Luminous Landscape Forum

Equipment & Techniques => Medium Format / Film / Digital Backs – and Large Sensor Photography => Topic started by: AndreNapier on September 15, 2007, 11:38:16 am

Title: Let start the new PP samples.
Post by: AndreNapier on September 15, 2007, 11:38:16 am
Since I posted this image before, here is the before and after.
http://andrenapier.com (http://andrenapier.com)
Title: Let start the new PP samples.
Post by: juicy on September 15, 2007, 11:53:05 am
Hi!

Thanks Andre for sharing this excellent example! Looks like this thread has lots of constructive potential.

Cheers,
J
Title: Let start the new PP samples.
Post by: AndreNapier on September 15, 2007, 01:16:48 pm
Quote
Hi!

Thanks Andre for sharing this excellent example! Looks like this thread has lots of constructive potential.

Cheers,
J
[a href=\"index.php?act=findpost&pid=139575\"][{POST_SNAPBACK}][/a]

Thanks.
If anyone has questions this is the place to ask.
Title: Let start the new PP samples.
Post by: Willow Photography on September 15, 2007, 01:47:45 pm
Another before and after.
Title: Let start the new PP samples.
Post by: jpjespersen on September 15, 2007, 03:36:22 pm
Whats PP?
Title: Let start the new PP samples.
Post by: Willow Photography on September 15, 2007, 03:46:11 pm
Quote
Whats PP?
[a href=\"index.php?act=findpost&pid=139605\"][{POST_SNAPBACK}][/a]


Post-Processing
Title: Let start the new PP samples.
Post by: AndreNapier on September 15, 2007, 03:50:12 pm
Upps...

I thought PP meant Polish Princes and posted accordingly.
Title: Let start the new PP samples.
Post by: billy on September 15, 2007, 03:57:58 pm
Quote
Since I posted this image before, here is the before and after.
http://andrenapier.com (http://andrenapier.com)
[a href=\"index.php?act=findpost&pid=139573\"][{POST_SNAPBACK}][/a]


that skin tone cleaned up beautifully, how did you do this?
Title: Let start the new PP samples.
Post by: eronald on September 15, 2007, 03:59:09 pm
Good Start ! May I suggest people post fairly hi-rez shots, so that we can retouch and repost them ?

Edmund
Title: Let start the new PP samples.
Post by: Anders_HK on September 15, 2007, 07:54:36 pm
Quote
Good Start ! May I suggest people post fairly hi-rez shots, so that we can retouch and repost them ?

Edmund
[a href=\"index.php?act=findpost&pid=139613\"][{POST_SNAPBACK}][/a]

Hi

This is great thread. It would be good to hear technics also, both of how you captured the photos and how you PP them.

Much kind thanks.

  Regards
Anders
Title: Let start the new PP samples.
Post by: eronald on September 15, 2007, 08:35:04 pm
Quote
Since I posted this image before, here is the before and after.
http://andrenapier.com (http://andrenapier.com)
[a href=\"index.php?act=findpost&pid=139573\"][{POST_SNAPBACK}][/a]

Hi André, I'v taken the liberty of doing a slight retouch.
BTW - incredible job on those eyes!

Edmund
Title: Let start the new PP samples.
Post by: bradleygibson on September 15, 2007, 09:55:21 pm
Quote
Hi André, I'v taken the liberty of doing a slight retouch.
BTW - incredible job on those eyes!

Edmund
[a href=\"index.php?act=findpost&pid=139656\"][{POST_SNAPBACK}][/a]

Nice job to both of you!
Title: Let start the new PP samples.
Post by: eronald on September 15, 2007, 10:00:51 pm
Quote
Nice job to both of you!
[a href=\"index.php?act=findpost&pid=139667\"][{POST_SNAPBACK}][/a]

Here's the before-after, I've built on Andrés retouch, burnt it in a bit more to lift the face off the neck and define the cheeks. Also a hue change which I like but which people in the US probably wouldn't like.

Although I can clean up skin, no problemo, I'm completely incapable of doing the heavy repaint that André did on the eye contour - here I guess I would rely on the makeup person to give me the basic form I need rather than add it in post.

Edmund
Title: Let start the new PP samples.
Post by: Caracalla on September 15, 2007, 10:27:51 pm
Quote
Here's the before-after, I've built on Andrés retouch, burnt it in a bit more to lift the face off the neck and define the cheeks. Also a hue change which I like but which people in the US probably wouldn't like.

Although I can clean up skin, no problemo, I'm completely incapable of doing the heavy repaint that André did on the eye contour - here I guess I would rely on the makeup person to give me the basic form I need rather than add it in post.

