Automatic Skin Smoothing.

[ShadowLight]

PhotonicTools - Skin Smooth


Download and Instructions:
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Photon...5060099?v=wall


Current Version:
v.2.0

Pro v.1.7
- Strength control.
- Faster implementation

Update: v.1.5
‎- Control for size-variance added.
- Version mismatch check.
- Precision Increase 2-decimal points (0.01)
- Selection aware. (use select tool to create only for target areas)
- (a few others)
Tip: click on slider and use the arrow keys for fine-adjustments

v. 1.0
- Automatic detection of image-size and adjusting values accordingly.
- Rasterize will create ready to paint mask to allow easy painting of each Skin Smoothing layer only where it is needed.
- Multiple dynamically adjusted skin-smoothing layers.
- Built-in skin-tones masking



Myths/Disinformation:
- 1) Myth: Portraiture is better as it has skin-masking.
SkinSmooth also has automatic masking of the skin.

- 2) Myth: Using -50 contrast (legacy mode) will produce "higher quality results".
In reality when it comes to eliminating a frequency band -50 Contrast leaves some noise (in 8bit).
Unlike the case when we split the image to work just on specific frequency (and where "apply" will give better reuslts), here we need to flatten the frequency, and tests show that the currently used method gives better results.

- 3) Disinformation: You can't set different radius.
This is completely false. Using the slider you change precisely that.

- 4) Disinformation: There are other similar techniques that will give you better results. (shown in DVD tutorials)
The technique that was implemented is nothing new, and I doubt that any one can claim it as being "his". I have tested the rest of the similar techniques and implemented the one that gives best results.

- 5) Disinformation: This is not Inverse High Pass technique, and it is not split frequency.
Ironically enough the implementation is exactly a High Pass of the inverse of the image. The corrections are targeted visual band frequency adjustments, so in essence we split a visual frequency, invert it and apply it with selected weight to eliminate from pores to blotches.


example:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aj3n_yJ8GmQ&hd=1
the video is recorded in real-time, 4 min.



... after a whole bunch of mudding the water before everything gets lost in disinformation and imaginary precision targets I'll summarize everything and hopefully this will clear the raised issues.

Disinformation: the current technique creates clipping.

First and foremost - clipping? is there one?
A: - No.
The only way you can get the so mentioned "clipping" will be if you override the SkinSmooth's calculated values for HP/GB. In reality it is not image clipping at all, but details from the original image start to show.

see the attached image: SmoothClipping.jpg

To get this problem you need to be retouching a very small image, and force override HP to a very large number. As shown in the example, the maximum HP SkinSmooth calculates for possible use is r:18. However even if you push it with an override to r:90 you still don't have the so mentioned problem. Only when you get over r:200 you start to get some details back from the original. (this was the big "issue" that was deemed "clipping the image")


Why do you use Fill/opacity and not contrast -50 or custom filter?
- "contrast -50":
The issue with contrast -50 for this specific use is that applied it is dependent on the mean brightness, which can change if you make changes to the background, but even if it were not an issue Brightness/Contrast cannot be stacked as a filter on a Smart Object. It could be used inside the smart object, but this will hamper the dynamic operations as the slider "strength" will have to be able to change those values on the fly.
- "custom filter":
Although that sounded like a good alternative, the use of the filter produced very poor results, so there was no sense using it.


How big is the difference between the results from Contrast -50, and Opacity 50%?
- see attached image: Compared(to_contrast-50).jpg


Are the differences due to image clipping?
- No.
It appears the bands are slightly different but there is no clipping whatsoever.


So are there differences?
- Yes. (quite small)

Opacity50 leaves more detail (after smoothing) in the highlights
and smooths most of the mid-tones better.
img: Extra details of Opacity50

Contrast-50 leaves more detail (after smoothing) in the midtones,
and smooths out the highlights better.
img: Extra details of Contrast-50

The comparison images are boosted as before so the differences can be visible (in reality they are only a few digits away from each other).


