Skin texture (alien skin)

[gpumar]

I've used Image doctor to smooth or improve the skin but, is there any other filter taht works better that that?

[Caesium]

Based on the filters I have used form them, there are probably tons that are better. However, why not do it by hand? Even if you totally rush it and do a 3 to 5 min job, the degrunge technique with some healing will give way better results.

[flexmanta]

Not really. Degrunge is not better than one of these plugins used correctly. The only thing better than any of these quick and dirty techniques is actually working by hand: cloning, healing and dodging and burning.

[Caesium]

Based on what I have seen from the filter/plugin/action market, I respectfully disagree. Maybe some of the new stuff is doing a much better job that what they used to, however, I have yet to see a skin smoothing plugin that did not look like complete crap.

I stand by my statement. Heal away blemishes and use degrunge/inverted high pass/apply image techniques and in 5 minutes you can have a better result that an automated "whatever".

[plugsnpixels]

Imagenomic Portraiture would be one of the top plug-ins to look at, if you still prefer that route. Topaz Clean would be another.

[skydog]

Again, my opinion, it depends on what you want to achieve, who is the client, and how much are you being paid for your time. I do both, hand, dodge and burn, and at times I've used Imagenomic. Not the same, granted. My son, who is a muscian, knows when another musician misses a note during a performance. I, however, have no clue and enjoyed the show.