Beauty Before & After Samples

[Robrasil]

Hi,

It would be great to hear any general comments on these samples, but also your thoughts on a possible top three.


Angela Michelle Perez (photographer)
http://www.robertdewey.net/audreyS.html

http://www.robertdewey.net/elizabeth.html
http://www.robertdewey.net/elizabethS.html

Barry Druxman
http://www.robertdewey.net/eden.html
http://www.robertdewey.net/edenS.html

http://www.robertdewey.net/leanna.html
http://www.robertdewey.net/leannaS.html

Brooke Shaw
http://www.robertdewey.net/brooke.html
http://www.robertdewey.net/brookeS.html

Olivia Roldan
http://www.robertdewey.net/amelie.html
http://www.robertdewey.net/amelieS.html


Thanks,


Rob Dewey

email: rob@robertdewey.net

[porefungus]

First of all, the image are too big. I opened them up in my broswer
and all I can see is an eye and part of the forehead.

1. the first image is over sharpen quite a bit. it looks like the model was hit with buckshot.

2. second and third image have the opposite effect of the first and look to
comic bookish. I know you are trying to highlight facial features but something in the lighting between the face and the hands is off which doesn't
make the photo look real.

3. I like the actual colors or toning in the finished version but the lighting needs to be worked on. overall good job. the photos just need a little more finesse

[handz]

Hello,

at first - we live in 2010 and having a display that allows at least 1600 x 1200 is a pure standard now.

Great work here, very professional (not so often here), I like how you deal with hair details and those wrinkles on hands etc. Could you tell us about your creative process? Thank you very much.
Again - very nice.

[porefungus]

I am not trying to bring your work down. I am just elling you what I see.

So don't be defensive, my god. you took all the negatives, and failed to see
the positive comments I made. this a forum for criticism, which is just an opinion so don't get all flustered. I am just telling you what I see, take it or leave it. I am not attacking you. we are here to help each other get better. So if you have a hardtime taking criticism don't post.

>again as for the monitor issue, no matter what you considered to be standard I am just telling you what I think. I suggest you get thicker skin because someone is always going to say something.

porefungus
Adobe Certified Expert/ Instructor

[Robrasil]

I havn't had a chance to reply to your comments yet porefungus, did you mistake the comment made by handz on this thread as mine?

I appreciate what you have said and agree that two of the images you mentioned look a little unreal. Also I that what you're saying about the first image, besides being over-sharpened, is that the model is not a strong choice for my portfolio. Thank you for spotting the resolution issue, if anyone else finds the images too large please let me know.

Rob

[porefungus]

Now I am confused. I don't know who is commenting, you or another member.
All I know is that I am trying to help with constructive criticism. I like the direction your headed. you did a great job compared to what you started with, however the images have issues which I stated in my first reply. what methods are you using to sharpen your images.

[shift studio]

Admittedly I haven't gone over these in depth but here is what I see at first glance... I like what I see, I like the choices you made re: hair, clothes etc. as mentioned by Handz. I found the fine textures over exaggerated on Audrey's and Eden's neck, and rooke and Leanna's face as mentioned above.
I really like the work done on the Amelie image - well - I think its exactly how I would have done it

Images sizes aren't too big to me - I too would assume most viewers coming here have larger screen resolutions.

take care.
--shift studio.

[Robrasil]

Thanks for the comments everyone, all useful.

Here is another image I did recently, criticism welcome;

Nathalie Gordon (photographer)
http://www.robertdewey.net/nathalie.html

zoom
http://www.robertdewey.net/nathalieS.html


Rob

[porefungus]

yo Rob, That is awesome

>keep up the good work

[shanegoldberg]

Great work! I like your stuff Not too over done, some nice edits

[j4str]

i can't put my finger on "why" but a few of them almost look like CGI. They almost don't even look like photographs. But looking at the before and after they don't look over edited, so i can't figure out a possible solution

[Alison]

I think the hair looks a little too smooth, other than that I quite like the edits.

[Diego81]

I like the way you retouched the skin. well done!

It is good idea to create mark ups before starting to work on the image and ask yourself a question. WHAT DOES DISTRACTS ME FROM THE MESSAGE OF THE IMAGE ?

Many times its just small and insignificant objects, shadows, edge transitions,hair. Could be anything and just try to remove them and see how it looks.

Appart from that looks great. BTW love the colours.

I Create some markups that contains what so far I've spotted.


http://i1224.photobucket.com/albums/...04at004751.png

http://i1224.photobucket.com/albums/...04at005106.png

http://i1224.photobucket.com/albums/...04at005120.png

http://i1224.photobucket.com/albums/...04at005127.png

http://i1224.photobucket.com/albums/...04at010525.png

Keep up the good work

[Robrasil]

Thanks everyone, and for the mark ups Diego.

Rob

[shift studio]

Originally Posted by Diego81

I like the way you retouched the skin. well done!

It is good idea to create mark ups before starting to work on the image and ask yourself a question. WHAT DOES DISTRACTS ME FROM THE MESSAGE OF THE IMAGE ?

Many times its just small and insignificant objects, shadows, edge transitions,hair. Could be anything and just try to remove them and see how it looks.

Appart from that looks great. BTW love the colours.

