Creative Portraits: So Sexy

[DannyRaphael]

If you haven't seen it yet, check out this excellent retouching tutorial recently crafted by member NancyJ: http://retouchpro.com/tutorials/?m=show&id=191

She approved using the final result of her tutorial in this challenge. (Thank you, Nancy! ) I really like how it's cropped.

Let's see your best stuff on this one!

~Danny~

[DannyRaphael]

After using Levels to generally lighten the image, I had fun playing with my favorite plugin, Impressionist. See the Layers Palette snapshot for the layer-by-layer progression. (If something isn't clear, don't hesitate to ask.)

I used the Pastel setting of the Nik Color Efex plugin on one layer to mess with the colors a bit, but this isn't a requirement. Similar results could have been achived using a Hue/Saturation adjustment layer set to colorize, applying ctrl + I (to invert the mask) and airbrushing in the effect.

Thanks again, Nancy, for the lovely base image.

~Danny~

[bert de wolff]

hello danny

sexy indeed !
i'm slightly puzzled by how you work your layers and masks, do you run impressionist at every layer and follow up with a mask at each layer ?

i'd appreciate a step by step run thru if u have the time

thanks a lot
bert

[bert de wolff]

meanwhile, here's my contribution:

moodshift with VP/glamour filter, then xero/caravaggio filter, finished with trimoon's 121 texture

cheerio
bert

[DannyRaphael]

Originally Posted by bert de wolff

i'm slightly puzzled by how you work your layers and masks, do you run impressionist at every layer and follow up with a mask at each layer ?

i'd appreciate a step by step run thru if u have the time

thanks a lot
bert

Hey, Bert...

I guess I do this so often using my own "code" for reference I forget not everyone is used to how I label layers.

In this one just about every layer is a duplicate of the Background (layer name: BG+) to which an Impressionist setting is applied, e.g., Charcoal > Default. If I changed a setting, that's noted, e.g., Brush=88 means the setting was changed from the default 100 to 88. The layer blend mode is Normal unless specified, e.g., (Pin Light).

Come to think of it I forgot to note that for all the Impressionist rendered layers that Coverage = 100, so there are no unrendered areas.

Layer "(Soft Light) BG + Chunky strokes + Invert + USM" translates to "applying the Chalk > Chunky Strokes style, inverting the result (ctrl + I) followed by sharpening (Unsharp Mask), and then changing the blend mode to Soft Light.)

"BG - restore eye, hair detail" = no Impressionist on this one. Just a copy of the Background used to restore some detail that Impressionist has obliterated.

"Unsmudged mono (color=image)" = Conte > Unsmudged Monochrome, which normally renders in grayscale. I changed the Stroke Color setting in the Color panel from "grayscale" to "image," to pick up the colors.

Process-wise it's pretty much:
* Duplicate Background
* (If necessary) drag that layer to the top of the layer stack
* Apply filter or plugin
* Add layer mask (reveal or hide all, depending on circumstance)
* Selectively apply with airbrush setting on and brush = Chalk 36 or a soft-edged brush

Thanks for asking. 20-20 hindsight: I should have done a better job explaining to begin with. Hope this helps.

Keep asking if I still need to connect a few dots.

~Danny~

[bert de wolff]

hiya danny, thanks a lot for taking the time to explain your moves,
much appreciated and a great help !

tata
bert

Originally Posted by DannyRaphael

Hey, Bert...

I guess I do this so often using my own "code" for reference I forget not everyone is used to how I label layers.

In this one just about every layer is a duplicate of the Background (layer name: BG+) to which an Impressionist setting is applied, e.g., Charcoal > Default. If I changed a setting, that's noted, e.g., Brush=88 means the setting was changed from the default 100 to 88. The layer blend mode is Normal unless specified, e.g., (Pin Light).

Come to think of it I forgot to note that for all the Impressionist rendered layers that Coverage = 100, so there are no unrendered areas.

Layer "(Soft Light) BG + Chunky strokes + Invert + USM" translates to "applying the Chalk > Chunky Strokes style, inverting the result (ctrl + I) followed by sharpening (Unsharp Mask), and then changing the blend mode to Soft Light.)

"BG - restore eye, hair detail" = no Impressionist on this one. Just a copy of the Background used to restore some detail that Impressionist has obliterated.

