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BarryM
6th July 2006, 01:17 PM
I thought some of you might like this tutorial ive found pretty useful, its to soften the skin on a face, atlthough noise ninja does the same, i love this method although still needing a fine tune.

Firstly open your image up in photoshop (sorry only ps).You will notice her face looks like its been hit with a grit blaster at 300psi (only kidding)

http://www.barrymoirphotography.co.uk/ps7.jpg

Now we split the face up into regions, firstly forehead, left cheek area, right cheek area, nose, bottom lip, chin then neck.

But first select with your lasoo an area of her forehead like this. You can roughly pick here, not a problem. Make sure you put a value in the feather box or between 10 and 20 ish when lasso tool is open unlike I DID

http://www.barrymoirphotography.co.uk/ps1.jpg


Now using ctrl c, then ctrl v you will notice a new layer in your layers pallet. unclick the little eye next to background layer so just the selection is showing.

http://www.barrymoirphotography.co.uk/ps2.jpg

Now we want to add a gausian blur to this, Filter>>blur>>gaussian blur and as you see ive set it at a radius of 3.6 pixels. Press ok. I also have feathing Now click on the little eye next to your background layer and you will notice her forehead is rather smooth.

Now make sure you have the background layer highlighted again (in blue) and we choose the next section

http://www.barrymoirphotography.co.uk/ps4.jpg

and do the same again, ctrl v then ctrl c to make new layer. then remove the little eyes from the layers you DONT want to see so just the new one is showing and now you can press ctrl F to auto add the gaussian blur UNLESS you want to vary it from one area to the other then i suggest just goto filter blur gaussian blur. Once done, remember to click on the background layer to highlight it.

We do this with all the areas of the face mentioned above until your satisfied you have ever part covered. As you see i have 7layers, left cheek, right cheek, forehead, chin, nose, neck and top lip.

http://www.barrymoirphotography.co.uk/ps5.jpg


Now im reasonably happy with that, i want merge all my layers except background layer just click on one and shift click on the last new layer, right click and goto "merge layers" Now if you remove the small eye by clicking on it, next to your background layer you will see the resulting layers you have worked on all on one err layer lol. (looks like something out of the film " the hollow man"

http://www.barrymoirphotography.co.uk/ps6.jpg

and if your happy (obviously with this one i caughta bit of the lip so you maybe dont want to be toooo rough with your selection). highlight both the background layer and adjusted layer and "merge layers".

Hey presto, you have what i think is a lovely smooth skin, Bear in mind that over zealousness with the blur can make the skin too soft, so have a play around until your happy.


BEFORE
http://www.barrymoirphotography.co.uk/before.jpg

AFTER

http://www.barrymoirphotography.co.uk/after.jpg


This is a method that i have watched on a dvd by Yervant and love it to bits now so thought id share, hope its of use to you.

Id like to thank my mum who modelled for me, good on ya mum, told you i could make you look good again.

Now i know its not perfectly correct, two reasons 1. This has taken ages to do lol so was quickly for forum and 2. Im new to all this as well, so need to fine tune, but i find its a great method, and once your up to scratch, you can rattle through the picture in less than a minute. select ctrl c ctrl v then if happy with gaussian amount just hit ctrl f (after you initially set it with first selection). When doing they copy and paste ALWAYS make sure you have your background layer highlighted first.

Hope it is of some help.

Bindii
6th July 2006, 01:20 PM
Wow...it looks good.....

but not as good as the almighty Noise Ninja!!!!

Seriously though, thanks for sharing it..I will give it a go!

BarryM
6th July 2006, 01:25 PM
Much better than noise ninja, means the rest of image stays sharp unlike noise ninja which softens whole image and then u have to history brush back in the sharp areas.:grin:

StagePhotography.co.uk
6th July 2006, 01:25 PM
THAT'S YOUR MOTHER!!!!!

OH MY GOD...

*gulp*

Errrrr...

Barry I've got some bad news...

I remember her..... It was a long time ago...

A one night stand...

Son...

I'm so sorry..


Nice edit btw....

Have you tried 100% Digital Noise removal on that image,
in Paint Shop Pro?

Stemmy
6th July 2006, 01:26 PM
Superb tutorial Barry !!!!!!

BarryM
6th July 2006, 01:27 PM
THAT'S YOUR MOTHER!!!!!

OH MY GOD...

*gulp*

Errrrr...

Barry I've got some bad news...

I remember her..... It was a long time ago...

A one night stand...

Son...

I'm so sorry..


Nice edit btw....

Have you tried 100% Digital Noise removal on that image,
in Paint Shop Pro?