I Create some markups that contains what so far I've spotted.


http://i1224.photobucket.com/albums/...04at004751.png

http://i1224.photobucket.com/albums/...04at005106.png

http://i1224.photobucket.com/albums/...04at005120.png

http://i1224.photobucket.com/albums/...04at005127.png

http://i1224.photobucket.com/albums/...04at010525.png

Keep up the good work

Diego, your markups and recommendations are very specific - and will be just what the images need to take them up one more level. You have a great eye for that!

--Shift Studio.

[Diego81]

Thank you Guys,

Yes, I like to see an image plenty of times and in this way train my eyes and learn to see the distractions. Until one day I will get good at it.



shift studio Cool site ( I like the controls in the right hand side)

Robrasil I like the design of your site and the colour theme. but it takes a while to load.

[Panpan]

Very well done.
However, in the first one you completely erased Audrey's philtrum. This looks unnatural to me.

[shift studio]

Originally Posted by Diego81

Yes, I like to see an image plenty of times and in this way train my eyes and learn to see the distractions. Until one day I will get good at it.

shift studio Cool site ( I like the controls in the right hand side)

Thanks Diego!
One thing that helps me decide whats distracting is to squint and blur my eyes, and it helps me see things that would be better gone or subdued.

--Shift Studio.

[ShogunSho]

The size of the image is pretty much good enough for me to see clearly what alteration has been made to the original picture. I like the way the retouching was made which still maintain the original elements not totally transform into something different.

Your website and your skill are great. Would be nice if you could perhaps include some workflow of how you achieve.

[Diego81]

Originally Posted by shift studio

Thanks Diego!
One thing that helps me decide whats distracting is to squint and blur my eyes, and it helps me see things that would be better gone or subdued.

--Shift Studio.

That's a good one shift. I'll try you method

[LQQKER]

All of your work is quality, no question. Just a few observations and comments to the first image (which is my favorite). I really like the skin tone of image. The image size is fine on my CPU.

Your first image, portions of the skin has a "leathery" orange peal effect. A little less sharpening in specific areas might be an improvement. Although you created a stunning image, I somewhat agree with the CGI comment. Certain muscles in the neck, smile line, her right lip corner and the area between middle nose and top lip (philtrum) were eliminated. I think keeping some of the original features (but lessened) would keep it real and less CGI like. A tad more highlight on her left nostril flare wouldn't hurt. The bone area above her dress line seems slightly pronounced (due to highlight) giving a slight protrusion look.
All said and done, I think your work is top notch and was done in a meticulous manner. I can see you take pride in what you do.

[Robrasil]

I can see the CGI aspect. Thanks for the compliments as well everyone, always nice to hear. The continued constructive criticism is most appreciated and very useful.

Here's another image I did recently

Ex Voto Studio (photographer)
http://www.robertdewey.net/ex.html
http://www.robertdewey.net/exS.html

If anyone's interested to see the PSD file and my workflow, as ShogunSho mentioned, you can download it here. It's been resized to 72dpi (9.5mb) and bear in mind it will expire in a week or so. Any problems, let me know.

http://wtrns.fr/DC1vngh77nSMw4

Rob

[LQQKER]

Rob - It was generous of you to post the reduced PSD example of your workflow. Very organized and concise. I noticed from the file info that the photographer used a Nikon D200 for the original raw image. A fine camera to work with. If I didn't have so much invested in various Canon lens, that would have been my choice.

Again, I appreciate your work. Nicely done.

[qwik3r]

Reviving this thread, Rob can you post the PSD again it has expired. Your retouching is fantastic and I'd love to get an incite to your work flow.

As for profungus or w/e his name is, perhaps he should learn to use a forum lol. Oh and I don't like the web browser you used for your retouches lol.

[jessicaporter1]

I would really love to know how you achieve that even texture all over the skin. im pretty good at keeping the pours visible and healthy looking but im curious as to how you go about putting texture in 'blown out' areas.

Thanks!
- Jessica

[nichblack]

I have no experience in retouching (one of the reasons I have come to this forum). I love the look of the alterations you made and was wondering if anyone had the chance to download the PSD and wouldn't mind attaching it again? I am very interested in seeing how this was done, especially the skin.

Best,
Nicholas

[ray12]

I rather like your work. Nice quality images. Your skin work is top notch...I love your attention to detail..."tough detail" like stray hairs, eyebrows, eye lashes...you take the time to touch up the small details... and that adds up to a quality look.

Well done...You are pro grade...you spend the time... and the results show.

[ItsOscar]

Awesome skin. I've been trying to achieve this high end look. Any tips for us?

[Robrasil]

Thanks for the comments, I will look for the file again to upload.

Since I did these images I've been learning alot more about retouching to a high end standard. A few tips would be to retouch only what needs to be retouched, be subtle but have vision and respect anatomy.. I've certainly been one to over smooth skin with dodging and burning. Try not to use shortcuts.. many high end images take along time to complete. Create a mood and try to give the image an original style.. assuming its for your portfolio. Most clients will tell you where they want it to go. I think besides having a strong eye, learn techniques which can be found all over the internet and most on RetouchPro.. and dedicate as much time as possible to practicing.

Hope this helps.

[nichblack]

Hope you are able to find it Rob and thank you for all of the new tips.

Best,
Nicholas