Edmund
[a href=\"index.php?act=findpost&pid=139668\"][{POST_SNAPBACK}][/a]

Nice rendition Edmund. However, if you pay a little more attention on the fingers you will see that the Andrés version has very nice touch overall including the fingers, around nails etc., unlike yours with orange and red color or it could be that you like it that way? not sure.
Title: Let start the new PP samples.
Post by: eronald on September 15, 2007, 10:49:21 pm
Quote
Nice rendition Edmund. However, if you pay a little more attention on the fingers you will see that the Andrés version has very nice touch overall including the fingers, around nails etc., unlike yours with orange and red color or it could be that you like it that way? not sure.
[a href=\"index.php?act=findpost&pid=139669\"][{POST_SNAPBACK}][/a]

Oscar,
 My bad!  here is the lady with the hands back to the original - more or less.
I just hope that people who have actually taken Photoshop courses can do better than this

Edmund
Title: Let start the new PP samples.
Post by: jpjespersen on September 15, 2007, 11:23:34 pm
Quote
Oscar,
 My bad!  here is the lady with the hands back to the original - more or less.
I just hope that people who have actually taken Photoshop courses can do better than this

Edmund
[a href=\"index.php?act=findpost&pid=139673\"][{POST_SNAPBACK}][/a]

I like the before myself.  I dislike the fingers on both of them..blotchy and green.  Maybe my monitor.
Title: Let start the new PP samples.
Post by: eronald on September 15, 2007, 11:28:21 pm
Quote
I like the before myself.  I dislike the fingers on both of them..blotchy and green.  Maybe my monitor.
[a href=\"index.php?act=findpost&pid=139679\"][{POST_SNAPBACK}][/a]
Actually, I'm more interested in what you people think of the denser face and the cheek definition, here André and I are making different decisions. I really didn't intend to do much to the hands.

Edmund
Title: Let start the new PP samples.
Post by: tonypassera on September 16, 2007, 12:42:46 am
Quote
Thanks.
If anyone has questions this is the place to ask.
[a href=\"index.php?act=findpost&pid=139585\"][{POST_SNAPBACK}][/a]


Hi Andre,
Your before and after example is an amazing transformation.  Beautiful
work!  

I can see how you might have stretched the lips with the warp tool (assuming
photoshop).  Did you warp the eyes too, to get the upward
slant?  The forehead looks narrower in the after version.  Is the
appearance of a narrower forehead done through shading (i'd use
a curve adjustment layer with a layer mask for something like this), or
did you also reshape the head slightly?  The subtle reshaping of the
chin is very nicely done as is the retouching in general.

Is the amount of editing you did here fairly typical in fashion work?

I'm curious because I'm primarily a nature shooter.  I do some
pretty extensive edits in photoshop when the need arises.  I haven't
done a lot of head shots.  Your example is very instructive.

Thanks for the posting,
Tony
Title: Let start the new PP samples.
Post by: tonypassera on September 16, 2007, 12:55:25 am
Quote
Actually, I'm more interested in what you people think of the denser face and the cheek definition, here André and I are making different decisions. I really didn't intend to do much to the hands.

Edmund
[a href=\"index.php?act=findpost&pid=139681\"][{POST_SNAPBACK}][/a]

I like the cheek definition a lot.  I can't say I like one better than the other.
You've created a different effect, which is quite nice.
Tony
Title: Let start the new PP samples.
Post by: Morgan_Moore on September 16, 2007, 01:15:03 am
Quote
Another before and after.
[a href=\"index.php?act=findpost&pid=139588\"][{POST_SNAPBACK}][/a]

Two questions mr willow

How did you warm the skin ?

Also, no disrespect, there is a certain blotchyness (veins/blood under the skin) that I have tried to show in this crop

basically where the skin is a bit darker it seems to go magenta/red too

This is something I struggle with too

I can be removed by cloning but I am looking for some kind of filter or speedy method of dealing

I have tried replace colour, also various bluring but I cant get a fast method sorted

S
Title: Let start the new PP samples.
Post by: Morgan_Moore on September 16, 2007, 03:39:09 am
Here is an example of blotchy skin

the file has many problems and I have boosted the curves to exagerate the effect

it is of course a mojor crop too

any comments on how to sort this out- while keeping some 'detail'

I am after a method that is not cloning based  - more like a filter lightening and yellowing the red or magenta  channel

maybe this should be done in the original raw but that chucks non skin bit of the picture..

SMM
Title: Let start the new PP samples.
Post by: Dustbak on September 16, 2007, 03:42:31 am
1) Select color (skin).
2) Copy selection to a new layer twice.
3) Average and layermode on hue on the first layer to get the skintone even.
4) layermode on luminosity for the second copy to get the texture.

