The quick de-grunge trick

[byRo]

A thought came to me while planning this tutorial. The 3-D modeling folks who try to mimic real skin have

their work cut out trying to introduce random imperfections, blotches and general grunge into their

perfect skin – all to get it more human.
We are going the other way, and this technique is actually an inversion of one of the 3-D techniques. [details]

Rô

[byRo]

If you wish to try this out on the original image from NancyJ's thread, here the link

(plenty of skin there )

Rô

[KR1156]

thanks Ro.

[1STLITE]

ALL HAIL RO!!! THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU!!! Absolutely awesome tutorial and technique and very well written and easy to understand - I just can't thank you enough or say enough good about it. THis is not going to cost us our first born is it? (Trust me you would send her back by day's end!)
Boy was I scared this was going to be hard to learn, but you have written this absolutely beautifully!

THANK YOU RO!!

[GerardHenninger]

Great tutorial! I just joined RetouchPro and I already love this forum!

Keep those glamour/retouching tutorials coming

Thanks for a great tutorial!

[eogg]

Awesome tutorial, byRo ! Thank you !

I'm currently applying the method on a pic of mine, and I'm trying to wipe out the "bad edges" in a semi-automatic way.
I' like to semi-automatically select the edges, in order to use it as a black selection in a see-all mask for the layer created with your technique... But I haven't been able to do it yet : the high-pass filter gives an image that is not contrasted enough, and other tools won't do yet...

I'm gonna try using a FFT... and let everybody know if this or anything else works !

[eogg]

Hello...

I've been "investigating" this last question of mine.

In order to make the process even more automated, I've come to the conclusion that it is possible, instead of painting with black on the "degrunge" layer, it is possible to use an edges mask.

To create it :
- copy paste the original pic in a new layer
- run the high pass filter to the same settings you've used
- run the Stylize > Find edges filter
- using Levels, decrease the "white" level : the aim is to have the inner skin areas fully white
- then augment contrast sharply and luminosity a bit (or use curves for the same effect)
- select the dark areas ; use "Select > Expand" by 1 to 3 pixels, according to pic resolution - the "black edges" must be several pixels wide and must draw most of the exterior body lines
- paint the new selection black

Now use this layer as a mask for the degrunge layer... voilà !
Edge fringing is 90% solved.


Please let me know if you found this useful !

[byRo]

Very useful, eogg,

I had been thinking (though not "investigating", yet) along the same lines.
Although the method I have in mind is rather different, the results should be about the same.

My idea is to use something like, Find Edges -> Posterize -> Blur.
Ideally the Posterize step would create black lines about 3 times the width of the High-pass radius and the blur would be at the High-pass radius, that way the gradient of the mask would match the "gradient" of the edge interference.

However, seeing as the basic de-grunge method can already be a bit confusing to some folks, a (more complicated yet) masking procedure can get real scarey.

It would be nice if the whole procedure were wrapped up in a plug-in, which (by coincidence ) is something I am working on.

Rô

[Chepe]

Ok byRo,

Here is my try after I read your tutorial, hope to get some C&C.

Image here (100 KB)

And thanks for the tutorial!!!!

Chepe

[studioj]

Cool, another mexican

Well it should be a lot, but I don't know all

Bienvenido a Retouchpro.com Chepe.

[byRo]

Olá, Chepe, benvindo à RetouchPRO

Looks pretty good to me.

Although one of the dangers of this technique is in letting things go a bit too far - the forehead texture comes over as a bit too strong.
Pores in the nose and cheeks are to be expected, but on a young lady's forehead they seem a little out of place.

Look forward to hearing more from you.

Rô

[PatrickB]

No nit-picking here, but I've already seen this tutorial months ago, I think I remember it was even with the same picture. How come?

[Chepe]

Thanks studioj and byRo

2 Days ago I was wondering how to smoothing out the skin and after some google I came to this site.

I will give it another try taking care of the forehead.

Chepe

[Chepe]

Ok... here is a second try in another image, same model.

Large file here

I did take care of the forehead: using the BLUR TOOL and then FADE BLUR TOOL until I got what i wanted.

Chepe

[Bill M]

Quite amazing! I tried it here on my friend Buddy. Mind you, this was my first shot with this technique and my first guess at the radius to use.
Thanks for this!
Bill