Blotchy skin tones..need help

[ProAc_Fan]

I really need help with this image. I mostly lurk here at RP but for once i can't seem to solve my problems with any tutorials here. I've been asked by a family friend to create an image to be used on a headstone but am having serious problems pulling this off. I can't get past how "rough" the lady in this image looks. Her skin tone is very blotchy ( is that even a word? ). I really need someone with a charitable nature and more PS skills than me to perhaps lead me in the right direction. I'm including both the original photo I was given (scanned at 600dpi and saved as a jpeg) and my extracted head shot I plan on using for the resulting image. The intended plan is to perhaps add a couple of Catholic symbols ( Jesus and a Cross) in the background ( perhaps faded a bit so the deceased is the central theme of the image) but I can't even have a stab at that until the head shot looks half decent.

Thanks in advance,

Mike
Scanned Original 600dpi JPEG headshot

[Frank Lopes]

Here is my attempt at cleaning the blotches.
The image still needs color correction...

Here is a higher res image...

http://www.franklopes.com/public_images/stoneL.jpg

Originally Posted by ProAc_Fan

I really need help with this image. I mostly lurk here at RP but for once i can't seem to solve my problems with any tutorials here. I've been asked by a family friend to create an image to be used on a headstone but am having serious problems pulling this off. I can't get past how "rough" the lady in this image looks. Her skin tone is very blotchy ( is that even a word? ). I really need someone with a charitable nature and more PS skills than me to perhaps lead me in the right direction. I'm including both the original photo I was given (scanned at 600dpi and saved as a jpeg) and my extracted head shot I plan on using for the resulting image. The intended plan is to perhaps add a couple of Catholic symbols ( Jesus and a Cross) in the background ( perhaps faded a bit so the deceased is the central theme of the image) but I can't even have a stab at that until the head shot looks half decent.

Thanks in advance,

Mike
Scanned Original 600dpi JPEG headshot

[Daviskw]

Hi there

I do hope you can get another picture.. there is just not a lot of good info to work with.

I used a layer set to screen with a gaussian blur added. Then darkened with a multiply layer.

Butch