Using the liquifying tool . . .

[jbb]

Does anyone have any insight/techniques into using the liquifying tool for commercial/fashion purposes? Primarily using them for models . . .

[TheVeed]

can u be more specific?

[shellby]

select the area, copy it to a new layer, then select that layer, Liquify - I use a large brush and do small movements at a time

[dus7]

lose weight instanty! That's what I use it for mostly.
Those areas you don't want bulging out.

[cricket1961]

The best way to use the liquify tool if you are working on a hi res image is to not use it on the image.
Duplicate the image using Image-Duplicate. Change the resolution to something lower like 100 dpi. Don't use any selections and don't change the
dimensions of the document. Then launch Liquify.
You will find you have a LOT more control and much much larger brushes.
Plus speed. Lots of it. You even have a faster ability to see a before and after by clicking on the restore all button and then using command-z to restore the liquify.
Using it this way the larger brushes allow for larger pushes and pulls without a lot of the stretched pixels that can happen at high resolutions.
Once you have the image the way you want it click on save mesh. Then apply the moves to the image. Once again you can have a last quick undo redo with the lo-res image. If it looks fine close the lo-res image and open the hi-res image in liquify. Click on Load Map and locate your saved map.
Let it render and apply.
You can do a lot more areas in an image this way in a tenth of the time by using selections and hi-res images. You can use this same technique with selections by making sure both the hi-res and the lo-res images have the same selections. But I just find it easier and quicker to do someones feet, chin, fingers etc all at the same time.

Hope this helps!

Regards
Chris

[shellby]

Going to try that thanks!

[des151]

Great tip Chris, thanks.

[Dave.Cox]

I have tried the liquefy tool in the past without much luck in doing much with it. I tried you technique, and boy was I surprised. Thanks for the great tip.

[yelhsaneerg]

well i'm about to have to go back to work for a few more hours but i can't wait to get back home and try your technique...can't wait to see how much better it works...thanks!
ash

[Benny Profane]

But, Chris, don't you still get the stretched pixels when you apply the map to the high rez?



edit: don't even attempt using this tool without a Wacom.

[cricket1961]

[quote=Benny Profane;158228]But, Chris, don't you still get the stretched pixels when you apply the map to the high rez?



I don't. Haven't seen anyone else yet. You are still limited to a certain distance but my guess is because the map is translating from huge pixels down to smaller ones that it just works out.
But bear in mind that the technique isn't solely to eleviate problem. It is more for making a slow tool more usable.


Chris

[singlo]

It depends on the speed and RAM of your computer. If you got a powerful machine, it is not at all slow to work on the high resolution image directly.

To liquifying an image without local selection is better and easier to see the overall effect IMO. I tend to use 50% liquify brush density; brsuh pressure 19% and adjust the brush size according to the local "curvature" of the lines/edges in the target area. The unwanted distortion in the surrounding areas can be fixed by using layer mask.

[cricket1961]

Singlo

I have a nice machine. 8 gigs ram. Over two terabytes of scratch disk. It is only a dual 2.0 G5, but it gets the job done.
However, when I attempt to do a liquify on a selected area of a 5 gig file
with a bunch of layers it tends to make liquify relatively slow for what need to be done. And like I said above, I prefer to do all my moves at the same time so there is no way I am going t open a 5 gig file in liquify without using the technique I described above. And I would prefer not to have to fix any kind of distortions if I can avoid them in the first place.

Chris

[Britsdad]

I know it's been linked to before, but this is what "liquify" is all about. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lmhjj1Vu2IU
John

[w1ll]

hello retouchers,

i'm new here and this is my first humble post.

i agree with shellby, it makes the process faster & safer and more flexible at the same time.