Every detail of how I do my retouching differently

[paulbyun]

So I decided to share step by step how I retouch.

Final Image


<a href="http://s147.photobucket.com/albums/r299/shivknell/?action=view&amp;current=webuse-2.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i147.photobucket.com/albums/r299/shivknell/webuse-2.jpg" alt="Photobucket" border="0" width="400" /></a>

Here are all the shots I took for a composite.
<a href="http://s147.photobucket.com/albums/r299/shivknell/?action=view&amp;current=IMG_0002.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i147.photobucket.com/albums/r299/shivknell/IMG_0002.jpg" alt="Photobucket" border="0" width="400" /></a>
<a href="http://s147.photobucket.com/albums/r299/shivknell/?action=view&amp;current=IMG_0004.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i147.photobucket.com/albums/r299/shivknell/IMG_0004.jpg" alt="Photobucket" border="0" width="400" /></a>
<a href="http://s147.photobucket.com/albums/r299/shivknell/?action=view&amp;current=IMG_0009.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i147.photobucket.com/albums/r299/shivknell/IMG_0009.jpg" alt="Photobucket" border="0" width="400" /></a>
<a href="http://s147.photobucket.com/albums/r299/shivknell/?action=view&amp;current=IMG_0011.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i147.photobucket.com/albums/r299/shivknell/IMG_0011.jpg" alt="Photobucket" border="0" width="400" /></a>
<a href="http://s147.photobucket.com/albums/r299/shivknell/?action=view&amp;current=IMG_0012.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i147.photobucket.com/albums/r299/shivknell/IMG_0012.jpg" alt="Photobucket" border="0" width="400" /></a>
<a href="http://s147.photobucket.com/albums/r299/shivknell/?action=view&amp;current=IMG_0015.jpg" target="_blank"><img style="width: 400px; height: 183px;" src="http://i147.photobucket.com/albums/r299/shivknell/IMG_0015.jpg" alt="Photobucket" border="0" /></a>
<a href="http://s147.photobucket.com/albums/r299/shivknell/?action=view&amp;current=IMG_0017-1.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i147.photobucket.com/albums/r299/shivknell/IMG_0017-1.jpg" alt="Photobucket" border="0" width="400" /></a>
<a href="http://s147.photobucket.com/albums/r299/shivknell/?action=view&amp;current=IMG_0021.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i147.photobucket.com/albums/r299/shivknell/IMG_0021.jpg" alt="Photobucket" border="0" width="400" /></a>
<a href="http://s147.photobucket.com/albums/r299/shivknell/?action=view&amp;current=IMG_0024-3.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i147.photobucket.com/albums/r299/shivknell/IMG_0024-3.jpg" alt="Photobucket" border="0" width="400" /></a>
<a href="http://s147.photobucket.com/albums/r299/shivknell/?action=view&amp;current=IMG_0025.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i147.photobucket.com/albums/r299/shivknell/IMG_0025.jpg" alt="Photobucket" border="0" width="400" /></a>
<a href="http://s147.photobucket.com/albums/r299/shivknell/?action=view&amp;current=IMG_0026.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i147.photobucket.com/albums/r299/shivknell/IMG_0026.jpg" alt="Photobucket" border="0" width="400" /></a>
<a href="http://s147.photobucket.com/albums/r299/shivknell/?action=view&amp;current=IMG_0028.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i147.photobucket.com/albums/r299/shivknell/IMG_0028.jpg" alt="Photobucket" border="0" width="400" /></a>
<a href="http://s147.photobucket.com/albums/r299/shivknell/?action=view&amp;current=IMG_0029.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i147.photobucket.com/albums/r299/shivknell/IMG_0029.jpg" alt="Photobucket" border="0" width="400" /></a>
<a href="http://s147.photobucket.com/albums/r299/shivknell/?action=view&amp;current=IMG_0031.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i147.photobucket.com/albums/r299/shivknell/IMG_0031.jpg" alt="Photobucket" border="0" width="400" /></a>
<a href="http://s147.photobucket.com/albums/r299/shivknell/?action=view&amp;current=IMG_0033.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i147.photobucket.com/albums/r299/shivknell/IMG_0033.jpg" alt="Photobucket" border="0" width="400" /></a>
<a href="http://s147.photobucket.com/albums/r299/shivknell/?action=view&amp;current=IMG_0034.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i147.photobucket.com/albums/r299/shivknell/IMG_0034.jpg" alt="Photobucket" border="0" width="400" /></a>
<a href="http://s147.photobucket.com/albums/r299/shivknell/?action=view&amp;current=IMG_0037.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i147.photobucket.com/albums/r299/shivknell/IMG_0037.jpg" alt="Photobucket" border="0" width="400" /></a>
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<span style="font-weight:bold;">1. RAW: </span>
I processed my raw images through capture one pro. I matched up all the color temperatures, increased the highlight dynamic and sharpened all the way. Using Capture One Pro makes a huge difference.