"Unsmudged mono (color=image)" = Conte > Unsmudged Monochrome, which normally renders in grayscale. I changed the Stroke Color setting in the Color panel from "grayscale" to "image," to pick up the colors.

Process-wise it's pretty much:
* Duplicate Background
* (If necessary) drag that layer to the top of the layer stack
* Apply filter or plugin
* Add layer mask (reveal or hide all, depending on circumstance)
* Selectively apply with airbrush setting on and brush = Chalk 36 or a soft-edged brush

Thanks for asking. 20-20 hindsight: I should have done a better job explaining to begin with. Hope this helps.

Keep asking if I still need to connect a few dots.

~Danny~

[DannyRaphael]

Originally Posted by bert de wolff

meanwhile, here's my contribution:

moodshift with VP/glamour filter, then xero/caravaggio filter, finished with trimoon's 121 texture.

I meant to comment on your creation... I like the overall effect a lot. The Trimoon texture (available at www.Trimoon.com) adds cohesiveness to the overall look... the icing on the cake, if you will.

Virtual Photographer (http://www.optikvervelabs.com/) is an amazing plugin and you sure can't beat the price! (Free)

[Steve Conway]

Great pic! Hard to come up an enhancement. Not sure I did.

Steve

[DannyRaphael]

Originally Posted by Steve Conway

Great pic! Hard to come up an enhancement. Not sure I did.

I agree about the "Great pic!" assessment, which begs the question, "Why would one ever want to manipulate such a nice image?" -- something I hear often from my wife. My standard reply: "Because I can and it's fun."

Yours is definitely a creative approach, Steve, and we like creativity around here!

[Steve Conway]

You're right it's great fun. And I guess the better the image the harder it is to come up with something worthwhile.

The "why do you climb mountains?" question also comes to mind.

Steve

Originally Posted by DannyRaphael

I agree about the "Great pic!" assessment, which begs the question, "Why would one ever want to manipulate such a nice image?" -- something I hear often from my wife. My standard reply: "Because I can and it's fun."

Yours is definitely a creative approach, Steve, and we like creativity around here!

[NancyJ]

HI all This is my first attempt at photo based art so be gentle with me

Ok the firstr thing I did was desaturate the original then I created 2 copies. With the first one I ran a darklines filter to get a soft pastel effect and the second I sharpened up 3 or 4 times.
Then I masked the sharpened layer on top of the smudged layer in places of high details, - the lips, eyes and hair - where an artist might have used sharp pencil strokes rather than pastel.
Then I overlayed a sepia colour and finished it off with a tiny bit of paper texture.
I only have the basic 'out of the box' photoshop filters

[DannyRaphael]

Originally Posted by NancyJ

HI all This is my first attempt at photo based art so be gentle with me

Ok the firstr thing I did was desaturate the original then I created 2 copies. With the first one I ran a darklines filter to get a soft pastel effect and the second I sharpened up 3 or 4 times.
Then I masked the sharpened layer on top of the smudged layer in places of high details, - the lips, eyes and hair - where an artist might have used sharp pencil strokes rather than pastel.
Then I overlayed a sepia colour and finished it off with a tiny bit of paper texture.
I only have the basic 'out of the box' photoshop filters

First time? Really? Wow! Very impressive, Nancy. You've definitely got the knack.

It's not uncommon for first timers to overdo filter and plugin effects, so I especially appreciated your light touch -- especially on the final texturing.

re: I only have the basic 'out of the box' photoshop filters
That's not necessarily a bad thing. That's where most people start and your creation illustrates what wonderful effects one can achieve using the basic tool set. Once one gets a handle on Photoshop filter strengths/limitations, it makes shopping for 3rd party plugins easier when/if one gets to that point.

I sure hope you'll try other manipulations, but in the mean time take a well-deserved bow on this one.

~Danny~

[Kraellin]

ok, being me, i had to go a slightly (?) different way

Craig

edit: made one little change to the pic.

[DannyRaphael]

Originally Posted by Kraellin

ok, being me, i had to go a slightly (?) different way

If you didn't go a slightly different way, we'd think there was something wrong with you, Craig!

Another fun and creative result.

~Danny~

[DannyRaphael]

I started with the one in Post #2 and started messing with it in Corel Painter 9... using brushes Just add water, Grainy blender for blending, Soft cloner to restore detail, Acrylic > Captured Bristle to add colors.

I'd paint, blend, save, clone, sharpen, blend some more, paint some more. Time for dinner = time to give it a rest.