Best effect for smoothing skin quickly

[johneric8]

I know this topic has been covered before but what is the best program plugin I can use with my adobe photshop elements to make someones face look smoother. I used to use a noise plug in with my very old adobe photo program that just made the image look real smooth while getting rid of bumps on faces etc... Now that I'm using photoshope elements more often I cant find a way to do the same effect? In my old adobe program it had a noise reduction plugin that made the image look very smooth without losing too much clarity or sharpness! what would you guys suggest that I get? I need it pretty quickly. also, is there a way that I can run all the photos through the plugin? batch procces like 50 photos with the same noise reduction applied? Please any advice I would appreciate..

Blessings

[PhotosGuy]

Why not make an action that works the way YOU want it to with the size & resolution pics you're using?
I'd dupe the layer, add a gaussian blur & layer mask. Then manually paint in the areas where I wanted the softening. Maybe adjust the opacity to fine tune it.

[EricKonieczny]

look here


http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=73236

[cmM]

selective gaussian blur

[PhotosGuy]

selective gaussian blur Isn't that about the same thing I said, or did you have something else in mind? ( Where's the "curious" smiley when you need it? ) ;)

[cmM]

Isn't that about the same thing I said, or did you have something else in mind? ( Where's the "curious" smiley when you need it? ) ;)
Well, umm, indeed it is :o :D :-P
I don't know why I must have skipped your post...

[Red]

Where's the "curious" smiley when you need it? ;)

Sorry, I had it. Here ya go :confused:

[johneric8]

I understand what you are saying.. but, I dont need some long drawn out proccess because I'm doing like 50 pics! and they need to be done quickly.. The quality isnt that important. Just need to get them softened without looking out of focus. The glausion whatever makes it look out of focus.. Doest a good noise filter do the same thing with blemishes?

[LadyHawk]

I recommend Kodak's Digital Gem Airbrush. It is a plugin specifically for portraits. Run it on a separate layer, then back off on the opacity for whatever amount of airbrushing you desire. It's great...

[cmM]

you could batch process all of them in neat image

[PhotosGuy]

cmM Well, umm, indeed it is :D:D OK, just wondered if you had a better way.

Red: Thanks, but no, that's "Confused". I'd have to use that one all the time, so I leave it out to reduce bandwith! ;) I dont need some long drawn out proccess - The glausion whatever makes it look out of focus.. That's the idea. It's easily adjustable in the action I gave you & you would have been done with them in about an hour. OTOH, never mind. ;)

[Vetteography]

There is a free noise reduction program (I have it at home, but can't remember what it is called) that does an admirable job of doing exactly what you want. I just ran some of my old wedding pictures through it last night ( the bridesmade was the photog and the pictures were...well... )

If this program hasn't been mentioned before I get home tonight, I'll update this post.

[pdrow]

Maybe he means noiseware community version. You can download the pro version for free for 15 days and it does batch. However, itis not a plug in. The plug in is $49.00. http://www.imagenomic.com/
pam

[Vetteography]

Maybe he means noiseware community version. You can download the pro version for free for 15 days and it does batch. However, itis not a plug in. The plug in is $49.00. http://www.imagenomic.com/
pam

Absolutely right! Almost forgot about my promise to come back, sorry! :o

[dave_bass5]

Does anybody use the Surface blur in PSCS2 to soften skin? ivejust tried it and it seems to work ok, i dont do many portraits so not sure how much to use

Dave.

[PacAce]

I created an action that should allow you to batch process the smoothing of skin. Since I don't know of a way to "cut and paste" the steps of a PS action short of saving the action as a file, I just did a screen print of my Action window.

Unlike just applying a Gaussian Blur which just about blurs everything in the image, this action is a little more selective and hones in on the skin and similarly colored parts only.

For the Gaussian Blur, adjust the radius to suit your taste.

BTW, this action assumes that the image is flattened and does not have any layers.

I can upload the action to my website if anybody's interested but I'll have to do it later on. I'm having problems FTPing stuff right now. I just got DSL and I think I tighten my security too much on the router. :confused:
.

[RodBarker]

Hi
I find it an easy job , just duplicate the layer and blur it add a mask to the top layer and paint the level of blur anywhere you want by painting with black on the mask itself , adjust strength with a soft brush .
Masks are so powerfull .
Rod