If you like to examine the differences up close here is the PSD (about 100mb):
Compare(to_contrast-50).psd

[ShadowLight]

since there have been a few people spreading misinformation about how the program works and what it does, below are a few clarifications to keep things in check.

Myths/Disinformation:
- 1) Myth: Portraiture is better as it has skin-masking.
SkinSmooth also has automatic masking of the skin.

- 2) Myth: Using -50 contrast (legacy mode) will produce "higher quality results".
In reality when it comes to eliminating a frequency band -50 Contrast leaves some noise (in 8bit).
Unlike the case when we split the image to work just on specific frequency (and where "apply" will give better reuslts), here we need to flatten the frequency, and tests show that the currently used method gives better results.

- 3) Disinformation: You can't set different radius.
This is completely false. Using the slider you change precisely that.

- 4) Disinformation: Limited use of the radius.
The program automatically sets upper boundary for the useful radius. It is calculated based on the image-size, and if you resize your image the maximum radius will be adjusted accordingly, so you will always have the full useful range to work with. (up to the base Photoshop limitations)

- 5) Disinformation: There are other similar techniques that will give you better results. (shown in DVD tutorials)
The technique that was implemented is nothing new, and I doubt that any one can claim it as being "his". I have tested the rest of the similar techniques and implemented the one that gives best results.
And I did test them.
Any technique that does not apply a mask on the target correction can have dark halos from let's say dark hair. This is avoided by using a mask on the source before applying any modifications (something SkinSmooth does automatically)m other techniques were producing noise in 8bit.

[Tyjeco]

Wow, great work. Don't make photoshop to easy man!!! haha. Really impressed! Thanks.

[Zampano]

This is really cool stuff, thanks so much for sharing...!

[ShadowLight]

Skin NR
- say goodbye to the halos
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_MLrxxQgOZk&hd=1

Advanced D&B
-brush-size aware corrections,
-adjusting only the targeted texture size
-so precise you can retouch a thumbnail
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zpt1M45b6PM&hd=1

[warrenj]

Great tools & videos. Thank you, very generous of you to share with us.

I'm looking forward to Skin NR!!

[ShadowLight]

I made small update:
now you can make a selection of what you would like to target for correction
(make a selection of your target area, and press "Create")

update this file: http://mobilefiles.ca/split/SkinSmooth.jsx

[warrenj]

I'm having a minor problem with it now. I can't rastersize the layer.
Reverted back to the previous version & that seems fine.

[ShadowLight]

I just tested it here, and looks like it works

if you had an older version of the interface (swf) that could have been the problem
try updating both files and see if you still have the problem

(after updating both files, let me know if you still have the problem)

[warrenj]

My apologies. I thought I had the latest version of both files but I was mistaken.
It is working great......now where is that embarrassed emoticon.

Edit: Oh & BTW, that's a very cool feature.

[ShadowLight]

no worries

I should have had the version number in the interface...
oh well.. if I update it again I'll add it.

cheers

[Flashtones]

It's not able to make a smart object for me, though smooth split can.

I would like to think I have the latest of both files, but to be honest, I'm not sure where to obtain them. I've tried the zip file in the 1st post above, plus the link posted 4 or so posts above this one, plus the facebook page.

Version numbers would be helpful, plus I think having both files Zipped together is best so one knows they have a matched pair and with the proper extensions (ie, not having to edit the .txt extension off.)

Not to complain, mind you. I appreciate what you are doing.

[ShadowLight]

All links should have the latest files, including the ZIP.

I'll check the online files again.

edit: just checked both the direct links, and the ziped files
both have the latest versions and work (tested them)

I didn't expect that the small change will give so much problems as the SWF is not changed at all since the last version, yet download them again and override the old ones.

should work, but let me know if you find problems

[Flashtones]

Mac OS 10.5.8, PS CS5.

Here's a peek:

[ShadowLight]

Originally Posted by Flashtones

Mac OS 10.5.8, PS CS5.