Any better of faster method is welcomed, just tried it with the example but with this it doesn't work that effectively. So, maybe someone else can bring a better solution for this.
Title: Let start the new PP samples.
Post by: Morgan_Moore on September 16, 2007, 03:44:44 am
Quote
1) Select color (skin).
2) Copy selection to a new layer twice.
3) Average and layermode on hue on the first layer to get the skintone even.
4) layermode on luminosity for the second copy to get the texture.

Any better of faster method is welcomed.
[a href=\"index.php?act=findpost&pid=139705\"][{POST_SNAPBACK}][/a]

Sorry can you go through that again with a bit more detail !

I am a bit of a PS dummy when it comes to layers

S
Title: Let start the new PP samples.
Post by: Dustbak on September 16, 2007, 03:53:18 am
Allright. Go to select Color Range. With this tool you select the color range of the skin (keep shift pressed to select a whole range). With the fuzzyness you can set the preciseness of the selection. Make sure you select all skin (some stuff that gets selected in the process which you don't want you can subtract later).

Now when you have selected that, jump the selection to a new layer twice (Command J or Ctrl J). Make the top new layer invisible and start working with the one below. Select the content of that layer (Command click in the thumb of the layer palet), now go to filter average (the whole thing is now kind of a skintone blur). Set that layer to layermode hue. Go to the top layer and make it visible again, put this one to layermode luminosity.

The first layer you made (hue) is to get the color misery go away, the second (luminosity) is to get the texture back.

This procedure works very well to get color blotchyness out not necessarily blotchyness.

You might try using Gaussian blur and keeping the layer to normal (instead of average & hue). Than the second layer again on luminosity but at 50% opacity (or anything else that suits your needs). This does get rid of some of the blotchyness.

Hope these directions are helpful to you.

Sample of the last method. It does smooth it out somewhat and you can dial in the texture with the opacity (the layer set to luminosity).

(http://www.peperkamp.com/samples/sample1.jpg)


Now, if someone could explain me how I can embed images here with those cute thumbs ?
Title: Let start the new PP samples.
Post by: Morgan_Moore on September 16, 2007, 04:54:25 am
Quote
Now, if someone could explain me how I can embed images here with those cute thumbs ?

attachements - choose file ??
[a href=\"index.php?act=findpost&pid=139708\"][{POST_SNAPBACK}][/a]

Thanks  - your effort doesnt seem to have solved it??

But the averaging seems to be a good tool

I have attached 'my effort' the 'retouch was made by effectivley diiding the skin area into small chunks that where averaged' to make a blur layer, the original image was pasted on top and washed with a 40% eraer over the bad bits.

----

I attach a second image that possibly demonstrates why filtration cannot 'auto retouch'


at point X there is an 'imperfection' but at point y there is the same tone but desired

any filter that lightens point X will also lighten point y and have an adverse affect

work must therefore occur only in a selection that excludes point Y

It would therefore be my conclusion that some form of 'airbrushing be it sensitive layrer deletion, clonong or whatever will be required??

S
Title: Let start the new PP samples.
Post by: Morgan_Moore on September 16, 2007, 05:00:16 am
here is the second file..
Title: Let start the new PP samples.
Post by: eronald on September 16, 2007, 05:32:56 am
My take on some of the above samples of "blotches" is that the camera is UV or IR sensitive, and seeing through the skin to the veins below. It might be worth to try using a 486 filter although you'll need a custom profile. The new Phase backs have improved filters over the sensor.

Edmund
Title: Let start the new PP samples.
Post by: Morgan_Moore on September 16, 2007, 05:48:48 am
Quote
My take on some of the above samples of "blotches" is that the camera is UV or IR sensitive, and seeing through the skin to the veins below. It might be worth to try using a 486 filter although you'll need a custom profile. The new Phase backs have improved filters over the sensor.

Edmund
[a href=\"index.php?act=findpost&pid=139717\"][{POST_SNAPBACK}][/a]

Indeed my thoughts had been moving that way UV or or IR dya reckon ?

I often remove my 'skylight' (UV?)filter when shooting into the light to reduce flare

S
Title: Let start the new PP samples.
Post by: Henry Goh on September 16, 2007, 05:58:34 am
Quote
Indeed my thoughts had been moving that way UV or or IR dya reckon ?

I often remove my 'skylight' (UV?)filter when shooting into the light to reduce flare

S
[a href=\"index.php?act=findpost&pid=139719\"][{POST_SNAPBACK}][/a]

IR - the same issues that come up with D2H, M8 etc

I also feel the Mamiya ZD back owners should try a B&W 486 filter on their lens
Title: Let start the new PP samples.
Post by: eronald on September 16, 2007, 06:07:26 am
Quote
Indeed my thoughts had been moving that way UV or or IR dya reckon ?

