What do you think of my photoshopping?

[berrylish]

critique please
http://www.berrylish.com/forum/Image44.jpg
http://www.berrylish.com/forum/Image44edit.jpg

[mgbeach]

your skin is so great to begin with, this is really just too much in my opinion. At the very least i think you need to retain some sharpness in your hair, facial features and clothing. Give it another go.

[berrylish]

your skin is so great to begin with, this is really just too much in my opinion. At the very least i think you need to retain some sharpness in your hair, facial features and clothing. Give it another go.

okie dokie. i remember reading somewhere about selecting only the skin. but forgot where i read that =(

[berrylish]

Is this one a little better?

http://www.berrylish.com/forum/Image44edit2.jpg

[DwightMcCann]

Yes, you have great skin, so cut back the blur. Are you putting the blur on new layer? You need to do that and then erase the new layer over your eyes, lips and hair highlights ... I can't tell you what the tool name to do the erasure is. Also, you might want to clone out one of the two catchlights in each eye ... again I don't remember the PS tool as I usually use PhotoImpact even though I have PS CS.

I might also suggest that for this exercise you might do better to have a blank wall as the background ... just be sure to keep that narrow DOF and stay a few feet away from the wall. Or, even better, if you have a window with good light, since I would guess you are using a tripod, I'd try natural window light, which would reduce the nose and forehead highlights you have.

I'm no expert, but this may get you started, Berryliscious! :-)

[berrylish]

thanks, dwight. i really appreciate it.

[Wildewinds]

I actually think the ps'd version would look great if the face wasn't lightened so much. See how the skin tone of the face in the first image fits in the with the rest of the body? It doesn't in the ps'd version.

[berrylish]

wooo...heres another one...

http://www.berrylish.com/forum/Image44edit3.jpg

[DwightMcCann]

You took out too much catchlight ... one needs to stay in crisply, or otherwise your eyes look flat. :-) So, create a new layer, blur, erase eyes, lips, some hair hightlights. Then go in and clone out one matching eye catchlight in each eye. It should all be very gentle. Here's one of my niece with the new layer blur technique ... I didn't know about cloning out more than one catchlight when I did this. But see how subtle you can be ... you just want to remove pores and tiny blemishes.http://www.dwightmccann.com/Images/TaylorMcCann/TaylorMcCann0423-800PB.jpg

[berrylish]

like so?

http://www.berrylish.com/forum/Image44edit4.jpg

[DwightMcCann]

Oh, you're a quick study! See my update above ... you were too quick for me. Next you want to tone down that shine on your nose ... maybe blur it a little more ... gentle, gentle ... it would be better to improve the light source ... that window I suggested.

[berrylish]

You took out too much catchlight ... one needs to stay in crisply, or otherwise your eyes look flat. :-) So, create a new layer, blur, erase eyes, lips, some hair hightlights. Then go in and clone out one matching eye catchlight in each eye. It should all be very gentle. Here's one of my niece with the new layer blur technique ... I didn't know about cloning out more than one catchlight when I did this. But see how subtle you can be ... you just want to remove pores and tiny blemishes.

ooo very nice. yeah, that looks naturally flawless. I suppose its back to the drawing board for me :p

[DwightMcCann]

I think you'd get more/better help if you move this over to "Post Processing and Printing" forum.

[berrylish]

Ah, yes...I forgot there was a separate forum for that. Hopefully one of the mods will see this thread and move it over.

[stoneylonesome]

There beautiful, as you are, but I must say I think the 3rd and last one are the best. the second one seemed a little to soft. :) Nice job,

[Feihung08]

I'm thinking it doesn't need to move Dwight. You did a great job.......it's easy to tell because look how well she did! Great student must mean great teacher.....so Berrylish, good job!

[embdude]

wow... that last one is pretty damn good...

what steps are you taking to get that?

[berto]

berry,
i think after looking at all your editing. i still prefer the original. i think the background being "too" dark discrupts the mood of the photo.
great job, cutie.

[mgbeach]

how about a little different crop? Also, used the clone tool to even skin tones some. sculpt the eyebrows, and eliminate some of the highlights on your nose and cheek.

[Feihung08]

how about a little different crop? Also, used the clone tool to even skin tones some. sculpt the eyebrows, and eliminate some of the highlights on your nose and cheek.
Interesting and dramatic effect! But she's stopped being human now and looks more plastic. A little overkill...........but perfect for Playboy though!

[PhotosGuy]

A little overkill...........but perfect for Playboy though! :D:D:D That's what I was thinking! Nice work everyone!

