What would you do differently?

[Matth3w]

I am still new to photo retouching. So if you don't mind taking a look at what I've done and providing comments and feedback on what you would have done differently, I would appreciate it.

Here is the original cropped photo in question of my girlfriend and I:



I then did an Unsharp Mask of 10/70/0 (I saw in the sticky thread someone did 20% and 70 but that made her face REALLY white):



Then I did an Unsharp Mask of 150/0.3/0:



Lastly, I did Select All > Modify > Border > 4 > Select Inverse > Delete to get the white border region, then made the canvas 10px bigger on HxW on a black BG for the black border:

[number six]

So far, so good. My next step would be to clone out the reflections from the bottles (?) behind you. The catch lights in the eyes are nice, but I'd get rid of the one in your glasses.

Maybe a bit too bright - she looks sorta pale...

-js

[Matth3w]

Behind me is a glass wall of sorts, we were on the upper level of a restaurant. How do you remove the reflections in my glasses and in the glass behind us?

Is there a way to darken her back up after I already did the USM, or do I have to start from the original again?

[Matth3w]

By the way, thanks for helping. Just trying to learn. While I can read the stickies, I am the kinda person that has to see it being done to really grasp it.

[number six]

Originally Posted by Matthew2K3MP5

Behind me is a glass wall of sorts, we were on the upper level of a restaurant. How do you remove the reflections in my glasses and in the glass behind us?

Is there a way to darken her back up after I already did the USM, or do I have to start from the original again?

The clone brush will remove the reflections easily. It'll be a little trickier on your glasses but if you magnify the pic to 200% it'll be much easier. You don't say what software you're using - do you have a clone brush?

Your first USM (10, 70, 0) raised the contrast - you didn't like it at 20 because the contrast was too high. But it looks about right to me as it is now. You can reduce the brightness with a number of tools, depending on what software you're using. You can adjust brightness on just her face by making it a selection first.

-js

[Matth3w]

I have Photoshop CS2, so yea I've got a clone brush. Hit ALT+left click to select then click to clone right?

"You can adjust brightness on just her face by making it a selection first."

Not sure how to do that.

[number six]

Originally Posted by Matthew2K3MP5

I have Photoshop CS2, so yea I've got a clone brush. Hit ALT+left click to select then click to clone right?

"You can adjust brightness on just her face by making it a selection first."

Not sure how to do that.

I use Paint Shop Pro XI, not Photoshop, so my buttons may be slightly different from yours (although Corel has made PSP look very much like PS).

The clone brush requires you to select the source point with a right click, then you copy it to the offending sparkle with a left click. You can either draw continuously or do it a click at a time. Select a fairly large radius.

You can outline her face (and yours, if desired) with the selection tool - freehand selection would be the choice here. PSP has a "smart edge" option to freehand selection that makes outlining much easier.

Here's an example:

Image2.jpg

It took about 30 clicks to outline the cat - the line follows contrast levels and does a pretty good job. A right click finishes the selection process.

Once you've got the selection you can apply brightness adjustment or curves to it, or (better yet) promote the selection to a new layer and work on that layer.

Have fun!

-js

[number six]

BTW, I didn't do the demonstration on your picture because you don't have "Image Editing OK" flagged in your profile.

-js

[Matth3w]

Thanks...I have a hell of a time trying to outline something though without screwing up. What happens when you select pixels just outside or inside of the outline of the face then brighten it up? Notice for example on the cat's back where you have the part sticking up...

[Matth3w]

Originally Posted by number six

BTW, I didn't do the demonstration on your picture because you don't have "Image Editing OK" flagged in your profile.

-js

I'll change that, by all means show me what you can do

[number six]

Originally Posted by Matthew2K3MP5

Thanks...I have a hell of a time trying to outline something though without screwing up. What happens when you select pixels just outside or inside of the outline of the face then brighten it up? Notice for example on the cat's back where you have the part sticking up...

Does your selection tool have something like PSP's "smart edge" option?

[Matth3w]

I think so lemme try it.

[Matth3w]

I have the magnetic lasso tool. As soon as I finish this game of poker online I'll try it. Not sure exactly what I should do AFTER I get it selected though. Promote to layer, then what?

[number six]

Originally Posted by Matthew2K3MP5

I have the magnetic lasso tool. As soon as I finish this game of poker online I'll try it. Not sure exactly what I should do AFTER I get it selected though. Promote to layer, then what?

You can leave it as a selection or promote it to a layer. I prefer to promote it.

Here's the result of my selection (it took 42 clicks, probably two minutes):

Image4.jpg

Then I promoted it to a layer, opened a new adjustment layer (curves), and moved the left end of the line to the right to darken the layer (her face). Didn't want anything extreme, and of course I have no idea what her complexion really looks like. (While moving the curves line nothing changed except her face, since I had that layer selected.)

Image3.jpg

The exercise took 3 or 4 minutes...

-js

[Zonieart]

Here's my 60 second shot at it.