I often remove my 'skylight' (UV?)filter when shooting into the light to reduce flare

S
[a href=\"index.php?act=findpost&pid=139719\"][{POST_SNAPBACK}][/a]

Not quite sure. Filters have their own issues, in my experience they can wreck the quality of an AF system so I hate to use them.

Edmund
Title: Let start the new PP samples.
Post by: Morgan_Moore on September 16, 2007, 06:13:09 am
Quote
IR - the same issues that come up with D2H, M8 etc

I also feel the Mamiya ZD back owners should try a B&W 486 filter on their lens
[a href=\"index.php?act=findpost&pid=139720\"][{POST_SNAPBACK}][/a]

a 486 seems to do both end of the spectrum

the camera is a sinar54LV (the effect has been exaerated in curves - no panic)

no chance of wrecking the quality of H1 AF - it has no quality !

S
Title: Let start the new PP samples.
Post by: eronald on September 16, 2007, 07:54:10 am
Quote
a 486 seems to do both end of the spectrum

the camera is a sinar54LV (the effect has been exaerated in curves - no panic)

no chance of wrecking the quality of H1 AF - it has no quality !

S
[a href=\"index.php?act=findpost&pid=139723\"][{POST_SNAPBACK}][/a]

What I mean is it will mis-focus slightly ensuring consistently fuzzed images -
Let's go back to something more fun, posting pictures - anyone got a nice face that needs retouching ? Please post at least 2000x1500.

Edmund
Title: Let start the new PP samples.
Post by: Willow Photography on September 16, 2007, 10:22:12 am
Quote
Two questions mr willow

How did you warm the skin ?

Also, no disrespect, there is a certain blotchyness (veins/blood under the skin) that I have tried to show in this crop

basically where the skin is a bit darker it seems to go magenta/red too

This is something I struggle with too

I can be removed by cloning but I am looking for some kind of filter or speedy method of dealing

I have tried replace colour, also various bluring but I cant get a fast method sorted

S
[a href=\"index.php?act=findpost&pid=139688\"][{POST_SNAPBACK}][/a]


To warm the skin I used the Color Editir in C1-

The reason I do not make perfect skin is these girls
are they are "girl next door" in a magazine and I think it will be wrong to make them to perfect.
They should look good, but not perfect or cartoon like.
Title: Let start the new PP samples.
Post by: EricWHiss on September 16, 2007, 11:14:47 am
To get rid of splotches, You could also try the highpass method on skin like that...Lot's of info on this if you google highpass and skin

Make a dupe layer then:

Filter/Other/highpass  start with 15  ( you can play with this number from like 8 to 25)
Gausian blur by about 5  (or typically around 1/3 the amount for the highpass)
Invert
Set layer blend mode to linear light and add a layer mask (I do this with the option/alt key to get all black layer)
Now paint in mask with white where you want the skin smooth.

The highpass lets the texture of the skin come through but cleans up the splotches, bruises, etc

You can also use the surface blur feature to smoothe texture.

Sorry don't have time to play with the image above right now but I think it will work!
Eric
Title: Let start the new PP samples.
Post by: Jonathan Wienke on September 16, 2007, 11:15:25 am
To deal with small colored blotches in skin, I've found this technique helpful:

1: Convert to LAB.

2: Select/highlight the a/b channels and tick the visible indicator for the L channel so that you see the image normally, but all edits are to a/b channels only.

3: Use the eyedropper to select the color of an area near the blotch.

4: Use the brush tool with soft edge and low fill setting to paint the sampled color into the blotch.

Depending on the size and number of the blemishes, the Dust & Scratches filter can be handy (in concert with the history brush) once you've completed steps 1 and 2. This can also be helpful with moire and chromatic aberration artifacts.
Title: Let start the new PP samples.
Post by: Jonathan Wienke on September 16, 2007, 11:50:31 am
Another cool tool for smoothing out skin (eliminating fine hairs, pores, etc.) without killing detail in eyelashes, hair, etc. is Neat Image.

Before: (image straight from ACR)
[attachment=3269:attachment]

After: (also includes LCE, sharpening, some clone/healing brush work, and minor tonality edits)
[attachment=3270:attachment]

Use a smooth area of skin as your noise sample area, and tweak noise reduction settings to taste.
Title: Let start the new PP samples.
Post by: feppe on September 16, 2007, 12:03:53 pm
And if you're looking for a (semi)automatic, commercial solution for smoothing skin, there's the Kodak's Airbrush (http://www.asf.com/products/plugins/airpro/pluginAIRPRO/), which can be tweaked quite nicely, especially if you use it as a layer.
Title: Let start the new PP samples.
Post by: AndreNapier on September 16, 2007, 01:27:47 pm
Quote
Hi Andre,
Your before and after example is an amazing transformation.  Beautiful
work! 

