Cut and tuck with PS CS2

My wife has a problem area around her tummy. How in photoshop can I cut some of it away with out it looking odd.

I have had a play with liquify tool but no much luck to remove the "excess"

If you are good at this sort of thing can you show before after and a quick how to.
Or if you know of any web tutorials post link.
Out of respect for my wife I will NOT post her photo. Im sure there is outhers on the internet that could be used as an example.

found an example of the sort of thing Im trying do do in PS

http://www.mofidplasti​csurgery.com/mps-gallery-tummy_tuck.htm

This was a quick go I had using the clone stamp, with 70% opacity. It doesn't give her Kelly Holme's midriff, but is a lot more flattering.

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Ok that gives me another option to try.

1. Add color burn layer filled with color burn neutral color (white). With brush set at about 2% opacity, paint with black to darken light areas on torso.
2. Add color dodge layer filled with color dodge neutral color (black). With brush set at about 2% opacity, paint with white to lighten dark areas caused by shadows on torso.
3. Merge all visible layers into a new layer
4. Liquify to change body contour (freeze arms and any other areas that should not change).
5. Touch up with healing brush as required.
6. Copy top layer and apply gaussian blur to suit.
7. Add layer mask to blurred layer and fill with black (to mask blurring action).
8. With brush set at 5-10% opacity, paint white onto mask in those areas that can benefit from some smoothing.

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I normally try to hide those "features" that do not enhance her photo. However sometimes you cant.

How to you freeze an area with the liquiy tool?

Newish to PS

Press "F1", enter "liquify freeze" in the search box and click on "freezing areas" in the search results list to view the manual for this option.

It may be quicker to simply cut n copy her head and paste it on a donor size 10 body.

Really, I think the tummy tuck etc isn't sensible. The aim is to flatter, while avoiding "bad sides", and there are classic tricks to do this. Crikey, just ask any Royal portrait photographer.

Check out what this guy can do!

http://glennferon.com/​portfolio1/index.html

Click on a picture (like this one: http://glennferon.com/​portfolio1/portfolio09​.html) and then move your cursor over it to see what it originally looked like!

I am replying here, because I don't have enough posts to reply in the Glamour forum.

Now, I am not a professional photographer, or anything near it. In fact, I am just starting college for photography in August, so I am an amateur in every aspect.

But I think that you shouldn't necessarily try to hide or photoshop your wife's "imperfections". Those "imperfections" are what make people unique. I know that a lot of people, especially when in their later years (women, probably even more so) find it hard to look at age discrepancies and flaws as beauty, but what else are they? Just because the majority of people are attracted to certain things doesn't mean that somebody without those characteristics is any less amazing.

I say that, instead of hiding and shadowing and photoshoping... you should try to embrace those imperfections and care not for the opinions of naysayers. Just because somebody may be more "flabby" than someone else, or too skinny even, that doesn't mean that it is a bad thing. I say embellish those features and come to terms with them. Confidence shines through imagery far more than plastic surgery in my opinion. And when I get my Bachelor of Fine Arts degree and go on to "bigger and better" things, I don't plan on hiding physical features, but rather, bringing out people's confidence and courage from inside.

I love looking at images of people (and all other things) that are less than perfect. Perfection is only a perception. Everything has great beauty to it. I say embrace it whole-heartedly.

I apologize for my extended post.

Excellently put JorgenH! (now all you've got to do is convince half the worlds population )

While I agree with you I want you to ponder this thought.

You everyday have looked at yourself wishing you were someething else. You see the cute guys going for the cheerleaders. You sit back and wonder what if.

You meet some guy who loves you for what you are, get married and have kids. You stand in the mirror as you see your self 30kgs more than you did 10 years ago. You bust your butt everyday at the gym to not see much of a change.

One day you see a photo that you know has been Photoshopped and it looks like what you have always wanted to look like. You look good in fact great. No wrinkles, no fat tummy, firmish full breasts. You smile because you know you will never realy look like that.

People all day dream about things they know they can never be but does it stop them day dreaming.

I want to give my wife at least a smile. Are you saying I shouldnt? Are you saying that I should show her what she see everyday in the mirror?

Go get your fine arts degree but never take people photos because they will expect you to make them look better than they really are. Thats why we pay the money we dont what a snap shoot we want to look our best, even if it means a bit of computer correction, light manaplitation and any other trick you can pull out of your hat.

Dont take this as a personal attack, just take it from someone who sees the look in his wifes eyes when the scales dont move no matter how much sweet and tears she has put into a week at the gym to make herself look better for her because she dosnt like what see's in the mirror.

Hello

Off topic.

I'm not sure that a gym is really effective for loosing weight; all that exercise makes you hungry. There is a simple equation that the more you eat and drink, the more weight you put on.

My housekeeper lost 50 lbs simply by enjoying her hunger and drinking a lot less wine. She had a great deal of selt-discipline.

Geoffrey Pocock

weka2000: I didn't mean any disrespect of any sort in my response, I can assure you.

And I apologize for anything that I said that may have been misleading to what I meant, or that may have "struck a cord" so to speak. I am not very good at saying or typing the thoughts in my head.

My main thought/point when I began typing my previous comment was that there are photographers that take less than pefect women (people) and make them look beautiful how they are. WITH SHADOWS and all... most definitely with photoshop, as well. But they don't alter the image to something that it is not. William Carter has a shot that is callled... Shakti (I believe, not certain) that is an amazing representation of what I am trying to explain.

Now I am definitely not saying that you should not do this. I do think it is a great idea, and I would LOVE to see the end result. Ansel Adams, himself, said something to the effect of "you don't take photos, you create photos". If one is amazing at photoshop, I think they should pour their heart and soul into that aspect and change the world and the face of photography and make as many people smile as they can.

I was just saying that I, however, have a different goal/prospect for when I start photographing (when I become more educated)... I always seem to look for the inner beauty in photographs, which is funny because I rarely seem to in person...

Anyway, I am in no way trying to sway you away or tell you what to do. My ultimate advice... do what makes your wife and yourself happy.

There was no offence taken even though my responce was a bit sharp. I know what you were saying and I agree.

The ultmate goal is the happy customer. Again I go back to the post in the glamor section "Does anyone photograph normal woman anymore."

It is because "men" want the woman to be perfect, "woman" then do all they can to be perfect. Those that do not make the grade grow up and continue to look at themselves as second rate.

They have brought into the lie that men have created fueled by magazines, fashion, movie tycons.

I spent 1 hour on a photo last night. Using the liquidfy tool I stimmed her right down gave her full firm breasts, then I compared photos. The result.....

Who is this slim firm breasted imposter that looks like my wife...

Very good to hear! And I completely agree with what you said.

Maybe she'll be happy enough with the result to let you share the pictures?