<span style="font-weight:bold;">2. TIFF: </span>
I rendered the raw images into 32 bit Tiff files



<span style="font-weight:bold;">3. PHOTOSHOP:</span>
I opened up Photoshop CS3. I started out with the darkest image you see up there. The purpose of that shot was to capture all the detail in the stained glass.


<span style="font-weight:bold;">
4. BACKGROUND LAYERING:</span>
I layered all the shots that were taken without the model one by one. I light one object out of time, so each layer gave me a complete control of tweaking exposure, color and anything else you can think of on each object efficiently without destroying any information.

I used "lighten" blending option to layer them. This option is very useful because it only blends the brightest parts of the image. If a strobe or I were in the shot, then I simply used an eraser tool with a soft edge to take them out. Also, everytime I added a new layer, I erased out the the blown out stained galsses, so the well saturated stained glasses in the first layer will appear.

I often adjusted these layers by going to

adjustments > highlights/shadows

I turned down the shadow dynamic all the way down, and turn up the high light dynamic about half way up. Then I cranked up the mid tone. This will result in more saturated colors and creating this "painting" alike quality.



<span style="font-weight:bold;">5. MODEL LAYERING:</span>
I cut out the model from one of the shots that include the model. Then I pasted her on top of the background. I used soft edge eraser once in a while to fix parts that look unnatural. Then I applied other layers of the model using the same technique as the background layering.

<span style="font-weight:bold;">6. MERGE:</span>
I merged all layers into one layer.

<span style="font-weight:bold;">7. SKIN RETOUCHING:</span>
I selected the model's face, hands and feet and adjusted the level. The goal here was to create a mountain shaped histogram. After that, I duplicated this layer, and made it black and white. Then I blended it using the "soft light" option" at 50% opacity. This process made her skin pop out. I did apply similar process to her clothing and various parts of the background.

<span style="font-weight:bold;">8: HISTOGRAM IS IMPORTANT!</span>
I also kept track of the histogram. The goal was to keep the image fairly dark till this point. So the histogram didn't go over the mid point. This is an example of the image at this point of the whole retouching process.


<a href="http://s147.photobucket.com/albums/r299/shivknell/?action=view&current=coupleshot046.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i147.photobucket.com/albums/r299/shivknell/coupleshot046.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

<a href="http://s147.photobucket.com/albums/r299/shivknell/?action=view&current=jpg.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i147.photobucket.com/albums/r299/shivknell/jpg.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>


<a href="http://s147.photobucket.com/albums/r299/shivknell/?action=view&current=coupleshot046.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i147.photobucket.com/albums/r299/shivknell/coupleshot046.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

<span style="font-weight:bold;">9. THE SPECIAL SAUCE:</span>
I duplicated the layer. Let's say the duplicated layer is Layer B and the bottom layer is Layer A.

I inverted layer B. Then I turned the saturation all the way down on Layer B. I blended Layer B by using the "overlay" technique. Then I changed the opacity to 80%. Then I opened up Gaussian blur for layer B. Then I played around with the knob till I found a point I liked. This whole process must be done separately for the skin tone and the background.

Sometimes, I merge these layers, and I repeat the process once more with less opacity. It really depends on the situation.

<span style="font-weight:bold;">10. HIGHLIGHTS/SHADOWS</span>
Then I adjusted the highlights and shadows in different ways. I used level, curves, highlights/shadows and dodge/burn to make the image much more juicier.
<span style="font-weight:bold;">
11. Sharpening</span>
I added a tiny bit of smart sharpening.

<span style="font-weight:bold;">12. TIME FOR A BEER</span>
I always walk away from the computer for about an hour. Then come back with a beer and observe the image for about 30 minutes. I zoom in everywhere and make sure there is no mistake. Then I compare the image with my previous work and make sure the luminosity and saturation level match.
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What influenced me to accomplish this look

- I have always been amazed by fine art photographers who pull of the "painting" look. However, I didn't want to recreate it exactly the same. So I played around with photoshop to get my own style that is similar, but not the same. I am heavily influenced by Erwin Olaf, Gregory Crewdson, Eugenio Recuenco, Andrjei Dragan and Anthony Crossfield.

[Chain]

How about uploading this as a tutorial... that html obviously isn't working out here

[paulbyun]

my bad!!

Go here

http://paulbyun.blogspot.com/search/...ng%20Tutorials

[sergio2263]

Originally Posted by paulbyun

my bad!!

Go here

http://paulbyun.blogspot.com/search/...ng%20Tutorials

Beautiful work thank you so much for sharing the tutorial.


helen

[courage]

i dont see anything

[Lazyfruit]

not sure if its your intention but you have some weird colours in some of your images especially the skin tones. They are really orange and red.

[Vernon]

For what it's worth, I reformatted that html (into xhtml) and added line breaks, etc.
Download and unzip the web file