[Dreamypix]

Thanks Grafx for the pointers! I have always thought that in pageant photos they didn't want any texture of the skin? Can you explain what you mean by smoothing the skin by using soft light? That is a technique I haven't done before and I would really appreciate some new info! Thanks!

~Amber~

[grafx]

Dreamypix,

It works really well with the children that already have smooth skin (most do) You still work out lines and blemishes with heal, light airbrush etc, but you can get rid of dark area like under the eyes without having the paint over them. You set up a new layer and set it to "soft light" The select a light skin color and paint over the dark areas at 100%. It will look really harsh. Then you go into hue/saturation and adjust the color/darkness to where you want it. You might need to mask out areas to make some lighter and some darker. Then clean up the edges with the eraser. I use this to try to keep a more "natural" pageant look (If thats possible...LOL!) You're supposed to have skin texture, but it must all be even. Lightening up dark areas helps with this and cuts back on healing and cloning. Pageant moms and photographer scream when you get too plastic.

[Dreamypix]

Wow, that is a wonderful tip! Thanks so much for sharing! I haven't had the privilege of working with/for pageant moms or photographers. But I like to learn about it because alot of the tricks and techniques can be applied to glamour. One of these days I will get my name out there and drum up some business ( wouldn't that make the hubby happy?) until then I am just learning as much as I can. Everytime I think about jumping in with both feet- I find something else that I didn't know how to do and lose confidence. So, thanks again for sharing your tips! That was a really long winded thanks, wasn't it?

~Amber~

[Kraellin]

grafx,

i swear that if you tilted her head forwards or backwards, her eyes would open and close accordingly

Craig

[grafx]

Kraelin,
You asked for it!

(click on image and view in browser window)

[Kraellin]

rofl. well done now, make her head tilt as the eyes open and close

nice anim

Craig

[shalimomof2boys]

Graphix that is AWESOME!!!!!! Just another thing I need to learn....

Cheryl

[edgework]

Tried to bring out some contours in her face using overlay, multiply and screen layers. Smoothed artifacts with healing brush. Blurred a layer in soft light mode at 60% opacity. Used a diffused glow layer at 45% opacity.