I will bribe you to show me how this is done!

[Sistere]

Hi guys,

Can anyone tell me how this effect is done? This creamy 'vampire' look,

http://www.adambartas.com/commercial-propaganda.php

Images #14 and #15 (and more or less # 6)...(#14 Girl in red top and black dress & #15 Asian girl in forest). I have searched through tuts for weeks but all I can find are 'Porcelain Skin Tutorials' where you basically desaturate and jack up the levels to burnout point but those just don't produce the creamy, perfect skin look like the Bartas photos.

Any help that leads me to a working technique will produce such appreciation in me that I will feel compelled to buy you dinner at the restaurant of your choice (Within reason via Paypal (Or whatever).

Thanks so much and...do I smell something cooking?

Damien

[docilebob]

http://www.photoshopgurus.com/tutorials/t027.html

If you push mark`s tutorial a bit youcan get the effect you seek.

[mr.aj]

great find on the tutorial brother, thank you.

[superkoax]

AJ: second that

But when we look at photogs pictures on the web the pics are often very small and details in skin doesn't show as good as we all want to...so by the median filter technique it can get very creamy and smooth...The technique you are looking for here is what we all know as PWL or paint with light! This is done troughadding a new layer and use soft light with the 50% grey box ticked on From there you lighten dark areas of the skin with dodge tool and darken light areas with burn tool to get even skin tone.

I good color correction is needed to get the overall result great. In which order on how to do that either before dodge/burn or after is what I can't give you exact advice on.

[prizo]

Its funny... I think Adam used to post on here. Then he discovered some kick-ass techniques and never came back.

I could easily be wrong, but I kind of remember some posts from him.

[Sistere]

Before I posted this thread I searched for his name and domain on here and didn't find anything. The thing I am wondering about, is with the look he is getting if the result is pure post or if he used some type of pale foundation on the models skin to make enhancing that 'creamy vampire' look in post easier.

So far, all of the results I am getting look to blurry or artificial.

I am surprised that with all the retouch folks and photoshop gurus on this board that more haven't chimed in.

Was my offer of dinner not persuasive enough?



Damien

[musicman_bmh]

he would post under the name faust

[prizo]

Originally Posted by musicman_bmh

he would post under the name faust

BAM!!!
Yeah I knew he used to post here.

[jenniferfrances]

My guess is:

clone the skin using a low opacity soft brush. be sure to clone is small circular strokes. you dont want to rid the highlights and shadows in the image.
The rest is all about properly using selective color. id probably also experiment with dutone and then convert back to RGB, place orginal ontop of layers & play with different blending modes.

[transoptic]

^

Not a bad idea with the duotone. Try a warm, yellowish duotone and blend it on top of the original with screen blend. Reduce opacity to taste, and mask out everything but the skin.

[Sistere]

OK, here is where I am...(Besides seeing brush circles behind my lids every time I close my eyes). I am getting closer but something is missing and I have been at this so long my brain is turning to 'Mush CS3.'

What am I missing with this image...'cream vamp skin' wise...as compared to the images I referenced at the start of this thread?

Thanks SOOO much for the help and advice.

Damien

[prizo]

Good question....
I think you are missing shadows, and therefore some extra contrast. I think that image is too flat.

[jenniferfrances]

Originally Posted by Sistere

OK, here is where I am...(Besides seeing brush circles behind my lids every time I close my eyes). I am getting closer but something is missing and I have been at this so long my brain is turning to 'Mush CS3.'

What am I missing with this image...'cream vamp skin' wise...as compared to the images I referenced at the start of this thread?

Thanks SOOO much for the help and advice.

Damien

looks good. needs a little more contrast & maybe even desaturate a bit.
what method did you end up using for the skin?

[MatthewMarshall]

So many steps go into making that sytle of image. I wish i could spend two hours explaining the prosses. But i think the most important thing that is being missed here, is editing in sections. His images look the way they do because he gets rid of all "bad" lighting and any "imperfections" you can find. You cant just aply a gausian blur to all the skin and desaturate the hole image and expect those results. Its basicaly editing every small section of the photo till its perfect. Example below is a photo that i took, i used a realy bad lit image to give you an example. the first image is the original as taken by the camera. the section is an example of just lighting the image only using the levals tool. the third iamge is an example of me going in and editing every little detail. from the hair to his skin to his eyes. I ajusted color everywere. so clothing was adjusted seperate from his skin, and hair. I sharpend parts but never blured parts. its not an exact example of what your going for. But i think you may understand what im getting at. Basicaly you have to micro-edit a photo to get that look.

[MatthewMarshall]

Like i said the photo i gave is not an exact idea of what your trying to do, just example of editing sections of an image. If you would be willing to email, of provide a link to the raw file, or original image of the girl you gave as a sample. I would be glad to do my "magic" on the image and give better details on creating that type of look. I dont know if i can just give out my personal email on these post. If i can could someone jsut post that i can. thanks. Matt

[plattepro]

That is why this is art - you can't just apply A, B & C to an image and get the exact look as someone else. I have been in many art classes and when everyone tries to do the same technique as instructed it ALWAYS has a unique look for everyone - like your handwriting does.

[transoptic]

Originally Posted by plattepro

That is why this is art - you can't just apply A, B & C to an image and get the exact look as someone else. I have been in many art classes and when everyone tries to do the same technique as instructed it ALWAYS has a unique look for everyone - like your handwriting does.

So then why does this forum even exist?


I was under the impression that you could ask how certain effects were achieved and then you gain knowledge about how to do it yourself...

Maybe I'm wrong?

[sram]

Hi there (my first post by the way )
These photos have that Dave Hill/Jill Greenberg/Amy Dresser look to them. It is a combination of great lighting and Photoshop I believe. Here is a link Hope this helps you!