Here's a peek:

make sure you have the other versions removed and you are not running SmoothSplit at the same time.

Start Photoshop, Uncheck all Extensions (SmoothSkin and SmoothSplit) so they are "off"

restart PS, and start SmoothSkin:
Window>Extensions>SmoothSkin

of course make sure you have changed the SmoothSkin files with the new versions.

has anyone else had this problem?

[Flashtones]

Originally Posted by ShadowLight

make sure you have the other versions removed and you are not running SmoothSplit at the same time.

Start Photoshop, Uncheck all Extensions (SmoothSkin and SmoothSplit) so they are "off"

restart PS, and start SmoothSkin:
Window>Extensions>SmoothSkin

of course make sure you have changed the SmoothSkin files with the new versions.

has anyone else had this problem?

Sorry, followed your suggestions but the error remains.

[ShadowLight]

Originally Posted by Flashtones

Sorry, followed your suggestions but the error remains.

it is hard to guess what's wrong, as with everyone else it looks like is working...

try: Start Photoshop, make sure only SkinSmooth is running, load an image
make a selection, and press "create"

does it give you an error this time too?

[Boneappetit]

It happened to me too... Since I don't know the plug in well, I thought it didn't work for Mac so I deleted it... And I use Ps CS4 Extended.

[ShadowLight]

Originally Posted by Boneappetit

It happened to me too... Since I don't know the plug in well, I thought it didn't work for Mac so I deleted it...

ok, thanks
I'll look into what's the problem

[Flashtones]

Originally Posted by ShadowLight

it is hard to guess what's wrong, as with everyone else it looks like is working...

try: Start Photoshop, make sure only SkinSmooth is running, load an image
make a selection, and press "create"

does it give you an error this time too?

that works.

the key is a selection is required.

[ShadowLight]

ok.. now it should be "Mac-Friendly"

try it again, should work (with or without selection)
(I have updated the files)

[Flashtones]

good job, it works.

[Boneappetit]

Originally Posted by ShadowLight

ok, thanks
I'll look into what's the problem

It's working now. I wanted to give it try out of curiosity. Since I'm not a pro retoucher I'm neutral here , I would like to read an opinion of one of the pros here in RP.

Thanx

[ShadowLight]

Originally Posted by Boneappetit

It's working now. I wanted to give it try out of curiosity. Since I'm not a pro retoucher I'm neutral here , I would like to read an opinion of one of the pros here in RP.

Thanx

comments and suggestions are always welcomed

[ShadowLight]

Update: v.1.5
‎- Control for size-variance added.
- Version mismatch check.
- Precision Increase 2-decimal points (0.01)
- (a few others)
Tip: click on slider and use the arrow keys for fine-adjustments


zip:
http://mobilefiles.ca/SkinSmooth/Pho...ooth.v.1.5.zip

[warrenj]

Wow, you are a man on a mission.
That's awesome. Thank you.

[Boneappetit]

ShadowLight:

I would like to know if there's a finished work done with this plug-in, somewhere on the net that I can see... ? I mean a complete retouch.

[ShadowLight]

this is just a tool, the result will depend only on the retoucher

it is automation of "inverse high pass" with flexibility of dynamic view of the result
...ie you neutralize a visual frequency band of the image,
similar to Portraiture, but here you have much greater control over the adjustments

[Boneappetit]

Originally Posted by ShadowLight

this is just a tool, the result will depend only on the retoucher

it is automation of "inverse high pass" with flexibility of dynamic view of the result
...ie you neutralize a visual frequency band of the image,
similar to Portraiture, but here you have much greater control over the adjustments

Ok, I already downloaded this one, and it works much better than the other, pretty smooth functionality. I was just curious about the results of a portrait done by someone else...

[ShadowLight]

if it helps, check out the video on how it can be used:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aj3n_yJ8GmQ&hd=1

I'm also curious to see if anyone else has videos/examples to post.