Photo Retouching - - Glossy Magazine Retouch?!

JamesEssex · #1 02-03-2006, 11:19 AM

Hi Everyone!

I have been away for a while but I'm back and getting my retouching fingers out once more!!

I've been out of practise but am happy with the retouched version of my friend.
The only thing is - I was going for a 'High Fashion Glossy Magazine Cover' look and I dont know how to achieve this!!

I'm kind of happy with the coloring and her face but the skin isn't 'glossy' enough. I just don't know where to start!?

If anyone can give me some advice or even play around with it to show me, that would be great.

Cheers

James from the other side of the pond!! London UK xx

KR1156 · #2 02-03-2006, 11:59 AM

I took a crack at it, just added a softlight layer, painting with a light color 'round 5-10% brush to bring out the highs in her face on her right side. Not sure if this is what you were looking for. I love the feel of your image though, the colors are cool.

KR1156 · #3 02-03-2006, 12:26 PM

Also tried a version total opposite with a cool feel, along with blue eyes. and a little desaturation.

JamesEssex · #4 02-03-2006, 01:14 PM

These both look lovely, thankyou. I wil have a play around and see what I can do!

I'm pleased you like the original though. I took the photo for her and played around with it, I really like the coloring and mood of the picture. One of my best

Kraellin · #5 02-03-2006, 01:40 PM

this is primarily a high sharpen, followed by a histogram adjustment and then some blurring with a 'marker fade' brush, a sort of rake to fade type brush.

craig

edit: i did no corrections on any other parts of her skin; just the face.

palomino · #6 02-03-2006, 02:25 PM

I had to have a go too, just for fun. I desaturated reds and yellows a bit, fixed the highlights on the face with the healing brush/cstamp, evened things out a bit, and then upped the contrast with a curves layer. To increase the glowy look for the face I just airbrushed a little more of her face highlight color on her forehead cheek and chin. Nice photo.

-Kate

JamesEssex · #7 02-03-2006, 03:21 PM

Thanks again guys. Gr8 stuff.

Palomino - loving your work!

NancyJ · #8 02-03-2006, 03:51 PM

Everyone seems to be going for a very grungy arty look - which isnt what I think of when I think glossy mag look - granted its been a while since I had teenage male friends to steal mags from

But I thought I'd put my 2p in.
Basically I smoothed out the skin then duplicated the layer as an overlay to get a bold, contrasty finish, then did some brush work on a soft light layer on the eyes and lips.
Its by no means perfect, the skin is a little blotchy in places, it was just a quicky to give you an idea of what I think of 'glossy mag'

JamesEssex · #9 02-03-2006, 04:09 PM

Nancy, I've just been reading some of your other posts. Gr8 advice all the time

I can see where you were going with the glossy look. I like it, I just think, personally, it has lost alot of texture, but I like the 'glossyness' of it!

And I love the fact you got rid of the stray hairs..I was just to darn lazy...and my friend didn't really notice that I didn't take them out! She's oblivious to most things....thinks that my retouched pic is how she looks all the time

NancyJ · #10 02-03-2006, 04:25 PM

The texture can be kept/added back in easily - the glossyness comes from the overlay mostly, not the skin smoothing - its just part of a very stylised look. Although in this picture most of the 'texture' appeared to be noise/jpg artifacts.
You can either tone down the smoothing (reduce the opacity of that layer) or add a 50% grey overlay then add a small amount of noise. It all depends on the exact look you're going for.

Michael K · #11 02-03-2006, 04:38 PM

Hi!

healing brush
sharpen
denoise
contarst
some color adjustments

that's what i got:

Nanls · #12 02-03-2006, 06:08 PM

Same as the above, but more "coffee" and more highlights

delic · #13 02-03-2006, 09:49 PM

softlight layers, healing, curves..
I am working on the "gloss" as you call it. Although I'm a little unclear what that means..

palomino · #14 02-03-2006, 11:44 PM

thanks james...this was an interesting photo to work on. I love dark/contrast heavy/textured images as well. And I know what you mean about your friend thinking she looks like the retouch "all the time"--- I don't think anyone in my family has seen a straight out of the camera shot of themselves in atleast a year

I never make it obvious to where they would notice, but who doesn't like to see their skin a little smoother, etc...

-Kate

Cassidy · #15 02-04-2006, 04:49 AM

Mild Cloning to repair some of the artifacts/noise in the facial skin - overlay set at 60%
Colour Dodge in Highlights

And then a warmer version from the before photo.