I can see how you might have stretched the lips with the warp tool (assuming
photoshop).  Did you warp the eyes too, to get the upward
slant?  The forehead looks narrower in the after version.  Is the
appearance of a narrower forehead done through shading (i'd use
a curve adjustment layer with a layer mask for something like this), or
did you also reshape the head slightly?  The subtle reshaping of the
chin is very nicely done as is the retouching in general.

Is the amount of editing you did here fairly typical in fashion work?

I'm curious because I'm primarily a nature shooter.  I do some
pretty extensive edits in photoshop when the need arises.  I haven't
done a lot of head shots.  Your example is very instructive.

Thanks for the posting,
Tony
[{POST_SNAPBACK}][/a] (http://index.php?act=findpost&pid=139685\")

Sorry Guys for late respond but some people still party on weekends.

Tony,

I have not yet found an easy and fast solution for good PP.
From my years behind a stylist chair I took to photography one think: my ability to see what to change in a women to make her more beautiful in my eyes. We ( me and my partner/wife ) approach PP as we would if were plastic surgeons. After all we are selling every girl dream. The key is to do it as careful and as precise that if image is blown ( often ) to 40x60 you can not see any PP and you still have the perfect skin texture and not the plastic look. Any face shape changes have to be subtle enough not to alter the overall appearance.  Magazine cover image like this will take around 3-4 hours of PP. It is worth because in following week we will sell a dream to ten girls just because they seen it in the paper. If they pay the hefty premium for PS they can see the same results. We have exclusive on 3  different magazine covers  and it definitelly keeps us busy between commercial jobs.
We work with multi layers and duplicates using mostly clone tool and light brush. No magic just hard work.

Eronald,

The trend in all high end magazines now days is towards desaturated skin tones. At least that is how we see it. The weirder the better.

[a href=\"http://AndreNapier.com]http://AndreNapier.com[/url]
Title: Let start the new PP samples.
Post by: awofinden on September 16, 2007, 02:08:25 pm
Quote
Another cool tool for smoothing out skin (eliminating fine hairs, pores, etc.) without killing detail in eyelashes, hair, etc. is Neat Image.

Before: (image straight from ACR)
[attachment=3269:attachment]

After: (also includes LCE, sharpening, some clone/healing brush work, and minor tonality edits)
[attachment=3270:attachment]

Use a smooth area of skin as your noise sample area, and tweak noise reduction settings to taste.
[a href=\"index.php?act=findpost&pid=139762\"][{POST_SNAPBACK}][/a]

But the results are haneous, she looks like a cartoon character.
Title: Let start the new PP samples.
Post by: eronald on September 16, 2007, 02:34:13 pm
Quote
Eronald,

The trend in all high end magazines now days is towards desaturated skin tones. At least that is how we see it. The weirder the better.

http://AndreNapier.com (http://AndreNapier.com)
[a href=\"index.php?act=findpost&pid=139781\"][{POST_SNAPBACK}][/a]

Hi André -

 Yes, I know about the desat and the weird, I think it's due to their combination of Hasselblad skin and printers clueless about color management: desat weird can save the shot from any camera as long as it's reasonably sharp in the right places, and desat also conveniently gets rid of the wrinkles, and teh printer can print weird any color he wants

 In fact I market my Phase One "Portra" desat hi-key profiles precisely because people want desat. Doesn't mean I use it for my personal work.

 Anyway, that make-over of yours has some beautiful creative drawing in it, apart from the easy skin retouch stuff !

 Do post some more before/after shots, please, but give is some higher resolution so we can do teh practical classwork

Edmund
Title: Let start the new PP samples.
Post by: Jonathan Wienke on September 16, 2007, 02:42:04 pm
Quote
But the results are haneous, she looks like a cartoon character.

You mean "heinous"? How would you approach the image differently? What in particular about the image are you objecting to? Be more specific, please.
Title: Let start the new PP samples.
Post by: awofinden on September 16, 2007, 03:15:22 pm
Quote
You mean "heinous"? How would you approach the image differently? What in particular about the image are you objecting to? Be more specific, please.
[a href=\"index.php?act=findpost&pid=139798\"][{POST_SNAPBACK}][/a]

Yes, sorry, heinous, the skin looks absolutely plastic and compared to the sharp eyes and mouth it just makes it worse. It's very artificial looking, when I look at it all I can see is retouching. The only way I can put it is it looks like a cartoon.
Title: Let start the new PP samples.
Post by: Morgan_Moore on September 16, 2007, 03:21:47 pm
Quote
To get rid of splotches, You could also try the highpass method on skin like that..[a href=\"index.php?act=findpost&pid=139753\"][{POST_SNAPBACK}][/a]

I got lost at the black bit but seem to have made a really nice soft and even layer !

