LR4: Difference between clarity and sharpening

digital paradise wrote in post #15588515
What I'm trying to achieve are these skin tones. That creamy look.

http://meninenuotrauka​.lt/lt/wedding/2011/ol​ga_igor/

The poster stated it did this and was based on the techniques on the link above.

http://www.flickr.com …#in/set-72157632377172935

Those skin tones look washed out and lifeless to me, but of course they are part of a "look". It's just not one that particularly appeals to me.

After thinking about it I have concluded that you have it twisted around - while holding down Alt (not Ctrl) the Blacks screen is white with spots of black showing clipping and Whites is black with white spots showing clipped highlights. I doubt it is possible to clip either end so much that Blacks is all black and Whites all white. On the other hand, when the display is Blacks = pure white and Whites = pure black the respective end points of the tonal distribution could be very close to clipping or miles from from it. You have to find the clip points and then set the sliders very close to them, Whites just before clipping and Blacks just after. At any rate, those settings have only slight effect on the skin tones and none on their "creaminess".

digital paradise wrote in post #15588151
Very helpful. I have tried this before and this was were I was struggling so I left to for a another day. Note: I installed some some sunflare effects where the teeth, etc are located.

1. I whitened the teeth

2. Selected clarity, painted the skin.

3. As soon as I touch the clarity slider it switches to custom and the teeth revert

4. Then I moved the clarity slider and both the teeth and skin change

5. I tried teeth with brush A and clarity with brush B and still the teeth change. They actually the teeth revert as soon as I select clarity whether I use A only or both A and B

It appears that you need to press done after each effect adjustment but that does not make sense to me. Why would adobe do that? I'm sure I'm missing something.

The "A" is to brush in the effect. The "B" is to Erase.

mwsilver wrote in post #15588254
If you've adjusted say the teeth, you need to then select "New" on top right for a new set of adjustment to do something like soften skin.You can apply several adjustment at one time, but they will all effect whatever is painted. Its like different layers of adjustments. Not sure if this is part of your problem or not.

This.

tonylong wrote in post #15589581
The "A" is to brush in the effect. The "B" is to Erase.
.

The A and B brush allow you to have two different brush settings so you can go back and forth. For example, A could be set as a large brush with a lot of feathering and B could be set as a smaller brush with a hard edge. That way you don't have to adjust the parameters as much each time you need a different brush. There is a separate erase brush.

mwsilver wrote in post #15589611
The A and B brush allow you to have two different brush settings so you can go back and forth. For example, A could be set as a large brush with a lot of feathering and B could be set as a smaller brush with a hard edge. That way you don't have to adjust the parameters as much each time you need a different brush. There is a separate erase brush.

OK, I guess I missed that, but does it explain why Digital Paradise had the weird stuff he was seeing...?

It is all good now. Pressing the "new" button before selecting a different effect cleared it up. A&B as stated let you toggle between brush sizes.

Thanks again everyone.

mwsilver wrote in post #15588574
Those skin tones look washed out and lifeless to me, but of course they are part of a "look". It's just not one that particularly appeals to me.

Yeah it is pretty subjective. They caught my attention right away. Almost a fairy tale, dreamy look to them which does make the skin tones look more lifeless than traditional. I suppose that could backfire. A bride might find them unappealing and there is a whole re-edit.

That wedding series was posted at POTN in the wedding section about a year ago I think.

tonylong wrote in post #15589871
OK, I guess I missed that, but does it explain why Digital Paradise had the weird stuff he was seeing...?

No, But I'm guessing it a procedural thing. If we could watch what he was doing it would probably be obvious.

digital paradise wrote in post #15590413
Yeah it is pretty subjective. They caught my attention right away. Almost a fairy tale, dreamy look to them which does make the skin tones look more lifeless than traditional. I suppose that could backfire. A bride might find them unappealing and there is a whole re-edit.

That wedding series was posted at POTN in the wedding section about a year ago I think.

It really all depend on the circumstances and what the client id looking for. Five different clients could have five very different sets of expectations. It was an interesting look and I really liked the composition.