Porcelain Skin Look

[makeovermagic]

thanks creeduk! that's a tremendous confidence booster for me.

MOM

[twitch1977]

Thanks again for the great advice all, here's my attempt:

Original:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v6...1977/Start.jpg

Attempt:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v6...977/forweb.jpg

Critiques always welcome!
T

[KeriLittle]

Fureal could you please explain what you mean by this?

[eogg]

@makeovermagic : I think you did a very good job on the skin, which was probably your first goal (which I deduce from the thread you posted in !)

However, a lot of white/colored noise has appeared in the darkest areas, notably the hair. Maybe you didn't want this and should mask out some of the effects you applied on the hair area...

[eogg]

... and @twitch : seems excellent to me ! Rather natural looking too...

[ray12]

Here is another way to achieve the look you are looking for. This method is fairly simple and gets really close to the examples you posted in your original post. (See examples) Im using CS2.

1.) Duplicate the original. (Cntl-J)

2.) Select the Duplicate image in the Layers Panel.

3.) Go to Main Menu> Filter> Distort> Diffuse Glow.

The glow color will be whatever color you have set as the background color swatch in the main tools bar.

Adjust the sliders for the washed out look - or for the glow effect that you want. Experiment. Later on in this process you will be able to modify the intensity of the glow again - and you will be able to control the bleed through to the original image in the last step - so - dont worry too much about the effect being too strong right now. Hit OK.

4.) You can then use the burn tool (set to Shadows and 10%) to make the models hair and eyes darker, more contrasty, and much more dramatic looking. You can use the dodge tool to lighten up some areas selectively (set to highlight and 10%).

5.) For additional creative control - You can blend the "original image" back into the "glowing image" using a mask so it happens in just the right places and with just the right strength. Just add a white mask onto the duplicated layer (Main Menu> Layer> Layer Mask> Reveal All).

Then select the mask (by highlighting its thumbnail in the layers pallette) and paint on it with a soft black pen. This will selectively reveal parts of the original image - and let it show through where ever you want to - and however strong you like it (like the lips on girl #1). Be sure to use a 20% or less opacity, very soft, black, brush on the mask so your painting will blend in well and be soft and smooth.

The effect takes 5 or 6 minutes.

* For extra effects try a gradient on the mask or even think of painting on the mask with a very large soft gray pen to selectively control the intensity of the glow on only certain areas - and not on other areas!

The sample Images below are the original images you linked to - along with example images using this technique. This should at least get you into the ballpark. You can adjust anywhere from there.

Ray12

[ray12]

I want to second John's post,

The Dreamy Photo Plugin that is mentioned in Post#14 by john_opitz is one of the greatest tools I have found yet to get that marvelous dreamy look to your romance pictures. I use it all the time and HIGHLY recommend the Free download!

I usually apply the plugin to the duplicated layer - and then add a white mask - and paint on the mask with a black soft pen, so that the eyes and the mouth and hair are unblurred and really sharp - BUT - the "flesh tones" are really soft and smooth and glowy (with no blemishes). Its beautiful. It makes models look wonderful. They really LOVE it.

The other software at that site called Mystical Lighting has an effect in it called "etherial glow" and also "light brush" that is totally adjustable and can provide very beautiful and dramatic lighting looks to Romance Portraits. They have interactive examples at their web site so you can see the before and after effects very clearly. Really, really nice stuff.

Here is the gallery link - click on the examples. Just FYI.

http://www.autofx.com/mystical_light...g_gallery.html

Ray12