Pasting the original over the top and selective erasing looks likes a very handy tool

(I have already written an action !)

thanks very much

----

In terms of the other comments _I think there is nothing wrong with cartoonish techniques- it is easy enough to tone down an effect using layers !

SMM
Title: Let start the new PP samples.
Post by: Jonathan Wienke on September 16, 2007, 03:39:47 pm
Quote
Yes, sorry, heinous, the skin looks absolutely plastic and compared to the sharp eyes and mouth it just makes it worse. It's very artificial looking, when I look at it all I can see is retouching. The only way I can put it is it looks like a cartoon.

Feel free to demonstrate what you think the image should look like, preferably with a step-by-step explanation of what you did. Just saying "that sucks" isn't particularly useful; showing a better alternative with step-by-step instructions is much more educational.
Title: Let start the new PP samples.
Post by: Morgan_Moore on September 16, 2007, 04:20:17 pm
Quote
Feel free to demonstrate
[a href=\"index.php?act=findpost&pid=139807\"][{POST_SNAPBACK}][/a]

This is what I would do as a standard clean up..

Methods high pass blotch remover on the arms (see above)

and some skin blemish on the face  - cloning, high opacity

and some lightening (under eyes)

cloning low opacity

(p.s done badly! )

S
Title: Let start the new PP samples.
Post by: awofinden on September 16, 2007, 06:16:55 pm
Quote
Feel free to demonstrate what you think the image should look like, preferably with a step-by-step explanation of what you did. Just saying "that sucks" isn't particularly useful; showing a better alternative with step-by-step instructions is much more educational.
[a href=\"index.php?act=findpost&pid=139807\"][{POST_SNAPBACK}][/a]

Sorry, no time for the step by step, sometimes being told that something isn't working is quite good advice I find. I'm sure with a bit of head scratching you can work out what I mean by plastic skin etc and remedy it. (think good old fashioned clone stamp and clone tool).
Title: Let start the new PP samples.
Post by: eronald on September 16, 2007, 06:58:34 pm
Here's mine. With my Portra hi-key at the core.


Edmund
Title: Let start the new PP samples.
Post by: SeanPuckett on September 17, 2007, 02:37:13 pm
My take.  Not best pleased with the skin colour contouring because generally I work with higher resolution and bit depth images that permit finer control.

Skin alterations comprise a "gather" of tones to reduce blotchiness along with a slight yellow shift to counteract excessive redness and a small luminance-based blur funtion to take the edge off the pores but still leave her looking like a human.  RGB curve simulating Techpan 25 in HC-110 @ 4min, a third stop down onto Fortezo Soft.  Shadows yanked up 3.5 stops with -0.1 colour to salvage the background texture.  Wide area but low power vignette highlighting the face.  

No airbrush or spot corrections -- all work done within Bibble.  Some touchup here and there in PS might be nice for wallmount, but as an album shot this is fine.

[attachment=3288:attachment]

-- man, I really just can't figure out how to do those embedded thumbnails.  Well, at least it can be clicked on.
Title: Let start the new PP samples.
Post by: jonstewart on September 17, 2007, 04:10:44 pm
Sean, that looks a really good job. I like a lot, and a world of difference from the original pp.

(Am now trying to understand your method      )
Title: Let start the new PP samples.
Post by: eronald on September 17, 2007, 06:04:27 pm
Quote
Sean, that looks a really good job. I like a lot, and a world of difference from the original pp.

(Am now trying to understand your method      )
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Can someone assemble a composite of our efforts, or do I have to do it ?

Edmund
Title: Let start the new PP samples.
Post by: E_Edwards on September 17, 2007, 06:05:27 pm
You could have a thousand versions and people would not agree on a deffinitive one as being best. It shows how subjective skin tones can be.

Sean's version could be said to be more 'film-like' and I bet you anything that the model herself would chose that one as being the most flattering, yet some people may find it unrealistically warm with overblown skin highlights. On the other hand, all the other samples before his look cold and flat which some people may prefer.

My own preference would be towards Sean's but less exaggerated, a bit more density on the skin, it's far too yellow, a bit less warm (hair and skin), and sharper in the right places.

I remember printers who went by skin values always mentioning that skin needs a bit of cyan to give it modelling and depth.

Also, maybe the original wasn't sharp in the eye area to start with, so then, no matter how much sharpening you apply, it never looks quite there.

Edward
Title: Let start the new PP samples.
Post by: SeanPuckett on September 17, 2007, 06:19:03 pm
I really enjoy comparing how we'd each process a starter image.  I think it's wonderful that they don't all come out the same.  After all, if they did all look alike, all but one of us would be out of a job, no?  And, of course, there's no one "right" way to do it -- unless we're talking about a paying job, and then it's got nothing to do with "right" and everything to do with what makes the client happy.

