Beauty White Skin look

[XpLoiT]

hey guys i have been doing a little investigation in the whole beauty skin feel.

When im talking beauty just to save confusion im talking total makup / headshots.

Generally this is representated with crazy makeup on awesome whiteish skin.
Well what my searching has found me is that the skin isnt actually like that from the mua, its generally applied later in post.

I did a bit of a search for how to get that milky white skin feel but only came up with subpar results. I see the "convert to black and white, blur it, change blend mode" seems to be the most common but after some links of yours which work. (as i havent had much luck with that)

here are some examples ps, these are not my shots, so give props to the togs, makeup, and models:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/jroo/35...n/photostream/
link to the rest of his work: here

http://www.flickr.com/photos/8107300@N07/3302553885
link to the rest of his work: here

[andyong]

have you try the Hue/Sat Adjustment, increase the Lightness of Red Chanel, and decreasing a little bit of its saturation?

[Flashtones]

Got an image for us to work with?

[XpLoiT]

hmm sorry guys i dont i was just wondering if there is some steps to run through to try complete these kind of effects

[P_fuzz]

hue/sat on the red and yellow channels


or you will be surprised what the Selective colors adj layer can do for you... I know I am!

[darc]

If I wanted to read advertising promotions on this site I would be better going to my email JUNKMAIL folder. Good sites are soon ruined with this sort of rubbish

[darc]

Before anyone takes offence from my previous post, it was in reference to 2 large employment advertisements, posted in this thread, from Hong Kong which I note have now been removed. My apologies to "XploiT" and other readers if it offends, as I do agree with the threads subject matter. finding that a lot of before and after portaits show changes from features with character, to plasticised facial masks without age lines or blemishes and generally of a bland over all deep pink hue. My only answere to that is to enjoy experimenting to attain the effect you desire.

[Sweetlight]

Where do you exactly find a red and yellow channel within the same workspace. I am confused again......Heellllllllllpppppppppppp Palms.
c

[Peter S]

Originally Posted by Sweetlight

Where do you exactly find a red and yellow channel within the same workspace. I am confused again......Heellllllllllpppppppppppp Palms.
c

I think what is meant is using a Hue & Sat Adjustment layer, from there you can adjust all the channels individually or globally using the drop down menu at the top of the dialogue box.

Peter

[Sweetlight]

Oh hell I should have known that . I am telling yall if it were not for Palms helping me limp along the way lately this early onset Alzheimer's would turn me into a bumbling idiot.

Thanks Peter,
c

[0lBaldy]

Originally Posted by Sweetlight

Oh hell I should have known that . I am telling yall if it were not for Palms helping me limp along the way lately this early onset Alzheimer's would turn me into a bumbling idiot.

Thanks Peter,
c

Geez, I thought this loss of memory we seem to share, was due to inhaling an over-abundance of Dektol, Acetic Acid, and Hypo fumes.... not the onset of Alzheimer's... Maybe I stand corrected!

[Sweetlight]

Baldy, the frickin Stop Bath did it!!!!!!! That was worse than anything, it's a wonder were not all dead. Maybe we are but just pickled and well preserved. Sometimes I have dreams of being in the darkroom and those fumes are so vivid in my mind. Wow..

[Belk Media Grp]

I use a Hue & Sat adjust. layer to start the initial skin bleaching. Lightening the red and yellow hues. Next, on a separate layer with a brush set to lighten and opacity to about 10% and flow 15% I brush over using white. When done, clean up with eraser.

[0lBaldy]

Originally Posted by XpLoiT

hey guys i have been doing a little investigation in the whole beauty skin feel.

When im talking beauty just to save confusion im talking total makup / headshots.

Generally this is representated with crazy makeup on awesome whiteish skin.
Well what my searching has found me is that the skin isnt actually like that from the mua, its generally applied later in post.

I did a bit of a search for how to get that milky white skin feel but only came up with subpar results. I see the "convert to black and white, blur it, change blend mode" seems to be the most common but after some links of yours which work. (as i havent had much luck with that)

Welcome to RetouchPRO! Hope you enjoy your stay here and make lots of new friends.

You might try the Amy Dresser way.. below is a cropped version converted into a GIF from her PSD file located here which shows her workflow.. After clicking the thumbnail below, wait a couple seconds to see the change from normal to "milky white skin".... the makeup I will leave to your imagination

[spydercam]

Welcome, I think your second shot is very nice. Was it your shot or a stock image?

