Starting out - need a little help / mentoring

[TheCuban]

Hello all!

I was hoping to get some advice on starting out in becoming a retoucher / the retouching industry!! Im pretty dyslexic so please excuse my spelling / grammar! - sounds random but i'm a designer (somewhat frustrateded one at that) and ive worked with some retouchers over the years but have never met one who is willing to part with his / hers secrects.

Its always kind of been awkward as they or i / they have always been really busy and then ...well you know how it is. Its like asking a plumer how he would do a job, and then doing the job yourself (bad analagy) - maybe im to poilte and should have asked??/ anyways... Im looking for a carreer change into a job that i love doing.... I promise i wont steal you clients!

I'm a pretty good designer but i dont really enjoy it as much as i do retouching images (very badly might i say) and over the last few weeks have stumbled on his site and have started to learn about thing i never knew existed. Things as a desinger you would never need to know - and im really confused as to where to start or what i actually need to know as a working retoucher.

I have a good eye for detail, light etc and i think i may have a natural ability, but really dont have a clue on the process etc as it takes me ages as im sure im not doing things correctly.

What i was hoping for would b that some of you lovely pepole could point me in the right direction as to what i would actually need to know or learn, whats expected in retouching role, maybe help me out a little and possibly when ive learnt it maybe help with setting a brief or 2 so you could maybe critique my work for me, and then let me know if you think i have enough skills to cut the mustard in the real world of retouching??

i can pay you in rubbish dad jokes!

Thanks in advance - im looking forward to hearing your advice

a padwan retoucher looking for sme advice from retouching masters

[Boneappetit]

Hi Cuban:

I'm not a Pro, but in the retouching business there is only one way to go, and that is "hard work". There are no secrets and no shortcuts. Here in RP you can find tons of info about the correct way of retouching. You can also find DVDs and tutorials all over the net on the issue. (just be careful with quick and easy solutions or the blur tool, hehe). Among others, you can check Natalia Taffarel's DVD who is an active member here under the nick name of Godmother, or free tutorials on the net. You should search under the line of Dodge and Burn technique, which so far is the best known technique for retouching works.

The technique also involves some other steps like: healing tool, split frequencies, stamp tool, color correction, highlights and shadows, sharpening among others. Although it is not completely necessary to do a job, or to make you a better retoucher, a tablet will make your life easier, cutting your working time and to have better control.

You came to the right site. Here you can find very friendly people who are always available for help, just ask what you'd like to know, you'll get great feedback...

[TheCuban]

Thanks for the advice mate

Are there any fundamentals I should begin with and then work up from?

[Godmother]

Thank you Boneappetit. It's always nice to be recommended.

I wrote this, maybe you'll fin it useful.

http://www.facebook.com/note.php?not...23703497671163

http://www.facebook.com/note.php?not...23707424337437

x

[TheCuban]

Hey Natalia,

Thanks for that, I was actually booked on your sydney workshop - was gutted when it was canceled!

You doing anymore?

[Boneappetit]

Originally Posted by Godmother

Thank you Boneappetit. It's always nice to be recommended.

I wrote this, maybe you'll fin it useful.

http://www.facebook.com/note.php?not...23703497671163

http://www.facebook.com/note.php?not...23707424337437

x

Por nada Natalia, tu me ayudaste en cierto momento y tus consejos y videos en Internet me han servido de mucha ayuda, lo menos que puedo hacer es recomendar tu trabajo y ayuda de cortesia, sin mencionar que estas entre las mejores en el mundo.

[Boneappetit]

Originally Posted by TheCuban

Thanks for the advice mate

Are there any fundamentals I should begin with and then work up from?

Check out this tutorial, very good for starters at the technique... http://digital-makeups.deviantart.co...03123#/d26a2h2

Cuban, are u really Cuban? (si ese es el caso podemos comunicarnos en castellano, azere jeje)...

[TheCuban]

Haha - no sorry to disappoint!

Just a nick name because I do a really rubbish tony montana impression!

Thanks for the extra tutorials - I'll do them this weekend and let you know how I get on.

Thanks again - really appreciate your direction

[Boneappetit]

Originally Posted by TheCuban

Haha - no sorry to disappoint!

Just a nick name because I do a really rubbish tony montana impression!

Thanks for the extra tutorials - I'll do them this weekend and let you know how I get on.

Thanks again - really appreciate your direction

Hahaha, that's cool... I forgot to tell, the D & B technique is "so time consuming" you won't get results right away... You need to practice, practice, practice, and then practice some more... But if you love to play with Photoshop, you'll be hooked in no time, and it won't be a load. The other key word is patience... You'll see what I mean, soon hehe... No problem, glad to help...

[Johann29]

just a question on D & B since im also a starter on it. when i lighten shadows it just appears grayish. how can i get back the skin tone for it? thanks

[Chennae]

Hey, if you want someone to help with retouching or show you retouching on skype, add me chennae-



http://xmisspeepx.deviantart.com/gallery/

[mistermonday]

Originally Posted by Johann29

just a question on D & B since im also a starter on it. when i lighten shadows it just appears grayish. how can i get back the skin tone for it? thanks

Here are two of the popular methods:
1. Add a Hue/Sat Adj layer on top. Hold down the Alt key and drag the mask from the Dodge or Burn layer on top of the Hue/Sat mask so as to replace it. Then adjust the saturation until it is restored in those areas that you have D or B. This is assuming you have used two separate curves - one each for D and B.
2. The 2nd method is to add a blank layer on top of the image and change its blend mode to color. Then using a paint brush sample adjacent color and paint over the dodged area. This method may be more appropriate if you have used a 50% Gray layer on which you did both D&B.
Regards, Murray

[Godmother]

Originally Posted by mistermonday

Here are two of the popular methods:
1. Add a Hue/Sat Adj layer on top. Hold down the Alt key and drag the mask from the Dodge or Burn layer on top of the Hue/Sat mask so as to replace it. Then adjust the saturation until it is restored in those areas that you have D or B. This is assuming you have used two separate curves - one each for D and B.
2. The 2nd method is to add a blank layer on top of the image and change its blend mode to color. Then using a paint brush sample adjacent color and paint over the dodged area. This method may be more appropriate if you have used a 50% Gray layer on which you did both D&B.
Regards, Murray

What he said and if you want to read more about it. I jut put this up http://nataliataffarel.tumblr.com/post/4551849530/dnb

x

[shizam1]

You can also do a clipping mask to attach the hue/saturation results to affect what the D&B curves layer is doing. You just put the Hue/Saturation layer above the curves layer ( one for dark, one for light ), and hold down <alt> and click between the two layers. Now those two layers are attached. This way you can continually add/remove from the curves D&B and not have to keep adjusting the mask to keep them in sync.

[Johann29]

thanks a lot guys! that cleared it up. im presently using the 50% GREY D&B but it seems that i need to learn how to do the curves method.

the comments are very much appreciated!