How to Retouch New Objects to Look Worn and Used

[kkamin]

I work as a staff retoucher and I've started to come into situations where I need to "un-beautify" a photographer's work to look less polished and more natural (more of a lifestyle feel).

I'm dealing with pristine product that has been lit well, and has had it's highlights and tones worked up to look very product photograph-y (by the time it's reached me).

Any ideas on some ways to take the pop and pristineness off the products? I've been taking down the highlights and adding a subtle amount of blurred "smudges" to areas. I can't really add damage to the product but anything else is fair game. I'm open to any ideas.

[0lBaldy]

Re: How to Retouch New Objects to Look Worn and Us

kind of products?

[kkamin]

Re: How to Retouch New Objects to Look Worn and Us

household tools and electronics, things mainly made of shiny plastic and metal.

[klev]

Re: How to Retouch New Objects to Look Worn and Us

There are a few ways to approach making things look rougher, but I can't think of any that I would suggest on closeups of product shots. Have any examples you can show of what they look like and something closer (stylistically) to what you would like to achieve?

[Pics2]

Re: How to Retouch New Objects to Look Worn and Us

Saying this to photographer in advance would save you both a lot of time. The main characteristic of product photography is carefull clean lighting and a lot of retouching to clean the product up.
Lowering contrast, saturation and adding some texture in different blend modes that can mimic skratches, imperfections, fingerprints etc could help. Lighting in these pictures is "too perfect", you can mess it up by adding different lighting sources in PS.

[skoobey]

Re: How to Retouch New Objects to Look Worn and Us

Add texture to make it uneven, add color to make it uneven, also DNB.

Copying texture form other images(split them and copy the high frequency).