Got hints for me how to develop this one further?

[Mandos]

I need your opinions on how i can get this pic look maybe a bit more realistic or anything you would suggest.

Thanks for the help.

Mandos

[LQQKER]

It would be helpful to see the original image to make an opinion. Without the original it's difficult to see what your intentions are or to suggest an alternative.

[igot2pman]

Maybe making the blue background into a face looking. Maybe through displacement mask or trough the shadow. I think maybe even a big one in the background behind the suject. just an idea.

Using a displacement mask on the tattoos will make it more realistic if you already didn’t.

I did a quick displacement below of a guy’s head.

-Keven

[Mandos]

Thx igot2pman,

Good idea actually. Haven´t thought of such a thing. I am going to fiddle around with this idea a bit.

@LQQKER

I am not really sure, what help it might be to you, while hinting me off, getting this pic better, to see the original photography I took? Its just a plain part nude with a lightthrough background. Nethertheless I am going to post it, to see what kind of a reply you will have ready for me.

Cheers mandos

[igot2pman]

Mandos,

Nice one, on the graphics..ha...

Did you draw the tat over the girl? Or did you for say scan an existing tat and overlay over her. Did you use displacement mask in the original?

I have been fiddling with putting fake tat's on people (after seeing your image). I have had success at applying and displacing, but getting the colors to look natural is a question...

-Keven

[Mandos]

Hey Keven,

I drew the tribal-tattoo ornaments with my penpad (wacom) upon her body. But instead of drawing it with color on a separate layer I drew it on a color layer and extracted the ornament with white color from a black mask. Why do it this way instead of directly drawing it, you´ll ask yourself? Well it was easier that way because I didn´t have to always swap the tools (eraser and brush) but instead could just press x to draw and eliminate.

I then took the finished tribal layer and added color and played with the fx to not have the ornament flat on the body, but to make it organic and get a better control of the light in certain parts.

Then of course D&B. I didn´t use displacement. I like controlling the light by drawing the light manually and transforming with either the smudge or liquifying tool.

Yeah getting the colors of a tattoo natural is hard. Since that is question of color i guess its about choosing the right way of blending?

Cheers Mandos

[LQQKER]

Ok, I certainly did not imply that I wanted to see the naked model. So forgive me if led you in that direction. All I was concerned with was the lighting and shadows of the original. Your critique question was about making it more realistic to the eye. So . . .seeing your end result less the original image made that difficult.

Without changing your initial idea I made a few suggestions on your image. Mainly shadowing and a few other things that you can, of course, accept or discard.

[igot2pman]

Mandos,

D&B would create the same 3d effect as displacement as you already molded the tattoo to the model.

I also think LQQKER is going in posibly a good direction. Making a gradient from left to right with the tattoo brightness.

I would like it if you could give me some advice on the tattoo, i created own tread found HERE

-Keven

[Sweetlight]

I tweaked it just a tad. Is there a reason why you are trying to go further with it? I really like it like you did it, it's nice.