Need Help With Facial Shadows - Contours.

[fat0n3s]

I have been working on a photo for some family members, and I have ran into a problem making realistic facial contours.

I would post the picture here, but I don't think my cousin would like that to much.

When reconstructing facial features, what is the best meathod for making shadows and contours?

I am starting to get the hang of the patch tool, healing brush, and clone stamp tool, but I have sooo much to learn in order to make invisable restoration.

If anyone have any links, tips, or info on these three tools, please feel free to post them here.

I really need all the help I can get.

TIA.

[Gary Richardson]

Hi,

Difficult to advise you without a picture, but you can increase/decrease highlight and shadow depth by the following.

Create new layer, set blend mode to soft light and fill with 50% grey. Then use a soft black brush set to about 5-10% opacity to increase shadow, or decrease highlights, or a soft white brush to increase highlights or decrease shadows.

Tips for cloning are.

Always work on a seperate layer (makes correcting mistakes easy, by using the eraser tool).

Use a brush of suitable hardness/softness for the surface you're cloning (change this by Shift[ to decrease hardness, Shift] to increase hardness).

Try varying opacity of brush to blend edges or to even out variations in tone.

Experiment with blend modes, can sometimes be used when normal does not give effect you want.

If cloning close to an edge, try selecting along the edge, then when you clone on the new layer you won't clone over areas you'd rather not.

[fat0n3s]

Those are some great tips gary. Thanks alot for those.

Try varying opacity of brush to blend edges or to even out variations in tone.

I can't believe I didn't think of that. lol.

That is where all of my trouble is. In the transitions. IE light to dark. Jaw line to neck...etc.

[Gary Richardson]

Glad I could help a little.

Don't be bothered by missing a way of using a tool, we're all guilty of that one, I miss the obvious all the time.

Good luck with your restore, have fun.