Odd request for help??

[doosume]

Okay, I am not sure how to ask about this....

I've been looking for tutorials on how to draw 'realistic' lips and digital makeup and have come across 'pageant sites' that have a look that peaks my curiousity...

I've attached a couple files from a site. I would like to know how this matte lipstick look was achieved. I know they have to be drawing these lips on because ALL the pictures are the same.

There seems to be a lipstick color, a liner and highlights but the line that seperates the lips is very defined and there seems to be a shimmer or noise on the lips?

I like it and think it would be cool for eyeshadow or funky makeup but can not do it!!!! Is it sharpened ??

I'm stumped...Anyone else want to venture a guess??

[doosume]

Here is another example of lips..... *perfect lips* ??

[grafx]

It all depends on the lipstick used by the H/M artist. The retoucher just redefines the shape and makes the colors uniform with airbrush.

[CourtneyConk.Co]

Ugh. I hate that barbie doll skin look.... sorry....

It just looks like the cleaned up the edge of the lips and maybe overlayed color. Those images are disturbing. Or is it me?

[grafx]

Ugh. I hate that barbie doll skin look.... sorry....

It just looks like the cleaned up the edge of the lips and maybe overlayed color. Those images are disturbing. Or is it me?

Disturbing...possibly, but you haven't had a challenge until you've worked for a pageant mom. The pictures must be "flawless", but not "plastic". You are given chances to flex those retouching and creative abilities to make a porcelain doll out of a child with snot hanging out of their nose. Besides, there is a demand for such work and I am all for being the "supply".

You mentioned Barbie...It is sorta like playing with Barbies. You dress and doll them up, but on second thought, I cut off all my Barbie's hair and spray painted her gold ::grinz::

[doosume]

grafx - ha! I gave my barbies mohawks and beehives...

How do they fill in the lips to make them even or look fuller then they are? I noticed the lips had perfect symmetry?

Whenever I try to do this the lips look fake(even after shading) and glossy but I would like to get the matte look...

[grafx]

Hehehe...I knew I wasn't the only Barbie mutilator

With the lips pick the best side, copy it onto a new layer, flip horizontal and arrange the correct angle. Erase and clean up to make it look "real". Then the gloss is all based on the actual lip on the photo. Use a high gloss lipstick or just gloss so that the lights catch on the texture of the lips. The rest is all airbrushed and a bit of practice.

[Xaran]

Or pinch them from another picture.

Christine

[Vikki]

Maybe this might help:

http://div.dyndns.org/EK/tutorial/lips/

I have to say though, these are pretty scary!
Does anyone do "natural" retouching for these?

[grafx]

Not right now. The gal I do work for locally has been doing coaching for about twenty years and she says the look changes from what is called "glam" to "natural" every now and then but the photos are always retouched in some way or another.

::shrug::

I hate feeling like I have to defend work like this. Look at the detail involved in these pictures before you bash them (These samples are not that great on this post, but there are much better out there). People do what they are paid to do. If you don't like what is practised by the parents then I think there might be another forum out there for that.

I think orginally this post was for asking how to get a matte finish/shimmer on lips.

[grafx]

Vikki,
That last section wasn't directed at you. I should have separated them. Just trying to get people to look at the work involved instead of the asthetics. I agree they don't look like real children, but most are impressive for what they are (whatever that might be).

[Vikki]

Actually, some of this work is fantastic. I don't have the know-how to do it myself, but I can appreciate the work that goes into it. It's that "look" that people can't get past.

[doosume]

grafx - your work it good! Forgive me but I am just curious about the techniques!

How do you get the skin so flawless? Is it just a blur but bumped up? It almost looks like ppl use a diffuse glow or something? And the eyes....almost look like glass?

Sorry about all the questions - just curious!

[grafx]

Its all airbrushed or painted over the original. Sorta like the old days when people actually used "real" airbrushes for magazine models and the like. I love faces. My best talent even in the days when I took figure drawing. I guess it carried over into my digital stuff. My website is so outdated! I'm actually ashamed of it. I have a much more realistic style now, but it is still airbrushed.

[Chip Hildreth]

No defense necessary...

::shrug::

I hate feeling like I have to defend work like this. Look at the detail involved in these pictures before you bash them (These samples are not that great on this post, but there are much better out there). People do what they are paid to do. If you don't like what is practised by the parents then I think there might be another forum out there for that.


You don't need to defend your craft, most retouching is naturally 'not natural'. The look you're going for depends, just as you describe, on the client.
We do promo ads for show dogs, very stylized almost freakish looking stuff but the clients love it. It's a far cry from the pictures of our own loveable, sloppy, moppy old mutts but it's challenging, high paying work.
We can't always do the exact work we want to but its no ethical comprimise to do something different... as long as you do it well.

This is my first post by the way, and I've got to say that the work you regulars are posting here is really first class. I've been doing this a couple of years now as part of my photography business and I doubt that I measure up to your standards. I'm looking forward to watching this forum regularly and tapping into all the talent around here. This is coool!