Damien Symonds

I don't care about the cheeks and forehead. I want to know about the OVERALL photo brightness.

https://www.damiensymonds.net/desktop-monitor-brightness

Then the Brightness isn't low enough yet.

The brightness is close? How about the other issues?

Yep.

Concentrate on the brightness first. Fix that, then we'll talk about the rest.

Hooray! And what are they telling you?

Download PSD Using this method: https://www.damiensymonds.net/preventing-banding-in-backdrops/

You're right, this is just a lack of contrast. A normal Levels adjustment will fix it.

That's wonderful news. Breathe easier, my friend.

So it all pretty much comes down to this - how is the focus? Did you nail 'em? Your culling process will be vital. Don't be lax with it, because if you are it will bite you on the ass later. Be ruthless. If there are any that you're uncertain about, feel free to post in this area for my help.

No. The PPI number is completely meaningless, I assure you. https://www.damiensymonds.net/art_resolution.html https://www.damiensymonds.net/2011/11/why-ppi-doesnt-matter-yet-another.html

2560x3840 is 9.8 megapixels. So as long as they're well-focused, and don't require very much cropping at all, you'll be fine. https://www.damiensymonds.net/2014/03/how-aggressively-can-i-crop.html Do NOT use this shit. Photoshop does a perfectly good job.

Ehh ... it's probably ok.

Only just. What size brush were you using to mask around the handles; and at what zoom were you viewing when doing so? (Hint: The answers should be (1) No bigger than 6px, and (2) No less than 400%.)

Your masking around the handles is completely terrible.

It doesn't matter a bit, don't worry. Your calibrated profile will override it anyway.

Just you wait. In the Levels Class you'll learn amazing stuff with gradients and masks.

Yes, using the gradient tool.

That's wonderful. You won't regret it.

You're welcome. It's great fun, isn't it?

Download PSD I experimented with lots of blend modes before deciding that Linear Light looked best. https://www.damiensymonds.net/2011/06/sometimes-you-get-lucky.html The "Levels 1" layer isn't part of the edit, it's just the layer I used to check that I'd completely blackened the silhouette. The Pattern Fill Layer is some noise to prevent banding: https://www.damiensymonds.net/tut_noise.html

No, on the mask. Hold on, I'll upload the file.

How about this?

Can you post this file by itself, so I can see what the best approach might be?