Feedback requested-More bad skin

[dipech]

Hi!

Just wondering how this one looks to the pros out there. Not sure if I've perhaps strayed too far from the original...

The skin tone is extremely "muddy" with the bottom half by her lips darker than the area above and all sorts of streaks throughout.

What techniques are recommended to clean up the face while still retaining the proper shadows, etc.

I'll post the orig first.

Thanks for any feedback,
Diane

[dipech]

This is my best version so far.

Diane

[dipech]

This is an "intermediate" version with the background and dress already fixed.

I'd really like to learn how to fix the skin on the face much more efficiently than I probably did.

Diane

[Xaran]

Diane,

Sorry to say but I think you have gone too far with this.

I downloaded your original and had a go - hope you don't mind -this is the result.

Christine

[dipech]

Hi Christine,

Wow, your's looks excellent. But how did you do it? How did you fix the skin and get that skin color??

Hope to hear back from you soon...

Best regards,
Diane

[Xaran]

Hello Diane,

Quite simple really, duplicated the layer and ran gaussian blur until the skin looked smooth. Created a layer mask on this layer (Alt + click on the layer mask icon). Then painted the skin back using white on the layer mask avoiding eyes, nostrils and mouth.

Created a new layer from the original and blurred layer. On this I used the smudge tool around the eyes and lips.

Christine

[Ed_L]

Christine did a good job on this one. I thought it was a little flat though, so I punched it up slightly. I took Christine's image, duplicated the layer, and set the blending mode to screen. A layer mask was added, and I painted the dress with black, to bring it back to the original tones. Lowered the opacity of the layer until I liked the look it. It was still a little flat, so I used a curves adjustment layer. The point on the curves grid was found for the skin tones by holding the ctrl key down while clicking on the area of the face that I was interested in. Then I raised that point by using the "up" arrow on the keyboard until I was satisfied. The dress became a little lighter, so I painted with black again to darken it. There is not a great deal of difference, but on my monitor, the added contrast looks a little better.

Ed

[Xaran]

Nice finishing touch Ed.

Christine

[Duv]

Hi Diane

I would have to agree. One of the big problems many have is knowing when to stop. Sometimes we spend too much time in close up mode and not checking the effects on the overall picture.
There's many things you can do but here's a couple of suggestions. Pump up the contrast a little bit. Go to filters and create a pattern from her skin. Use the Healing Tool set to this pattern for repairing damage. For the darker lower jaw use a soft brush set to "lighten" at 4% opacity. If you feel you must, also try the blur tool set to a very low setting. Build your work carefully and keep checking the results in full picture mode. Also, I think the biggest problem is the neck and chest. There seems to be a lot of light damage. The tones need to be darkened to more closely match the facial tones. Hope this helps. Happy New Year!!

Cheers
Duv

[dipech]

Hi Guys,

Thanks very much for all your help on this one. I'm sure glad I got up after going to bed the other night and posted the above... I did have trouble following Christine's steps above--there must be some steps missing??-- and just had to lighten up the original color a bit via auto-color. But I found a similar technique using the gausian blur in Scott Kelby's book, The Photoshop Book for Digital Photographer's at page 208-212. I would highly recommend this book!

I'm still not quite finished--I have to review how to paint with a layer mask for the dress-- but here is a much improved version.

Also, are there any other photoshop books that any of you would recommend?

Thank you all again and have a very Happy New Year!
Diane

[dipech]

Christine,

Just wondering where you found the background drapes that you used??

Thanks,
Diane

[Duv]

Hi Diane

Scott's book is good but perhaps an even better one is Katrin Eismann's Photoshop Restoration & Retouching, second edition published by New Riders www.newriders.com

Cheers
Duv

[dipech]

Thanks, Duv.

I have the first edition but I guess she added alot in the revised version?

Diane

[Duv]

Hi Di!

In another post someone recommended this. www.digitalmastery.com/tips. Looks like some good tips and good book.

Cheers
Duv

ps. Sorry if you don't like the Hi Di.

[Xaran]

Diane,

The drapes are pure photoshop.

The method was described by Doug in the Tips section but is basically - select 2 colours from the image. Add a new layer
select the gradient tool change the tool mode to difference.
Make small horizontal strokes (the width of each fold). The layer will go black at times - just keep going.

Put the layer below the image and mask out the image where you want the drapes to be.

Christine