Clients asking for smoothness

[Karlington]

This is a question for all you lucky folks that makes a living on retouching:
What method do you use if a client asks for that really smooth porcelain skin look? You know that "bad" retouching look that looks totaly fake (I guess that some agencies/magazines really asks for that). Do you D&B your asses off 'til the skin looks smooth or do you use a degrunge/smoothening technique? Or maybe both?

/Karl

[Daviskw]

The combination of smudging and noise reduction software can have excellent results.

THIS link as an example

Butch

[Godmother]

Originally Posted by Daviskw

The combination of smudging and noise reduction software can have excellent results.

THIS link as an example

Butch

You're kidding right?
He wants the final image to look like a smooth photo, not a painting.

It always depends on what the client calls SMOOTH

[Daviskw]

This technique can do both..better than any other that I know.

Here are a few more

[Karlington]

Hmm... just to clarify: I don't really need the techniques for smoothing, just wondering if you ever use smoothing or if you d&b 'til the image is totaly smooth.

Maybe this is a stupid question, but I really just wonder if there's a big no-no in doing smoothing/degrungeing even if that is what the client want. Do you follow?

[mtpfamily]

Do what the client wants. I have experimented before and have done a picture that was smooth and one of d&b. The person picked the smooth one even though it looked fake. I have found that the ordinary people seem to go for the smoothing look more than the natural. Which is fine with me cause it takes less time. Each person taste are different. Personally I use the curves method of d&b and just use the 50% overlay gray method for highlights and shadows. If you are not sure do one of each and show them the difference and let them choose like I did.

[Karlington]

Hey that's a good advice. I now work at an advertising agency and that's of course the way we do when we show our clients work (say an ad or campaign) – show at least two different soloutions. Didn't think about doing the same with a retouch. Thanks!

[Cuervo79]

a really fast way to do the blur smooth is to do a degrunge layer and later a gaussian blur (or surface blur) layer and mask it, paint the mask and you're done. you don't really have to go over with the healing tool too much just on really contrasty stuff on the skin.