Simple (& Free!) Skin Retouching

1. Like others, I've noticed that using Neat Image to reduce noise also can reduce skin blemishes. But it also destroyed fine detail...

2. I was reading a skin retouching tutorial today. Link. It got way too complicated for me. But I grasped the basic idea...

3. I happened to be reading the Neat Image help files a few days ago. Suddenly I remembered something about the "Advanced Mode" and I thought that I might be able to use Neat Image to reduce the low frequency (blotches) but keep the high frequency (detail). So I gave it a shot:

• Start with an image about 1600 pixels
  
• Tools/Advanced Mode
  
• Noise Reduction Amounts - High and Mid to 0%.
  
• Noise Reduction Amounts - Low to 100%
  
• Noise Reduction Amounts - Y to 100%
  
• Very low freq - Uncheck
  
• Conservative Y Sharpening - Check

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i use Neat Image everyday, this is a really great tool to get rid of noise & smooth the skin. you can't go wrong with this little plugin.

that lloks good, I'll have to give it a go.

Davy

Hey that works awesome! Combine that with your original image in photoshop and use a layer mask and you can get amazing results!

mcmadkat wrote in post #3055350
...Combine that with your original image in photoshop and use a layer mask and you can get amazing results!

Or GIMP, if you like freeware like me!

What is Neat Image?

aliasjanedoe wrote in post #3064007
What is Neat Image?

Its a noise reduction software. Dont forget that google is your best friend.....

Here's another try.

I ran the process on the same image at different sizes.
At this distance, 1944 pixels worked better than 1296.

Noise Reduction Amounts - Y to 60%
(to avoid a too much make-up look)

Also notice that this technique makes bokeh look more creamy.

My Wife

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The one reason i like Noise Ninja over NI is that NN has a masking brush in it.
I find it works very well for quick fixes. you can brush out the noise reduction on eyes, mouth etc from within NN rather than having to work with layers. Of course its not the best way of working but i feel it makes NN more versatile than NI, especially if you are only using the stand alone versions.