Skin softening - CC please

The softening is probably OK but the soft focus is a little too much for me. A little less would probably give the full effect you want.

There is something jacked up on the original with her teeth. They don't look right. Have these already been touched up in the 'original'? It appears there is some cloning or something, but I can't tell for sure. It might just be artifacting from being such a compressed JPG.

neil_r wrote in post #2852243
This may not work given that I can not see what is on your monitors but below is a collection of screen grabs taken of the pictures posted here the OP's picture is top left.

This is how I see them on a commercially calibrated monitor using a fully ICC compliant browser.

I HAVE DONE NOTHING TO THEESE PICTURES OTHER THAN GRAB PAST AND RESIZE.

Okay, so whose do you think looks best on your calibrated monitor... most natural skin tones? I'd be interested to know.... My monitor is calibrated, but to a warmer color temperature due to my viewing environment...

Love how you did this!

Lonnie - nothing has been done with her teeth, and I assume that it is reduction artifacts.

Kristy - I was going to ask Neil the same thing. It would be useful if he could tell us which shot looks more natural on his computer.

Roy Mathers wrote in post #2836382
Hi

I wonder if you experts out there could give me your opinion on this. I tried a skin softening and soft focus technique on this picture and would like your views on whether you think it too much/just right/ not enough. A larger version of the photo is available at http://farm1.static.fl​ickr.com …14572012_bb1499​304e_b.jpg

i may not be a professional but in my opinion there is too much blurring. if you look at "professionals" the skin is usually perfect but there is always detail e.g. pores etc, to make it look more realistic. you had a good go but i would suggest changing your technique. use spot healing tool to remove spots and healing brush to perfect the skin. always make sure there is detail!

go on some tutorials from www.good-tutorials.com and www.pixel2life.com . search for skin retouch and im sure you will find some usefull stuff! good luck.

Thanks Laimis. I did use the healing brush and re-touch tools before the skin softening, but I had a feeling that I had overdone the softening, hence the request for opinions.

Here is a maybe a silly question from someone who knows nothing about anything but what if you just took the original and put the edited version over it on a seperate layer and lower the opacity to counteract the softening? I actually like your version and the softness... but thank you for sharing it and giving us all an opportunity to learn

here another with 2 clicks of mouse

1st used the default smoothing medium setting on Imagenomic Portraiture plugin

2nd used levels to tighten up the image's range alittle

HTTP response: NOT FOUND | MIME changed to 'image/png'

What type of back ground material did you use.

I think the first shot you posted looks good. But skin smoothing is a matter of personal taste, some people won't like it but some will. Yours looks tastefully done.

Valerism - Thank you for your comments - and I shall try your suggestion out of interest.

RLC - Just a plain black cloth about 5 feet from the model.

jaymrobinson - thank you for your kind comments.