What kind of technique is this?

Ektacrow · #1 06-30-2006, 05:42 PM

Hi

I often see this kind of technique used in commercial and fine art photography. It is specially visible with skintones. Looks to me like it could be some kind of massive airbrushing, but I don't know, it could be a global Photoshop effect..
Notice how colors look half way between paintings and photographs.

Here are a couple of examples (if you see a pattern in all these images, you probably see what I mean, if they all look different to you, just forget about it)

one here and 3 more in attachment

thanks for any ideas you might have

Ektacrow · #2 06-30-2006, 05:56 PM

Here is a more extreme example (extreme as in, the effect is a bit more pronaunced)

http://www.hbo.com/sixfeetunder/img/..._posterart.jpg

smiley guy · #3 06-30-2006, 07:21 PM

My first thought would be to take a step back in the whole process before it even gets to Photoshop: make up. All of those look like a similar type of make up.

I may be talking out my proverbial bottom here but a lot of pros that I have heard/read when asked about certain Photoshop techniques mention that it is more effective to do as much as possible towards the "look" of a photo before even pressing the shutter button. I am sure there is some Photoshop done on these but I think the look is achieved mostly through make up.

PatrickB · #4 07-01-2006, 04:20 AM

It's a lot of painting, drawing, sharpening, color-adjusting

Ektacrow · #5 07-01-2006, 06:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by smiley guy

My first thought would be to take a step back in the whole process before it even gets to Photoshop: make up. All of those look like a similar type of make up.

I may be talking out my proverbial bottom here but a lot of pros that I have heard/read when asked about certain Photoshop techniques mention that it is more effective to do as much as possible towards the "look" of a photo before even pressing the shutter button. I am sure there is some Photoshop done on these but I think the look is achieved mostly through make up.

Yea, you are probably right about the make up, but if you take a look at the clothes, and surroundings (like in the second attachment) you can see the same "treatment" done to that too, not just the skin.

I've been digging some more and it seems this is some sort of painting after all. Here is one retoucher/illustrator doing that kind of stuff:

http://www.amydresser.com/retouch.html

Sometimes the whole photographs are repainted to make illustrations out of them, like in this case:
http://www.amydresser.com/img/startrek_comp.jpg

Now I'd like to learn more about this. For example, surely they use photoshop, but what tools?

I already know how to make those fashion skintones, by using dodge/burn tool to "repaint" highlights and shadows. But I wouldn't know what to use for drastic repainting like in the previous example.
Is it airbrushing?
Also was this kind of thing done before photoshop? Did people do this kind of thing with chemical retouching techniques? (any examples?)

thanks

megl · #6 07-14-2006, 02:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ektacrow

I've been digging some more and it seems this is some sort of painting after all. Here is one retoucher/illustrator doing that kind of stuff:

http://www.amydresser.com/retouch.html

Here's my attempt with one of Amy's before pics

/megl

pellepiano · #7 07-14-2006, 03:33 AM

Thanks for the amydresser link. That gave a lot of inspiration.

Littlecoo · #8 07-14-2006, 05:13 AM

Well of course yer dodge, burn and sponge I know I used alot in the darkroom before I got hooked on Photoshop. The first thing that sprung to mind when I saw your posted images was colourization... the traditional, hand tinted way which is not that highly saturated and tones are clean and simple.

pindaro · #9 07-14-2006, 10:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ektacrow

Yea, you are probably right about the make up, but if you take a look at the clothes, and surroundings (like in the second attachment) you can see the same "treatment" done to that too, not just the skin.

I've been digging some more and it seems this is some sort of painting after all. Here is one retoucher/illustrator doing that kind of stuff:

http://www.amydresser.com/retouch.html

Sometimes the whole photographs are repainted to make illustrations out of them, like in this case:
http://www.amydresser.com/img/startrek_comp.jpg

Now I'd like to learn more about this. For example, surely they use photoshop, but what tools?

I already know how to make those fashion skintones, by using dodge/burn tool to "repaint" highlights and shadows. But I wouldn't know what to use for drastic repainting like in the previous example.
Is it airbrushing?
Also was this kind of thing done before photoshop? Did people do this kind of thing with chemical retouching techniques? (any examples?)

thanks

Hey this is very interesting, have you found any more of this?

where can I find the dodge/burn technique?

cheerrs

singlo · #10 07-14-2006, 06:30 PM

Amy Dresser's stuff is a real eye opener for me. I bookmarked her site for sure. Her retouching skills are far superior than the lighting skills of some photographers who took the photos.

...she transforms only not the skin, facial features but radically change the lighting as well. She really understands very well the physics of light---how highlights and shadows behave and manipulate it in such way they look very convincing.

Here is my attempt (2nd photo) to retouch one of her before photo, reproducing her techniques (3rd photo); my first nose, chin and lip jobs ever done in my life

NancyJ · #11 07-15-2006, 12:03 AM

Amy Dresser really does amazing work. It angers me to see photographers claiming the work as their own, without even creditting her. The 'before' photos are mediocre at best, they're flat, dull and she transforms them in to amazing pictures. She has to credit the photographer on her website - but on theirs, she is swept under the carpet. I really believe she should take up photography and make a name for herself because she really deserves taking notice of.

As you all know, it takes a lot to impress me

But Amy Dresser really does. While I know and am capable of the techniques used to create her pictures, I lack the skill and experience to lay down those shadows and highlights as perfectly as she does - she adds real depth to flat portrait shots.

NancyJ · #12 07-15-2006, 05:10 AM

my meager attempt at emulating her style...

cainam · #13 07-15-2006, 06:12 AM

I just gave it a try.

RJD · #14 07-15-2006, 06:22 AM

Nancy can I ask you how you went about doing the eyes? I know how to change the colour but I am having trouble getting them like you and Amy have got them (with the green and blue) Thanks if you can help me.

NancyJ · #15 07-15-2006, 06:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RJD

Nancy can I ask you how you went about doing the eyes? I know how to change the colour but I am having trouble getting them like you and Amy have got them (with the green and blue) Thanks if you can help me.

Nothing spectular I'm afraid - just a color layer over the top and painted on the colours I wanted.