Inverted overlay blend for skin

[Guest]

I recently run across a youtube timelapse where the retoucher is using a technique on the skin (after cloning and all) that I don't fully grasp:

Stamp visible. Duplicate, invert and opacity at 50%; this makes 50% gray on monitor. Surface blur - radius 2 , threshold 35 - which has "high pass" kind of look. Desaturate and opacity at 100% overlay blending. Merge down (?) - I am assuming this previsous step as the duplicate layer disappears and can't discern how much the look changed on the image. This procedure is repeated 2 more times.

Finally, a different version occours; after Surface blur the retoucher stamps visible and put the layer in linear light with a mask to generate a regular "high pass" layer for sharpening.

I am still in two minds if the inverted overlay blurred blending is used to change global/local contrast on the skin.

Thanks

[Sabrina81]

Re: Inverted overlay blend for skin

Could you please share a link to the Youtube video?

[Guest]

Re: Inverted overlay blend for skin

https://youtu.be/DOUh2KJ1ruU?t=2m34s

[Sabrina81]

Re: Inverted overlay blend for skin

https://youtu.be/DOUh2KJ1ruU?t=2m34s

Thanks. Videos that run that fast are ridiculous. I never could learn from them and no longer waste time trying to.

[Guest]

Re: Inverted overlay blend for skin

You can have youtube play at x0.25 speed under the settings.

[skoobey]

Re: Inverted overlay blend for skin

Stop obsessing with minor things. Work on the basics. Shape, texture, color. He is using an inverted surface blur to sharpen.

[Guest]

Re: Inverted overlay blend for skin

I thought it was a play on contrast to give shape. I am seeing a lot of that edgy look (sometimes with notable halos):

https://scontent-mxp1-1.cdninstagram.com/vp/681882d2e77394b69f8d86dcd1d6fb84/5B02B067/t51.2885-15/s640x640/sh0.08/e35/c54.0.972.972/26281242_1690876407638308_5655928709958336512_n.jpg

https://scontent-mxp1-1.cdninstagram.com/vp/5a260552a841724180104de3e84a0639/5AE7862B/t51.2885-15/s640x640/sh0.08/e35/c139.0.801.801/26187414_142430913114381_8929822807563436032_n.jpg

https://scontent-mxp1-1.cdninstagram.com/vp/c05cc9520f749b55674985ccf2676902/5AF0B9F9/t51.2885-15/s640x640/sh0.08/e35/c0.135.1080.1080/26066636_159643284669127_8142771339061624832_n.jpg

https://scontent-mxp1-1.cdninstagram.com/vp/179d8f0020e6cdab19c293419807e856/5B02410A/t51.2885-15/s640x640/sh0.08/e35/c163.0.753.753/26343727_357108938094676_7416818262836510720_n.jpg

https://scontent-mxp1-1.cdninstagram.com/vp/d43a2dafcbfd18eaa4a9f7d3cd0e8dfa/5AE077A1/t51.2885-15/s640x640/sh0.08/e35/c92.0.895.895/26288752_146308192751835_4458229306547503104_n.jpg

[Gary]

Re: Inverted overlay blend for skin

[QUOTE=marameo;334136]I recently run across a youtube timelapse where the retoucher is using a technique on the skin (after cloning and all) that I don't fully grasp:

Stamp visible. Duplicate, invert and opacity at 50%; this makes 50% gray on monitor. Surface blur - radius 2 , threshold 35 - which has "high pass" kind of look. Desaturate and opacity at 100% overlay blending. Merge down (?) - I am assuming this previsous step as the duplicate layer disappears and can't discern how much the look changed on the image. This procedure is repeated 2 more times.

Finally, a different version occours; after Surface blur the retoucher stamps visible and put the layer in linear light with a mask to generate a regular "high pass" layer for sharpening.

I am still in two minds if the inverted overlay blurred blending is used to change global/local contrast on the skin.

I'm not certain where the confusion is. The colour/contrast is effected.
Using your instructions plus a duplicate over-top in Soft Light mode (blended with a mask to suit my tastes) then selective sharpening in Darken Mode, I got this:

[Guest]

Re: Inverted overlay blend for skin

Yes, it is a local contrast enhancement move. Not sure how much the surface blur contribute to it anyway.

[Sabrina81]

Re: Inverted overlay blend for skin

Yes, it is a local contrast enhancement move. Not sure how much the surface blur contribute to it anyway.

You don't need all that rigmarole from the video. Several of the Topaz plug-ins will produce the effect very quickly.

[Guest]

Re: Inverted overlay blend for skin

then selective sharpening in Darken Mode, I got this:

By the way, can you see the dark/light halos around the subject in this picture?

https://www.sendspace.com/file/gbhua7

Do you think it's just sharpening with find edge technique?

Thanks

[Gary]

Re: Inverted overlay blend for skin

By the way, can you see the dark/light halos around the subject in this picture?

https://www.sendspace.com/file/gbhua7

Do you think it's just sharpening with find edge technique?

Thanks

Quite possibly. I didn't take it for a 'test drive'. Instead, I would apply sharpening with a layer mask to control selection and opacity.

I did try defringing in CC by firstly making a selection of the subject and using Layer/Matting/Defringe around 6 pixels.

https://spaces.hightail.com/receive/1p9jGmkNMw/Z2diMThAc2hhdy5jYQ==[/URL]

[Shoku]

Re: Inverted overlay blend for skin

You don't need all that rigmarole from the video.

I agree with that. When things get too complicated mistakes can happen that cannot be easily removed. A simpler workflow is a path to speedier results that achieve the same effects. And it's easier to keep track of what was done by keeping the number of layers to a minimum.