot more in retouching it than with lighter skin. What is that all about? My image is fairly flat in terms of that - do you think I should add more glow?
Herewith example, in case I am being obscure. (same model, btw)

thanks again
Karin

[igot2pman]

Originally Posted by karin l

About the problem areas - is it the uneven detail that you are pointing out on forehead and upper cheek?

Yes the very light uneven details. In all reality, most of it is so un-noticeable that most people will not knottiest it. I’ve trained myself to see fine details that most would never see unless pointed out.

Originally Posted by karin l

What is the issuue on the nose flare? I struggled with that crease - couldn't decide what to do about it - it seems to leap at you, but if minimised, her nose shape looks all wrong...

The angle through me off, i didn’t realize what it actually was. But it is still to dark and should be lightened, not erased.

Originally Posted by karin l

This sample I haven't sharpened yet at all. Do you think I should?

There are a lot of JPEG artifacts in the sample shown, and sharpening will make them worse. Technically the picture is a tad soft, and could be sharpened. But if the original picture also has the artifacts, and you’re going to print large, I would leave it alone. If it’s going to be small, the artifacts shouldn’t be seen and light sharpening could be done (see below for example).

Originally Posted by karin l

I find the dark skin very challenging. I've noticed that people tend to emphasize the glow on dark skin a lot more in retouching it than with lighter skin. What is that all about? My image is fairly flat in terms of that - do you think I should add more glow?

If this was a side lit image I would say contour the glow a bit. But I think the glow should stay as is.

I just found this , they have some pictures with the glow you’re talking about.

This last one was better than the last...
-Keven

sized::: sharpened:::100% crop to show sharpened artifacts

[Sveltepig]

well, yes, that is the kind of glow I mean.
Unfortunately the glowy shot I poster to show it was not one of my own.
still getting up to that level...


about the sharpening - the artifacts are only on my lowres image - I suppose my optimising technique needs work too...

k

[igot2pman]

Originally Posted by karin l

about the sharpening - the artifacts are only on my lowres image - I suppose my optimising technique needs work too...

I think the picture may have been just too big and the quality had to be reduced to low, creating the JPEG artifacts. But anyway, that said, some light sharpening could be done. Its not so soft that it has to be done but its optional. Depends on the "look" your going for.

-Keven

[Fact]

The last one looks nice, Karin, better than the other.

[RichieMB]

Hi, I think that you have done a great job with all pics, well done. You have kept a natural feel to them which is the right thing to do.