[Meaty0]

Is this kind of like what you're looking for Xploit?
20090424_Jess_Eva_0143_normal.jpg

A studio image I shot a short while ago. I just used a Hue/Sat layer and reduced the saturation of the Reds and Yellows channel about -12 and then increased the lightness of the same layers around 25 or more (to suit).

I Ctrl+Shift+Alt+E to bring up a new layer with changes incorporated.

I then used a soft brush set to about 12 % opacity and 20% flow and painted over the darker areas of the image that I wanted lighter. In fact, I used the same brush to paint over ALL the areas (dark and light) that I wanted lighter. You tend to lose some texture in the skin doing that..so you may need to add texture later on.

[Alex Retoucher]

my version of white skin
http://www.alexretoucher.com/_POR2360_.jpg
interesting how i did this?

[Macint0sh]

hi alex, please share your technique. would you mind sharing the before image as well?

looked at your portfolio. you have some skills

[Alex Retoucher]

Ok. I used adjustment layers and solid white layer. But the main idea is to make masks from red channel because you must work only with highlighted skin and leave shadows natural. For all steps - after create mask from selection you may be need to complete it with brush (clean hairs, clothes make lighting more even etc.)
1. selection by red channel -> adj.layer curves. lift up middle.
2. selection by red channel -> new layer -> layer mask -> fill layer with white -> set opacity about 30-50% -> correct layer mask by adding contrast - shadows must clean.
3. copy white layer -> set blending mode "color" -> set opacity.
4. copy merged -> paste -> desaturate -> blending mode soft light -> set opacity.

I can't show before because this pic still in work now. If I'll get client's permission, I'll show it in my portfolio later.

[0lBaldy]

Originally Posted by d00dle

0lBaldy, how did u manage to find Amy Dresser's PSD?! I can't believe im lookin @her PSD file rite now. what a wonderful day.

d00dle, Welcome to RetouchPRO
The search button at the top of each page is very usefull in finding things like the Amy Dresser PSD..

[Alex Retoucher]

d00dle, you shouldn't use somebodies photo without permission. please remove it from your post. you can practice on it of course but not to post it. it's not a photo for challenge. if you want me to see your version and know my opinion, please do it private.

[Sam Bacon]

Originally Posted by Alex Retoucher

Ok. I used adjustment layers and solid white layer. But the main idea is to make masks from red channel because you must work only with highlighted skin and leave shadows natural. For all steps - after create mask from selection you may be need to complete it with brush (clean hairs, clothes make lighting more even etc.)
1. selection by red channel -> adj.layer curves. lift up middle.
2. selection by red channel -> new layer -> layer mask -> fill layer with white -> set opacity about 30-50% -> correct layer mask by adding contrast - shadows must clean.
3. copy white layer -> set blending mode "color" -> set opacity.
4. copy merged -> paste -> desaturate -> blending mode soft light -> set opacity.

I can't show before because this pic still in work now. If I'll get client's permission, I'll show it in my portfolio later.

hi, alex
thanks for sharing the technique, indeed.
a few questions on it:

a. step 2: having a white solid colour with red mask would be similar to what you say, right?

b. what is the actual purpose for step 3? do you replace the first white layer (step 2) with the new (copied) white layer, or do you simply have the new white layer on top of the first one?

c. in step 4, you just put a merged image on top and desatureate it for soft light blend, right? why don't you use a channel copy instead, such as, say, green to add more contrast, or else?

thanks again! very useful workflow to play with!

[Alex Retoucher]

Sam Bacon,
a - yes
b - the idea is to reduce saturation of highlighted skin.
c - sure, it's the same. just see which work better.

[d00dle]

sorry, i'll took everything down ASAP. i have a question 'bout skin on beauty do u use blur at all to smooth everything out? wat do u recommend.

[Alex Retoucher]

well, of course i retouched this image. use your usual retouching method. you can retouch it before or after whitening. but better to do it after, because some skin defects may be just not visible after whitening and retouch will be easier.

[d00dle]

in step 4, I notice desaturate and blend mode to soft light or overlay add more contrast (bring out highlight & shadow, plus lil desaturate the entire image).

[Sam Bacon]

alex, thanks again!
well, may I ask you to show a sample workflow with layers? would highly appreciate that!

[Alex Retoucher]

i didn't save that file unmerged. show yours and i'll say if i find something strange

[Alex Retoucher]

Macint0sh, now I can show before image
http://alexretoucher.com/portfolio/giu1.html
but please, my images not for training

[danny_kino]

Thanks alex, i'll be trying this out later, red skin always annoys me