Question on Carve Layer in this amy dresser file

[julianmarsalis]

Originally Posted by NancyJ

All you had to do is ask.

To prove thats its no conspiracy, no secret tricks that cant be shared, just hard graft and a hell of a lot of talent... here is a tutorial by Amy Dresser herself, included is a PSD of one of her images.
As well as being immensely talented, she's a very nice lady, very friendly and approachable.

http://www.fearofbodd.com/ADresserSample_RET.psd

Ok after looking at this carve layer in the highlight section I am blown away by the detail trying to figure out if it is truly all done by hand it almost appears to be the image reprocessed around 50% gray. Then some additional dodge and burn added those strokes are easily seen as they clearly are distinct from the fine detail. Anyone have a way of recreating this layer?????? If its done completely by hand thats some crazy time and effort.

[snook305]

very easy..
Fill a softlight layer with 50% grey and then burn and dodge with either white o black paint brush..
She is using a wacom tablet.. that is why the fine detail..
Nothing new...
SNook

[Swampy]

Just my humble opinion, but that is butt ugly. The retouched version looks like a mannequin or the start of a poster child for some disease. Gag.

[julianmarsalis]

I guess to me it looks more like she did something with apply image and or calculations and adjusted the levels til the blacks hit 50% gray. I am gonna have to experiment with it.

[hawkeye60]

I have to agree with Swampy. That picture creeps me out.

[jam1212]

I'd be willing to bet it's all just d/b on a 50% gray layer. If you know enough about how to draw human faces, such results are fairly easy to achieve. It's just a matter of artistry. Lots of people do it. It just takes practice. I'd be highly surprised if it turned out to be anything other than that.

[julianmarsalis]

One thing I have learned is that there is more than one way to skin a cat especially in photoshop.......

[amica999]

Julian, I have seen some masks similar to the one you mentioned and their creators state that it is d/B on 50% grey layer....

[julianmarsalis]

I still believe I can come up with a way to start this process with a 50% gray remapped toned image ftw......

[amica999]

Julian, if you do, let me know :-)

[Markzebra]

That layer, or its equivalent by whatever technique you want to use, is what separates good from average in high end fashion.

[swarbees]

Originally Posted by Swampy

Just my humble opinion, but that is butt ugly. The retouched version looks like a mannequin or the start of a poster child for some disease. Gag.

I see these posts and about "please how do I get this effect" and half the time all I can think is---why would you want that effect??? I agree with Swampy--this is alien

[CJ Swartz]

Originally Posted by swarbees

I see these posts and about "please how do I get this effect" and half the time all I can think is---why would you want that effect??? I agree with Swampy--this is alien

I think it is a "generational thing" - hopefully just another short-termed fad. I can appreciate the skills it takes to make the "look", but the actual look makes a person look un-well or alien (from another planet). Perhaps making people look healthy and happy just got boring for photographers and retouchers?

[Swampy]

CJ - I thought the grunge look and Dragan, Dave Hill etc. would fade away, but I think you are right about it being generational. Now it's shifting to the HDR look with ominous clouds, sharpness that hurts the eyes, and weird colors. It's almost like only having only Van Gogh to look at. Guess I'm just not "egdy" enough in my old age. LOL.

[amica999]

Somehow I get the feeling that some people think that the mask is the finished product.

[Markzebra]

Maybe she's SUPPOSED to look like an alien from another planet. There's well crafted aliens excusable because they are believable in a SCI FI kind of way. And then there's the more accidental, less well crafted aliens, that we all see on the pages of US Vogue increasingly.

[julianmarsalis]

Originally Posted by amica999

Somehow I get the feeling that some people think that the mask is the finished product.

I agree its about the process of how the image was created the techniques being used but many don't get that. Still working on a way to create that detail carve layer thinking a edgemask on the 50% gray stroked with a darker gray then add a luminosity mask and fill with white g blur slightly and see what I get ....

[SteveB2005]

Originally Posted by Swampy

Just my humble opinion, but that is butt ugly. The retouched version looks like a mannequin or the start of a poster child for some disease. Gag.

HeHe, interesting technique for what it presents, but it conveys a bit of tales from the Wax Museum. It's scarrrrryyyyyy, oh boy. I guess that is her vision.

See, we all want to know what magic Dave Hill, Jill Greenberg, Amy, Dragan and a few others are applying to their images. Then we want to apply the tricks to our own work using those techniques and then we all look alike for the most part, lost our individual vision. I think it's fine to know how a photographer is getting a certain look, but applying to our own style, I don't know. It's like in music, oh did you hear that singer the other night, she sounds just like Madonna. Unfortunately she doesn't have her money from all the CD's she sold and concerts she's put on. JM2$

[julianmarsalis]

Originally Posted by SteveB2005

HeHe, interesting technique for what it presents, but it conveys a bit of tales from the Wax Museum. It's scarrrrryyyyyy, oh boy. I guess that is her vision.

See, we all want to know what magic Dave Hill, Jill Greenberg, Amy, Dragan and a few others are applying to their images. Then we want to apply the tricks to our own work using those techniques and then we all look alike for the most part, lost our individual vision. I think it's fine to know how a photographer is getting a certain look, but applying to our own style, I don't know. It's like in music, oh did you hear that singer the other night, she sounds just like Madonna. Unfortunately she doesn't have her money from all the CD's she sold and concerts she's put on. JM2$

Nope to me its just learning another tool to put in the tool bag and see if the methods she uses can enhance my own work......

[closer]

I joined this board specifically because I was wondering the same thing. What's up with that layer! What's the process!

[Doug Nelson]

Amy covers how to do her carve layer in detail on all her RetouchPRO LIVE rentable shows.