Can't Make Customer Happy With This One

[Tony D.]

Hi everyone,
I've done a bunch of retouching and restoring however it's not my "thing" that I'm best at. I can't make this customer happy with a retouch of this image. Customer is looking to maintain detail in appearence without seeing digital noise. Also, just wants a head and shoulders of the woman. Can anyone send some advice my way or maybe take a crack at it? Full image available here...
www.detailsbydifranco.com/full.jpg
I'll keep a close eye on this thread, big thank you to all that make an attempt, I appreciate this very much.

-Tony D.

[Daviskw]

Hi Tony

I did not address cropping but I did take the original and ran it thru a good nosie reduction filter.

I also deepened the color and added a little yellow to the skin and reduced the magenta.

I did little clean up but it would be simple healing brush stuff.

Butch

[T Paul]

Concerning noise removal: There are several threads on this site that will help you with noise removal. Here are a few to get you started:

Removing Grainyness

Noise Removal Software

Too Much Noise

Here is a quick example of what a noise removal program can do. This was done with Neat Image.

[CJ Swartz]

You wrote "I can't make this customer happy with a retouch of this image..."
Has your customer given you a clear description of what they want to see?

Perhaps viewing a few possibilities will help you both decide what they are actually looking for and then you can decide whether you can produce it.

You said a head/shoulders crop of the lady --do they want a new background or to keep the original as a memory of the occasion?

Here's a crop that mostly hides the original bkgnd and makes it more a portrait shot of the lady. Used a guassian blur overlay layer, as well as noise removal, Polaroid dust removal, Selective Color to take some black and magenta out of the reds and neutrals.

If you do retouching, I'm sure you can handle whatever work is required -- it's just getting an agreement as to what the customer is seeing in their mind...

[Lasa]

I'm a controled noise fan, I feel it give images texture..but he's one for the noise free look.
Started by running it thru NOISEWARE PRO (set to weak noise)..
Cleaned up little odds and ends with the patch tool. The background was very distracting so I cut it out. Used the Quick mask to extract the background. The dark background makes for some nice highlights in the hair.
Hope something in here helps you.
Added a very small hue/sat to saturate the color a little.
Good luck,
Lasa

(I think it could use a little noise, but that me)

[Daviskw]

Good work all

I thought I'd enter another with a crop

Butch

[cardmnal]

If you do retouching, I'm sure you can handle whatever work is required -- it's just getting an agreement as to what the customer is seeing in their mind...

CJ Swartz, Thanks for saying it. That last little tidbit in your post is so true. Often I find customers have a hard time explaining what it is they are seeing in their minds eye. Without clear communication we can end up with unsatisfied customers and frustrated retouch techs.


Alan

[Cassidy]

The so-called "electronic age" and advertising makes it all look so easy, so the result looks obvious to the consumer. You need to let them know what is involved and how involved. The Microsoft Ads from a while ago, make it look like the internet is instant, regardless of bandwidth and connection speed.

We have a generation or generations that feel anything is easy, given advertising and the misappropriation of what it takes to instigate results

[DCobb]

This is my try. Filled a blank layer with black and painted in that layer to removed unwanted elements. Degrunge, levels adjustment. To correct sleeve I cloned and then went over the cloned area with the healing brush to improve texture. Used the patch tool to create the line on the left arm coming down.

dc

[sunfly]

Thought I would give it a whirl. Used Neat Image and lots of healing and cloning. Kept the background the same dark colour for ease of blending.

Sherry