before and after

[shootphoto]

I particularly like "over retouched" photos. I get complaints from users on another forum about "plastic" looking skin. I particularly like it. What is your input on this?

<img src="http://www.lancea.net/marlena.jpg">http://www.lancea.net/marlena.jpg

[Jesper]

There's nothing wrong with retouching a portrait, but when you do it too much, it just doesn't look real anymore. In my opinion you've overdone it in the photo on the right. She looks like a kind of computer generated robot instead of a real person... :?

[fortinaa]

I'm sure the client is very happy with the final product, but, to forum users it does look a bit fake. I like the smooth skin and all, but there has to be some amount of texture to look real.

[mgbeach]

I do all of my retouching work on a duplicate layer and then fade its opacity just enough for a tiny bit of the original detail to come through.

[Fer]

I'm sure the client is very happy with the final product, but, to forum users it does look a bit fake. I like the smooth skin and all, but there has to be some amount of texture to look real.

Agree.

[markubig]

I, for one, really like the picture on the right. I think it looks real . . . as real as any photo of a celebrity in any glamour or fashion magazine, where the celebrity seems to have flawless features. We know they are far from perfect, but we still enjoy seeing these photos, which are "super-enhanced" by either make-up or photoshop.

[Bitmap]

I, for one, really like the picture on the right. I think it looks real . . . as real as any photo of a celebrity in any glamour or fashion magazine

I agree. Besides, isn't that what client wanted?

[serissolutions]

Isnt that what the pros do in advertisements in fashion magazines?
They all look like plastic skin.

Could you describe what your touch up proedure is in PS?

[tumbleweed]

I like the one on the right....as art.

[elbirth]

personally, I have a respect for the people that can do that (do it well, rather). I've seen some retouching done that is simply amazing how much they can change on a person. If it's a portrait of someone, I'd really prefer it look more like it's untouched than obviously redone like this. I understand that celebrity photos have it done, and maybe some people don't realize the level of change that gets done- and thus feel horrible about themselves because they don't look like that. What they fail to realize is, the celebrities don't look like that either!

I'd also be interested in hearing about the post processing done to this, though, I like seeing what other people do to acheive various effects.

[DxHatchback]

that's some good work, it's just a little too overdone for my taste

props though

[karusel]

Nooooooooo!!!!!!!11!!

On the other hand, I think this was very well done. I'd only say it's slightly overdone, from what I can see.

[dapa-group]

I think the idea behind a "Before & After" shoot is to tell the difference! And I think you have done that with this shot. I personally like the one on the right, nice work, well done.