[mgbeach]

really? stopped being human? I didn't think I had taken it quite that far! To me it's a suitable amount of processing for what's clearly meant to be a glamour shot. It's definitely one of those personal preference things :)

[berrylish]

thanks everyone for the comments and help!

wow... that last one is pretty damn good...

what steps are you taking to get that?
I just followed what Dwight said: "Are you putting the blur on new layer? You need to do that and then erase the new layer over your eyes, lips and hair highlights...clone out one of the catchlights"

how about a little different crop? Also, used the clone tool to even skin tones some. sculpt the eyebrows, and eliminate some of the highlights on your nose and cheek.
Koo, mgbeach. Yes, I agree its a personal preference thing.

Anyways, I must be going overboard because its my own picture. You know......girls :rolleyes:

[Michaelmjc]

Looks to fake now, i like the oriiginal a lot better.

[ChP]

The latest is definately overkill. The eyes look a little bloodshot too. I liked the previous versions, I thought the skin tone was good. The new crop is better, but don't go overboard.

[Aylwin]

Personally, I like the original photo best with the final edit coming in 2nd. In me humble opinion, your face is a bit over exposed compared to the rest of your body (hair, shoulders, arm, etc.) to begin with. I believe this makes post processing more difficult. I see mgbeach has attempted to balance the overall exposure but it isn't easy and I, too, think it's a bit overdone.

[Dweezil]

I softened a few edges and a few shiny spots, cropped the photo slightly, and tinted the background. To be honest, the original was really pretty good.

[mattym]

i think the eyes need to be sharper, at the risk of sounding like a stalker, the eyes are stunning, i would do this:
select a rectangle over the eyes and copy to new layer, make a copy of the original piccy, oversharpen the eye layer, blur the top layer as much as you feel is necessary then set the erasure to around 50% opacity and carefully brush out the eyes, this should let some of the sharpness through but not be too obvious...i had a link to a video of this technique but i can find it at the moment, play around with the percentages to get the look you like, but to me, with your eyes, its the right thing to do.

/puts on flashers mac and hits the streets.....

[mattym]

here is a quick effort, hope you dont mind...

http://www.pictures.quickanet.net/canon/eyes.jpg

i didnt worry about the backdrop or anything like that, just the eyes..

[DwightMcCann]

OK, now we need a new image to work with, Berrylicious.

[CyberPet]

Yes, I like the last one she did.... and she could just "matte" the glare on the nose (using the healing brush works great btw) and the picture is done. Very nice work!

[PhotosGuy]

Berrylicious. :D:D:D I was thinking that! ;)

[davidfig]

I like the berrylish post work with a crop closer to mgbeach's last post. Maybe not so tight.

[Keiffer]

Berrylish, I liked how you did your hair the second shot, I think all you needed to do was tone the face down some. But your hair in that shot looks very soft and smooth, when you redid it your hair looked to harsh.
Michael I think you over did it just a bit because it lacks depth, almost plastic looking. And you know I love your work man! :-)
But Berrylish, just try to redo your first try but just tone the face down some, I would like to see that.

[Baadil]

I think I like the hair in the original edit. They look more managed, sleek and say, 'Pantene' like :-)

[charlesu]

Inthedark has a point. You look great to start and you really don't need much of a modification.

If you're going for a SoftFX look, then a new layer with a soft gaussian blur is all that is needed. Your skin looks great. It's a fine line and, frankly, a lot depends on your video card. I recently upgraded to a really great card (about $400 retail) and WHOA what a difference. I can now see that I was way OVER sharpening my images before.

If I am working on an image like this I will typically soften the skin a bit, as well as the background. I let details come thru because I soften a dupe layer and then erase eyes, lips, etc. to varying degrees. I might apply a but of USM at the very end but only after everything else is done.

As far as being photographers is concerned, yes, I agree. Get it right in the camera. But, PS is just a substitute for what we used to do in the darkroom. Dodge, burn, vary contrast, color balance, tone, etc. I know some people go overboard but I still think it's a valuable tool.

[berrylish]

Thanks guys. Really appreciate it your advice. I'm always over photoshopping. I think its because that's all I did before I got a camera. I even gave people plastic surgery hehe.

[10Dennis]

You guys missed the red veins on her eyes.

JDennis

[garbidz]

did not do it but I'd suggest...take this and the original in different layers and play with the transparency

if she still does not turn up right you've got to kill her
very sorry, only solution...

(this is humour)

[garbidz]

oh yeah, forgot to mention...before killing her, you can offer her a job as MY model...