Skin Work

Trying to find that happy median in skin processing. Where you can tell it's been done but it still looks real.
What do you guys think?

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I think you did a great job on her skin. I would have done some or some more on her lips to perhaps even them out a little. Nice job!

Thanks Leeport, for some reason the web compression makes her lips look a lot worse, almost like blisters, the original version doesn't look like that. But to be honest I have never tried doing much lip work, I may have to look into that.

it looks a little bit muddy, there are patches where you can see detail, and patches where u cant.. but over time it will/should get more consistent.

I don't see any areas where you can't see detail, but I use a 22" monitor... But of course I do hope to improve.

I think it's great work. Care to share your method?

shadows and highlights are a bit blotchy. try to do some D&B with this method

http://vimeo.com/14381​588

make the highlight/low light layers using curves layers, make sure the layer is completely black so you can paint on where you want. have a low opacity (15% or so) and paint on in areas to even out the tones... then once done, apply a gaussian blur to make it look more natural.

good start though, you have the skin texture and detail there, just control the light!

I see what you mean about the highlights and shadows, I didn't do much with them they are pretty much how they really look. I'll try some d&b but honestly it confuses me and I still haven't figured out how to do it correctly to achieve that magazine look.

first try

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for comparison here's the original, probably should add that the color is pretty different if you're not using a color managed browser, I use chrome because it's faster, really wish they'd color manage it soon.

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great work compared to the original! what method are you using to do this?

m.shalaby wrote in post #12254022
great work compared to the original! what method are you using to do this?

Using the basic tools plus the de-grunge method and a dodge and burn method for the highlights and shadows.

sixtwo wrote in post #12254627
Using the basic tools plus the de-grunge method and a dodge and burn method for the highlights and shadows.

hmm, not familiar w/ the 'de-grunge' method... can you elaborate?

I would say google it, as I can't really explain it as well as someone else, its more like a method you just learn. Kind of like a poor mans dodge and burn.

great work....