Eran Posted December 12, 2018 Share Posted December 12, 2018 Hi , Someone retouched in the past one of my old images and I always like the look of the skin from that image. I would like to know how to achieve same look on my other pictures by my own . He worked on RAW and not SOOR ... I know this image has black clipping which I don't mind for now , All I want it the skin effect ? Here is the end result retoucher sent me : Here is my the soor And this is how it looks when I convert it to BW (before levels) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Damien Symonds Posted December 12, 2018 Share Posted December 12, 2018 Let's take this in steps ... First, make sure you process this raw file in 16-bit rather than the usual 8-bit. We'll need all that robust data. Then do your BW conversion again, exactly as you've done. Then add the overall Levels layer. You'll probably find that you can bring the white slider in to about 250. (DON'T bring the black slider in. Despite what you think, I don't believe there's any black clipping in this edit.) Then move the middle slider aggressively darker, I suggest to about 0.40. At this point, you'll begin to recognise some of the characteristics of the other photo. Not all, but some. Enough for now. Then return to the Background layer, duplicate it, then perform all your skin smoothing and blemish removal in the usual way. Post for me once you've done that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eran Posted December 12, 2018 Author Share Posted December 12, 2018 33 minutes ago, Damien Symonds said: Let's take this in steps ... First, make sure you process this raw file in 16-bit rather than the usual 8-bit. We'll need all that robust data. Then do your BW conversion again, exactly as you've done. Then add the overall Levels layer. You'll probably find that you can bring the white slider in to about 250. (DON'T bring the black slider in. Despite what you think, I don't believe there's any black clipping in this edit.) Then move the middle slider aggressively darker, I suggest to about 0.40. At this point, you'll begin to recognise some of the characteristics of the other photo. Not all, but some. Enough for now. Then return to the Background layer, duplicate it, then perform all your skin smoothing and blemish removal in the usual way. Post for me once you've done that. I did all you said but instead of going to 0.4 which was too dark for me , I went 0.5.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eran Posted December 12, 2018 Author Share Posted December 12, 2018 Also - Why not first do skin retouch and than levels/BW etc... ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Damien Symonds Posted December 12, 2018 Share Posted December 12, 2018 7 hours ago, Eran said: Also - Why not first do skin retouch and than levels/BW etc... ? Because I needed you to be able to see your skin retouches in the context of the aggressive black-and-white edit. Otherwise you might not have smoothed her enough. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Damien Symonds Posted December 12, 2018 Share Posted December 12, 2018 8 hours ago, Eran said: I did all you said but instead of going to 0.4 which was too dark for me , I went 0.5.... For now, please follow my lead on this. I may surprise you and actually know what I'm doing ? At the end of the process, you might decide that you like 0.5. But for now, please show me 0.4. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eran Posted December 12, 2018 Author Share Posted December 12, 2018 11 minutes ago, Damien Symonds said: For now, please follow my lead on this. I may surprise you and actually know what I'm doing ? At the end of the process, you might decide that you like 0.5. But for now, please show me 0.4. Here you go sir : Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Damien Symonds Posted December 12, 2018 Share Posted December 12, 2018 Thank you. Now, select the Levels layer, and go to Layer>Layer Style>Blending Options. Are you familiar with the "Blend if" sliders? I need you to Alt-click on this white slider and drag it in to about halfway: (You probably already know this, but using Alt breaks that little slider in half, allowing only one section to move). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Damien Symonds Posted December 12, 2018 Share Posted December 12, 2018 Just now, Damien Symonds said: drag it in to about halfway: As you can see, I moved mine to 118. But play around and see what you like. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eran Posted December 12, 2018 Author Share Posted December 12, 2018 10 minutes ago, Damien Symonds said: Thank you. Now, select the Levels layer, and go to Layer>Layer Style>Blending Options. Are you familiar with the "Blend if" sliders? I need you to Alt-click on this white slider and drag it in to about halfway: (You probably already know this, but using Alt breaks that little slider in half, allowing only one section to move). Hmm... The skin retouch was done after the levels , so I need to delete that layer and do skin retouch at the end ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eran Posted December 12, 2018 Author Share Posted December 12, 2018 12 minutes ago, Damien Symonds said: As you can see, I moved mine to 118. But play around and see what you like. I moved to 122 (undid skin retouch) . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Damien Symonds Posted December 12, 2018 Share Posted December 12, 2018 What the heck??????? Show me a screenshot of your layers panel. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eran Posted December 12, 2018 Author Share Posted December 12, 2018 1 minute ago, Damien Symonds said: What the heck??????? Show me a screenshot of your layers panel. I cloned background as you instructed. Did non destructive heal BW conversation Levels And skin smoothing I use Plug in called Delicous Retouch... (destructive) so I do it after the BW conversation Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Damien Symonds Posted December 12, 2018 Share Posted December 12, 2018 No, the smoothing must happen BELOW all adjustment layers. NEVER allow a pixel layer above adjustment layers. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eran Posted December 12, 2018 Author Share Posted December 12, 2018 3 minutes ago, Damien Symonds said: No, the smoothing must happen BELOW all adjustment layers. NEVER allow a pixel layer above adjustment layers. Earlier you said first convert to be and than smooth ... Which is why I asked... Ok , will fix it , what next step ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Damien Symonds Posted December 12, 2018 Share Posted December 12, 2018 No, this is what I said: 9 hours ago, Damien Symonds said: Then return to the Background layer, duplicate it, then perform all your skin smoothing and blemish removal in the usual way. You must do your skin smoothing on the colour version. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eran Posted December 12, 2018 Author Share Posted December 12, 2018 15 minutes ago, Damien Symonds said: No, this is what I said: You must do your skin smoothing on the colour version. Done , I used now a more aggressive skin smoother to get something close to the look on the picture. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Damien Symonds Posted December 12, 2018 Share Posted December 12, 2018 Good. Finally, to get the right colour tinge, add this Levels layer on top: R 0/0.98/255 and 17/244 G 0/1.00/255 and 14/242 B 0/1.02/255 and 9/244 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eran Posted December 12, 2018 Author Share Posted December 12, 2018 4 minutes ago, Damien Symonds said: Good. Finally, to get the right colour tinge, add this Levels layer on top: R 0/0.98/255 and 17/244 G 0/1.00/255 and 14/242 B 0/1.02/255 and 9/244 How did you get the values ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Damien Symonds Posted December 12, 2018 Share Posted December 12, 2018 Just by taking readings from the sample photo you posted. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eran Posted December 12, 2018 Author Share Posted December 12, 2018 3 minutes ago, Damien Symonds said: Just by taking readings from the sample photo you posted. I need to learn that... What is next step ? ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Damien Symonds Posted December 12, 2018 Share Posted December 12, 2018 Next step? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eran Posted December 12, 2018 Author Share Posted December 12, 2018 1 minute ago, Damien Symonds said: Next step? Looks like his skin is smoother (which I know how to handle) but whites are stronger (like stronger highlights) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Damien Symonds Posted December 12, 2018 Share Posted December 12, 2018 That's ok, just bring in the white slider on the RGB channel on that final levels layer I just gave you. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Damien Symonds Posted December 13, 2018 Share Posted December 13, 2018 That kind of stuff is minor details. I just wanted to reiterate that the heart of this look is the aggressive midtone darkening layer, with the "Blend if" sliders being used to take it off the bright end. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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