Automatic Skin Tone Retouching - Seeking feedback

[Pixarra]

Here is the result of automatic skin tone retouching. It's a single click automatic solution in that iis being added to TwistedBrush Pro Studio and I'm curious how members here think it looks. Perhaps the effect is too strong and I need to create 3 levels of strength?

http://content.screencast.com/users/...skin_tones.jpg


Photo: © Dreamstime.com Agency | Dreamstime.com

Thanks!

Ken Carlino
Pixarra

[slash-5]

Interesting, but too strong.

[Pixarra]

Hi Slash,

Yes I do agree with you now that I've stepped away for a bit and have come back to it.

Thanks for the feedback!
Ken

[Pixarra]

Based on initial feedback I've added some lower levels of strength.

http://content.screencast.com/users/...in_tones_b.jpg

Thanks!
Ken

[Der_W]

All of these tend to eliminate the pores as far as I can tell.
What you could rather try is extract the high frequencies (pores) and blur just the lower frequencies (general skin tone).
So far it looks like a simple "Surface Blur" in combination with "Color Range" (both PS).
You could further try to implement some skin color enhancement, e.g. helping against discoloration (in various strengths).

[wojciech]

I agree with Der_W. Surface Blur + some masking.

[Pixarra]

Excellent eye Jonas and wojciech! Yes this is what it happening behind the scenes pretty much. I will explore deeper to see if I can retain more of the pores.

Thanks!
Ken

[Pixarra]

I now have 3 different styles of 3 levels each. In general Style A is the least strong and Style C the strongest. Therefore Style A level 1 should be the least change and Style C Level 3 the most change.

Style A. Original, Level 1, Level 2, Level 3
http://content.screencast.com/users/...ce_style_a.jpg

Style B. Original, Level 1, Level 2, Level 3
http://content.screencast.com/users/...ce_style_b.jpg

Style C. Original, Level 1, Level 2, Level 3
http://content.screencast.com/users/...ce_style_c.jpg

Thanks!
Ken

[0lBaldy]

For a One click solution... WOW!... it left the hair looking good and only softened the eyelashes and lips just a tad.. nothing that a mask could not remedy..

A couple hours of Pixel level d&B it is not... BUT... One Click!.... Impressive!!

[Pixarra]

Thanks for the feedback and letting me know if I'm on the right track!

Yes manual intervention will always give better results. For some who just need a quick fix and more importantly aren't familiar with the techniques hopefully this will help.

Thanks,
Ken

[ME_wwwing]

to keep skin detail - i like Surface Blur at 7,7. but you have to change the Mode to Darken and change the Opacity to around 20%. you can also use another Surface Blur Layer using Lighten.
and of coarse you need to mask.

[adchesney]

Dear Pixarra

Is your plug-in available?

Regards
ADC

[Godmother]

Originally Posted by 0lBaldy

For a One click solution... WOW!... it left the hair looking good and only softened the eyelashes and lips just a tad.. nothing that a mask could not remedy..

A couple hours of Pixel level d&B it is not... BUT... One Click!.... Impressive!!

I don't get it :/
Have you tried Portraiture?

http://www.imagenomic.com/pt2.aspx

It's paid... but if you want quick you can run it in an action and it won't make your images look like a drawing.... in the long run you can actually sell your pictures to someone and make the money back.
That blurred look wouldn't even cut it for stock sites

I seriously don't get how you can see those samples and say "it works"

[adchesney]

Thank you.

I was looking for a "free" automatic touch-up not pro version. My Brother-in-law got married on 9th Oct, and I wanted to "touch-up" the photos.

Regards

ADC

[Godmother]

Originally Posted by adchesney

Thank you.

I was looking for a "free" automatic touch-up not pro version. My Brother-in-law got married on 9th Oct, and I wanted to "touch-up" the photos.

Regards

ADC

Make sure you ask the bride before you blur the hell out of her

x

[adchesney]

My sister-in-law is a "mature" bride - so hopefully a slight blur might knock off a few years :-)

But I take your point

ADC