Fun!
Title: Let start the new PP samples.
Post by: eronald on September 17, 2007, 06:56:29 pm
I hate museums, but I go there sometimes to look at the pictures eg. portraits. And you know what ? They look very different ! It seems you can render faces with all sorts of different palettes ! Now who would have believed that ?

 

Edmund

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I really enjoy comparing how we'd each process a starter image.  I think it's wonderful that they don't all come out the same.  After all, if they did all look alike, all but one of us would be out of a job, no?  And, of course, there's no one "right" way to do it -- unless we're talking about a paying job, and then it's got nothing to do with "right" and everything to do with what makes the client happy.

Fun!
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Title: Let start the new PP samples.
Post by: tonypassera on September 17, 2007, 11:27:52 pm
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Sorry Guys for late respond but some people still party on weekends.

Tony,

I have not yet found an easy and fast solution for good PP.
From my years behind a stylist chair I took to photography one think: my ability to see what to change in a women to make her more beautiful in my eyes. We ( me and my partner/wife ) approach PP as we would if were plastic surgeons. After all we are selling every girl dream. The key is to do it as careful and as precise that if image is blown ( often ) to 40x60 you can not see any PP and you still have the perfect skin texture and not the plastic look. Any face shape changes have to be subtle enough not to alter the overall appearance.  Magazine cover image like this will take around 3-4 hours of PP. It is worth because in following week we will sell a dream to ten girls just because they seen it in the paper. If they pay the hefty premium for PS they can see the same results. We have exclusive on 3  different magazine covers  and it definitelly keeps us busy between commercial jobs.
We work with multi layers and duplicates using mostly clone tool and light brush. No magic just hard work.

Eronald,

The trend in all high end magazines now days is towards desaturated skin tones. At least that is how we see it. The weirder the better.

http://AndreNapier.com (http://AndreNapier.com)
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Andre,
Thanks for your comments.  I see your point.  I was focusing on the photoshop
technique, but in the back of my mind I was wondering, "how did he know to do that?"
Now I have an urge to go dig up some shots of friends and see if i can figure
out how to make them look like models.  I see a long journey ahead.

I hope you give us more examples.
Tony
Title: Let start the new PP samples.
Post by: EricWHiss on September 18, 2007, 02:21:15 am
What do you all think about changing size of eyes, lips, even body parts?  This model is very pretty and it might have been just the angle, but I'd be tempted to use the liquify filter and thin her neck taking most off the left side (of the image) to make her chin stand out more.  

When I'm doing my fine art, I try not to change anything but for fashion I think this is commonplace? Making arms and legs thinner, legs longer, neck longer, eyes and breasts bigger, etc.  This is all really easy to do with photoshop and so tempting.
Title: Let start the new PP samples.
Post by: eronald on September 18, 2007, 03:21:51 am
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This is all really easy to do with photoshop and so tempting.
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What's stopping you ? I just wish I could draw better !

Edmund
Title: Let start the new PP samples.
Post by: Craig Lamson on September 18, 2007, 11:02:07 am
Here is something different.

Its fantasy, based on reality.

Studio shot of the trailer, landscape from my files.
Title: Let start the new PP samples.
Post by: LA30 on September 18, 2007, 11:31:47 am
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Here is something different.

Its fantasy, based on reality.

Studio shot of the trailer, landscape from my files.
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I like it....I wish there was a warm edge light on the back edge of trailer, it would blend better into the landscape shot.  It is so flat with the sun setting it is a little unrealistic.

Ken
Title: Let start the new PP samples.
Post by: AndreNapier on September 23, 2007, 11:16:19 pm
deleted[attachment=3373:attachment]
Title: Let start the new PP samples.
Post by: wilburdl on September 24, 2007, 12:30:20 am
My contribution. For awhile I tended to prefer warmer pictures. I'm now going back and forth with the temp slider    It really just depends on the mood I'm going for...
As for the PP debate. I say go crazy. imagery has been idealized going back centuries. Do you really think those paintings are that "realistic". There were only a small fraction of painters who sought to render a true-to-life portrait. Most royals had their pictures fudged. It's in our nature I guess.
Just be conscious of the format. Depending on who you're shooting for dictates how much you can (or should) manipulate.
Title: Let start the new PP samples.
Post by: Morgan_Moore on September 24, 2007, 01:12:32 am
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Depending on who you're shooting for dictates how much you can (or should) manipulate.
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I would like to see a D with a ring round it used near images of significant manipulation

Like the c with a ring round it is a copyright symbol

I cant find either symbol on my keyboard!

