Using the actual d&b tools (any new opinions?)

[gamedonechanged]

Ok so I am just curious to get peoples opinions on Amy's use of the actual d&b tools on the pixels themselves. I hear so many people often saying it is destructive ect....use curves adjustment layers ect....

I suppose Amy is a pro so she is confident about what she does and she only works with a low strength but still I was very impressed with how it came out.

Will more people be giving that a try if they already do not?

[pellepiano]

Originally Posted by gamedonechanged

I was very impressed with how it came out.

Is that a specific file you talk about? I
was not aware she had mentioned she use the real D&B tools, where can I read about it ?

I use Adjustments layers and the other non destructive methods. I know some that use the real D&B tools on a 50% grey layer, even if the behaviour is not the same.

[gamedonechanged]

I am talking about using the actual d&b tools on the layer itself. And I was referring to the piece she worked on in the retouchpro live last night.

I guess it would be good if I could link you to the pic but I don't think she was able to make the psd available to all. But just imagine you do your clone/healing work on a duplicate of the background and then after that basically use the d&b tool on that layer itself to lighten and darken parts on the skin.

The actual shading and highlighting came after on different layers.

[pellepiano]

Oh, sorry, I had the weekdays in wrong order =) actually thought it was saturday today and was going to order tickets to the Amy show ( did not go to well obviously =) ).

Thanks for clearing that up.

[Dnaindustries]

Make an empty layer and put it in soft light mode or overlay. Then use low opacity black and white brush to either burn or dodge. Its the best way.

[Nicky3]

Works like a charm for me and use it all the time on a duped Background layer- Medium 3% as exactly Amy does. I've tried the gray soft light layer and curves with mask, but the good old D&B just work the best and look the most natural.

I don't understand the damaging pixels issue if we all plan to flatten our files in the end. Once we flatten don't we change the pixels?

[Macint0sh]

Originally Posted by Nicky3

I don't understand the damaging pixels issue if we all plan to flatten our files in the end. Once we flatten don't we change the pixels?

Most of us keep a layered file, even though we deliver flattened files. That way we can go back and make adjustments later, without redoing the work.

[gamedonechanged]

I don't think I would be confident using that method to be honest. I love how she does it but I think for the time being I will be sticking with using the curves layers and a desaturated layer to go from.

[robertmccadden]

In my experience the actual D&B tools do an excellent job of adjusting the tone; not sure why, but they seem to work much better than using other D&B methods. The downside is that they can really mess w/ the color information.

Amy was doing really small moves with them which may be why she didn't have any color issues. She also painted with an adjacent skin tone color on a color layer to fix the really small color inconsistencies. My bet is that this is the move to fix any problems that the D&B tools introduce.

[ISeek]

Originally Posted by gamedonechanged

I don't think I would be confident using that method to be honest. I love how she does it but I think for the time being I will be sticking with using the curves layers and a desaturated layer to go from.

Can you tell us more about your method and how you use it?

[gamedonechanged]

Oh right well it's not really my method or anything it's just what I think most people consider as the best method for skin smoothing.

So basically have 1 curves adjustment layer lightened and 1 darkend, mask both. Then basically use that to lighten or darken areas in the same way Amy was doing. To make it easier you can add a h/s layer desaturated and an s curve adjustment layer to create contrast to see the areas better. There is actually a tutorial on that here which may be useful. Check it out.

[0lBaldy]

Originally Posted by gamedonechanged

Ok so I am just curious to get peoples opinions on Amy's use of the actual d&b tools on the pixels themselves. I hear so many people often saying it is destructive ect....use curves adjustment layers ect....

I suppose Amy is a pro so she is confident about what she does and she only works with a low strength but still I was very impressed with how it came out.

Will more people be giving that a try if they already do not?

Just my $0.02 worth
In past versions of Photoshop it was true that the Dodge and Burn tools were sort of left out in the cold because they were so harsh.. and the pros used the D&B Technique using curves adjustment layers ect....as you describe... BUT, seeing as you have upgraded to CS4 and they have changed how the tools preserve/protect the tones. The tools are much more usable now as per this video from Adobe.com. As the tools get better and improve.... we make adjustments in our thinking and methods.. in the end we usually end up using what we are comfortable with until we get adventurous and try unfamiliar ways and new/improved tools

[gamedonechanged]

I suppose you still have the safety net of it being on a mask so you can go back and edit if you need to but I take on board what you say thanks.