Need help with this white skin effect.

[mseydel]

This is a nice effect when it's done well. I've had a few images that I've done that mimic this effect. A retoucher I worked with Chris Heins did the original edits on this file, but I applied Matthew's technique as described to get closer to the look that qubic is describing. You may find that you need to fish around for the layer settings that allow the B&W layer to look realistic.

[MatthewMarshall]

something we need to all remember is that the photo cant have too much dark shadows or it wont work. so in mseydels image the original images does not fit the style of the shots in the first place, the images that was givin originaly have a very magical look to them in the first place, even if the skin was normal color the photos woulsd look very interesting in the first place.

[MatthewMarshall]

Originally Posted by qubic

I found more suggesting examples here. This artist is using the technique in most of his photography. Check it out maybe some ideas will come from watching...and to mention that this is photoshop no doubt. http://douart.ru/

the images almost look computer generated. 3d images. they are very cool though.

[leuallen]

Is this similar to what you want. I did not go with the purple tint, don't like it, although it would be easy to aim the face color that way. I think that this keeps the skin texture but yet looks like a white make up was applied. The lips could be desaturated or treated differently if you like since it is masked from the skin

Larry

[qubic]

lauleen... this is exactly what happens when trying to whiten too much...it overexposes. The white has to be mat and unifrom.

[Sistere]

OK, here is my latest whirl at this thing. It still looks like a hack job when compared to retouchers who know how to do this technique...but I can tell I am getting closer to nailing it; progress is a good thing.

Damien

[qubic]

Sistere that looks cool....not the bleaching effect but still cool. I mean It looks pretty close to what you`ve been searching.... Can you tell us how and what you did?

[Sistere]

Originally Posted by qubic

Sistere that looks cool....not the bleaching effect but still cool. I mean It looks pretty close to what you`ve been searching.... Can you tell us how and what you did?

Oh it definitely needs refinement and major tweaking. My biggest challenge was/is getting a solid grounding in obtaining a realistic color leeching effect for skin. Not there yet, but getting closer.

Attached is a slightly warmer version of the same photo.

The basic outline for the first was this:

1. Photo MUST be well lighted. If the originating photo was not well lit then working with carving the highlights and shadows will be like trying to sculpt a pile of runny dog poop. (Sorry, we just had two unexpected litters from our retrievers...so I see the world through puppy poop colored lens right now.)


Color Steps:

2. Do all skin touch-ups first using Green Channel to find blotches in skin. Use HTs for blemishes and D&B to give the skin an even luminance gradient.

3. Curves layer with the center boosted from 128 to 150 to fill in the shadows a bit and edge the highlights some.

4. Hue/Saturation Adjustment Layer: Lower Master Saturation and Red Saturation -12 to -25 depending on preference.

PWL Steps:

5. Empty Layer set to 50% Grey - Overlay. (I like to use the Blue Channel as reference to locate natural skin highlights & Shadows) Then slowly trace over natural HLs with soft white brush and do same to shadows using a soft black brush; giving an embossed look to the skin.

6. Final curves layer for extra highlight or shadow work.

Hope thats useful.

Warmly,
Damien

[lilysharon]

Here's my try.
I did a poor job on the black bkg but I think you need the dark contrast to emphasize the white.

[crazyfly1]

Hey Qubic, is this it?

[crazyfly1]

http://www.retouchpro.com/forums/pho...tml#post173042

And I did Prizo over here. He needs to be whiter though I think.

[qubic]

Thank you for sharing Sistere! Lilisharon and Crazyfly I think that is it!! Might need a little bit of contrast. Please share how you did it! I really want to use the technique today after the photo session I`m having. Gonna do some well lightened photos. Thank you very much guys!

[crazyfly1]

http://www.imagenomic.com/pt.aspx

I cheated.
Took two passes of the glamour setting with a lower brightness on the second pass so as not to blow the highlights. Looks (I think) exactly like the girl with the bronze on her face that you posted.

[Rhasval]

Here are a few tries using a very simple technique I used B&W image adjustment in CS3 and then Tune&Saturation.

[edgework]

No lighting or make-up available. I did this after I first saw Duryagin's stuff. Not much like his, but perhaps a step in the right direction.

http://edgework.tripod.com/samples/whiteface.jpg