S
Title: Let start the new PP samples.
Post by: godtfred on September 24, 2007, 02:20:02 am
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I cant find either symbol on my keyboard!
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On my mac, the © symbol i "alt" + "1"

The ™ symbol is "Alt" + "2".

-axel
Title: Let start the new PP samples.
Post by: eronald on September 24, 2007, 03:18:12 am
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My contribution. For awhile I tended to prefer warmer pictures. I'm now going back and forth with the temp slider    It really just depends on the mood I'm going for...
As for the PP debate. I say go crazy. imagery has been idealized going back centuries. Do you really think those paintings are that "realistic". There were only a small fraction of painters who sought to render a true-to-life portrait. Most royals had their pictures fudged. It's in our nature I guess.
Just be conscious of the format. Depending on who you're shooting for dictates how much you can (or should) manipulate.
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Darnell - nice images, nice makeover !

Edmund
Title: Let start the new PP samples.
Post by: SeanBK on September 24, 2007, 08:33:03 am
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My contribution. For awhile I tended to prefer warmer pictures. I'm now going back and forth with the temp slider [a href=\"index.php?act=findpost&pid=141507\"][{POST_SNAPBACK}][/a]

Darnell- I too like your PP treatment of images. In the examples did you use only temp sliders, seems like additional treatment of added noise + darkening of grays?? Would love to know your take on it. Thanks.
Title: Let start the new PP samples.
Post by: jpjespersen on September 24, 2007, 10:37:18 am
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On my mac, the © symbol i "alt" + "1"

The ™ symbol is "Alt" + "2".

-axel
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I believe in the US the © symbol is option or ALT and G
Title: Let start the new PP samples.
Post by: wilburdl on September 24, 2007, 10:57:26 am
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Darnell- I too like your PP treatment of images. In the examples did you use only temp sliders, seems like additional treatment of added noise + darkening of grays?? Would love to know your take on it. Thanks.
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You are correct in your assumptions. My mention of color was more about setting the overall tone/mood of a particular images. The "thinker" was done with mostly color manipulation (desat. brushes), burning, sharpening.
The basement scene included all the above plus a bit of filter>render>fibers, dodging. I had to bring in a second RAW underexposed -2 for the light over his head. The real fun part was recreating the color of the original scene. The room he was in was much warmer so I lassoed and feathered to get the separation (I don't like masks much). I use the history brush to get the floor to fade from warm to cool (I like the history brush).



Thanks Edmund.
Title: Let start the new PP samples.
Post by: rob3rt5 on September 24, 2007, 11:27:46 am
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Hi André, I'v taken the liberty of doing a slight retouch.
BTW - incredible job on those eyes!

Edmund
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She looks likes she has too much blush.  Her cheeks cave into her mouth now.  Love the color though.  Perhaps if you had used a layer mask to draw the effects in it might appear more natural.
Title: Let start the new PP samples.
Post by: SeanBK on September 24, 2007, 01:35:14 pm
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You are correct in your assumptions. My mention of color was more about setting the overall tone/mood of a particular images. The "thinker" was done with mostly color manipulation (desat. brushes), burning, sharpening.
The basement scene included all the above plus a bit of filter>render>fibers, dodging. I had to bring in a second RAW underexposed -2 for the light over his head. The real fun part was recreating the color of the original scene. The room he was in was much warmer so I lassoed and feathered to get the separation (I don't like masks much). I use the history brush to get the floor to fade from warm to cool (I like the history brush).
Thanks Edmund.
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Thanks Darnell for the detailed reply.  
Keep up the good work, love your style.
Title: Let start the new PP samples.
Post by: wilburdl on September 26, 2007, 09:12:12 pm
One more.
Title: Let start the new PP samples.
Post by: jpjespersen on September 26, 2007, 09:18:14 pm
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One more.
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There is some serious stuff going on in the buttocks area, other than that.. looks good.
Title: Let start the new PP samples.
Post by: Raoul on September 27, 2007, 05:08:58 am
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"Whats PP?"
Given the examples it looks like 'Plastic People' to me. But hey, if this is where the money is... To me this kind of retouching looks artificial and does not make models more attractive. Actually I prefer real paintings to fake photography.
Title: Let start the new PP samples.
Post by: Jonathan Wienke on September 27, 2007, 06:31:19 am
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One more.
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You have some bad sharpening there; the image has serious haloing problems around her posterior and the boundary between her top and bare shoulder.
Title: Let start the new PP samples.
Post by: wilburdl on September 27, 2007, 12:47:13 pm
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You have some bad sharpening there; the image has serious haloing problems around her posterior and the boundary between her top and bare shoulder.
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Yea.. One of my earlier attempts. Though thaat's not usually what people notice when they see the pic