Correcting Blotchiness

[nrotunda]

To what extent should blotchiness, not redness, but darker spots, be corrected on the low frequency layer vs. through dodging and burning? I've seem some retouched images where it looks like they smoothed the low frequency layer even more and it looks horrible. I know that I can successfully correct some differences in tone on the low frequency layer with the healing brush tool, but is this a good idea? Should all the correction be done through dodge and burn? Thanks!

[RobertGarcia]

Re: Correcting Blotchiness

dude, just use the d&b tools on a jumped layer at about 2% with pen pressure on and maybe a darkening curve to see a bit more its not that hard. If its too much to d&b use the clone stamp. If the d&b messes up the color use a paint brush on color mode 10&.

[eraanexact]

Re: Correcting Blotchiness

dude, just use the d&b tools on a jumped layer at about 2% with pen pressure on and maybe a darkening curve to see a bit more its not that hard. If its too much to d&b use the clone stamp. If the d&b messes up the color use a paint brush on color mode 10&.

Agreed with RobertGarcia. Frequency separation needlessly complicates skin retouching.

[zackahern]

Re: Correcting Blotchiness

Frequency Separation is merely a tool for skin clean up. It needs to be used some of the time for unique problems, but it makes it too easy to make people look airbrushed. If you're having a hard time seeing what to dodge and burn I would set up your file like this from top to bottom:

Curves layer with slight S curve to increase contrast
Hue and saturation layer with saturation turned all the way down.
Dodge and burn layer: empty layer with blend set to soft light. Paint white to dodge and black to burn.
Main image.

I usually group the top two adjustment layers into one group and turn it off on occasion to see my work. Also, I wouldn't use the d&b tools. A white and black paint brush will serve you just fine and you don't have to make a 50 percent gray layer to make it work. The 50 percent gray is only so you can see your work and will cause all sorts of problems in complex files if you ever have to merge down.

Seeing the image in black and white will do two things. First, you won't get distracted by color problems that dodging and burning can cause and second when mixed with the curves layer it will make splotchiness easier to see. Also, don't go in close until you have to. Do it from the furthest zoom you can to fix major shaping problems and then work in closer if necessary. It will also help to put your flow at 100 percent and only adjust opacity. Flow adds to splotchiness because you won't get a consistent brush stroke. Keep practicing and stay away from frequency separation except for really extreme skin problems!

[RobertGarcia]

Re: Correcting Blotchiness

flow doesn't add blotches I know lot of retouchers who use flow and are excellent retouchers.

[zackahern]

Re: Correcting Blotchiness

flow doesn't add blotches I know lot of retouchers who use flow and are excellent retouchers.

It will just make life way more difficult to start with, especially if you aren't using a tablet. Even with great control it's hard to keep an even flow across the image and will make it harder to get even tones. Just a recommendation for starting out. Everybody has their own method :-p

[RobertGarcia]

Re: Correcting Blotchiness

the best way honestly is the simple way. But that said, learn it all and experiment.

[skoobey]

Re: Correcting Blotchiness

Model should rub her legs in order not to get them unless they are part of the look.

Both achieve more or less the same thing, but DNB affects everything, rather then just the low layer.

Use DNB to soften them, don't erase the leg shape.

[rharris]

Re: Correcting Blotchiness

It will just make life way more difficult to start with, especially if you aren't using a tablet. Even with great control it's hard to keep an even flow across the image and will make it harder to get even tones. Just a recommendation for starting out. Everybody has their own method :-p

Here is some discussion on flow vs. opacity. I use low flow for D&B.

http://www.modelmayhem.com/po.php?thread_id=808677&page=6#post17985963

Ronny

[RobertGarcia]

Re: Correcting Blotchiness

I don't know anything about that but flow is used like you would a real airbrush in strokes and the opacity one you can go over and over it and it won't give you dots in corners if you go over it. Both different both work, something for everybody.