Critique this image

[sympa]

Starting to make a retouching portfolio for my website. Just wanted a quick critique of what I've done if you have any recommendations or suggestions please let me know! The link bellow is a rollover css image so you can see the original and retouched image.

http://sympa-inspir.com/rollover/rollover.html

original stock image here.

[Jixxy]

I think you did a good job, but I find the neck skin tones distracting in a way that makes the neck look too small compared to the head. And with the head pushed in, the shoulder looks too wide on her left side.

[sympa]

I did debate moving her head vertically up to extend her neck a bit but thought because of the camera angle it might end up looking unnatural.

[sympa]

I went in and lengthened her neck as well as moved her shoulder down. Also played a bit more with contrast.

http://sympa-inspir.com/rollover2/rollover.html

[aartist]

How about removing those lip claws?

[sympa]

I thought leaving some semblance of who she was might be a nice touch but I could just take them out . Any critiques on what I've already done though? Specifically I was wondering about the skin. I went in and created a new skin texture that I warped to fit the contours of the face and I'm not sure if I'm happy with it. I'd be interested to hear if there are any recommendations on how to completely retexture someones skin.

[csuebele]

Very good job improving this image. I'm not an expert in skin, but what you did looks good. I would brighten up the side lights on her face. You have a very strong highlight area to the left of her that draws the eye away from her face. Muting that down may look odd, but I think with bringing up the highlights in her face would help the balance.

[sympa]

Looking at the image now after a few days I feel like her face is warped outward toward the camera plane, like it was a super wide angle lense. Gunna have to play with the image more.

[sympa]

Originally Posted by csuebele

Very good job improving this image. I'm not an expert in skin, but what you did looks good. I would brighten up the side lights on her face. You have a very strong highlight area to the left of her that draws the eye away from her face. Muting that down may look odd, but I think with bringing up the highlights in her face would help the balance.

Is that highlight area in the second link as well or was it fixed?

[csuebele]

Originally Posted by sympa

Is that highlight area in the second link as well or was it fixed?

I was looking at the first post. The second post the face is better with the highlights, but the light area to her left is also brighter. Maybe tone that down a bit.

[0lBaldy]

Justin, Welcome to RetouchPRO Hope you enjoy your stay here and make lots of friends. Poke around, ask questions, offer help, have fun!
Thanks for posting your WIP(Work In Progress) for critique

If you use Photoshop you can post fairly large pictures which are under 100k using the 'save for web' function in Photoshop as described here:
Size, Quality and/or Format your Attached Images.. (Click here)

How to attach Files/Images to your Posts or Threads:
(Click here)

Please, always attach an under 100K version of the befores and/or afters of your work into the thread so the thread remains useful in the future, regardless of external links.

Just a few observations of your WIP:

!. The ear is way to low (the top should be at least eye level or a bit above)

2. The dark spot looks to be in front of the face causing the cheek to look deformed

3. The bright spot and the bright shoulder outline should be toned down a lot... A more natural shoulder could be constructed

4. Obvious pattern repeats

5. The colored tint of the original added to the water effect

The right side looks pretty good

[sympa]

Originally Posted by 0lBaldy

Justin, Welcome to RetouchPRO Hope you enjoy your stay here and make lots of friends. Poke around, ask questions, offer help, have fun!
Thanks for posting your WIP(Work In Progress) for critique

If you use Photoshop you can post fairly large pictures which are under 100k using the 'save for web' function in Photoshop as described here:
Size, Quality and/or Format your Attached Images.. (Click here)

How to attach Files/Images to your Posts or Threads:
(Click here)

Please, always attach an under 100K version of the befores and/or afters of your work into the thread so the thread remains useful in the future, regardless of external links.

Just a few observations of your WIP:

!. The ear is way to low (the top should be at least eye level or a bit above)

2. The dark spot looks to be in front of the face causing the cheek to look deformed

3. The bright spot and the bright shoulder outline should be toned down a lot... A more natural shoulder could be constructed

4. Obvious pattern repeats

5. The colored tint of the original added to the water effect

The right side looks pretty good

Just got up, thank you so much! I'll get to work on some reconstruction and the like. As far as the patterning goes i'm not sure what to do. The original file was in RGB and there was banding across the skin surface - To fix it i painted over the layer knowing that i'd have to do some form of skin emulation toward the end. (These are all on separate layers of course and reversable). Just not sure how to handle it.

[0lBaldy]

Originally Posted by sympa

As far as the patterning goes i'm not sure what to do.

Just to clarify about the 'Pattern' repeats look at the hair line where marked (#4)... the hair and ear seem to be from the original before you rotated the face and the hair repeats in the overlay layer just above the original