DAD ?????? YOU &^£*&£ £"£ (*(*&^£*(£!"**% YOU OWE ME 35 YEARS POCKET MONEY :grin:

Bindii
6th July 2006, 01:27 PM
THAT'S YOUR MOTHER!!!!!

OH MY GOD...

*gulp*

Errrrr...

Barry I've got some bad news...

I remember her..... It was a long time ago...

A one night stand...

Son...

I'm so sorry..



So Barry?

Who's your Daddy???? ;)c

BarryM
6th July 2006, 01:28 PM
Nice edit btw....

Have you tried 100% Digital Noise removal on that image,
in Paint Shop Pro?

i havent pal, ive never ever been a fan of noise removal, i bought my canon on the understanding i would not need it, and up till i met you lot i DIDNT now i do lol.

Bindii
6th July 2006, 01:30 PM
Much better than noise ninja, means the rest of image stays sharp unlike noise ninja which softens whole image and then u have to history brush back in the sharp areas.:grin:

Uh huh...but if you select the areas that you want Ninja'd then make another layer of the selected bits...and apply Noise Ninja to the new layer only...then you wouldn't have the problem of the whole image being soft..:grin:

StagePhotography.co.uk
6th July 2006, 01:32 PM
Here's with Digital Noise Removal
and a once over the eyes and mouth with a Sharpen...

Son....

BarryM
6th July 2006, 01:34 PM
oh wow, good job mate, i feel her eyes are a wee bit soft now, but nothing the history brush wouldnt bring back but overall stunning.

BarryM
6th July 2006, 01:35 PM
Uh huh...but if you select the areas that you want Ninja'd then make another layer of the selected bits...and apply Noise Ninja to the new layer only...then you wouldn't have the problem of the whole image being soft..:grin:

by the time you do that your arms are in a tangle, your elbow is stuck in your ear, and need medical help :grin:

Bindii
6th July 2006, 01:37 PM
by the time you do that your arms are in a tangle, your elbow is stuck in your ear, and need medical help :grin:

Lol...are you sure you don't have photo shop mixed up with somethin else..;)c

tonymidd
6th July 2006, 03:13 PM
I prefere Barry's more controlable method, but for my taste both are a touch too plastic especially as any texture under the eyes has been deleted in both cases. I've a friend who uses this method for his portraits but he's always carefull to leave some texture in the skin.

Polyfiller rules OK :clapping::clapping::clapping:

mags
6th July 2006, 04:02 PM
O.k I couldnt resist giving this a go :-)

I just used diffuse glow at 0 2 16 for the 3 settings and the lifted saturation just a touch so its not to ghostly. oh and i got rid of a few moles what can i say i couldnt help myself :-)

tonymidd
6th July 2006, 04:30 PM
O.k I couldnt resist giving this a go :-)

I just used diffuse glow at 0 2 16 for the 3 settings and the lifted saturation just a touch so its not to ghostly. oh and i got rid of a few moles what can i say i couldnt help myself :-)

I like that better, her skin still looks like skin, maybe just and I mean just a touch more blur on the girls left cheek.:wave3::wave3:

Stemmy
6th July 2006, 04:40 PM
This is a quickie with noise ninja !!

howlingbasset
9th August 2006, 10:58 PM
convert to layer, then copy that layer above, command j (Mac), then apply gaussian blur to this top layer. Then create a layer mask and paint back in the detailed areas you want (eyes hair etc) from the underlying layer. Non-destructive and only two layers.

PaulBT
15th August 2007, 04:04 PM
My Favourite method using Kodak Gem Airbrush on a copy layer and a layer mask to bring back detail where required

Before/After

bobby47
25th January 2008, 02:53 PM
I'd love to see the tutorial which i presume contains images. However Im only getting a box with a cross.

Is this because Im not a member or because Ive set a setting too high somewhere ?

BarryM
25th January 2008, 02:57 PM
hi mate, no the images were stored on my website and i lost the site this is why now we use the "manage attachements" so that there on the forum server, i actually lost a bucketload of cracking photos.

Mal
25th January 2008, 10:07 PM
Hi Barry any chance of reposting when you have a spare minute? I'd love to find out how to do it.

kevrayner
25th January 2008, 10:46 PM
me 2 baz....per leeeeeeeeeeese !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

kev

PHIL THE FRAME
5th February 2008, 11:18 AM
me too:thanks:

chrishoggy
5th February 2008, 11:48 AM
Here is a really simple method.
1/ open image in photoshop
2/ duplicate layer
3/ erase all but skin surface in new layer, and use 25% opacity on eyebrows and edges.
4/ apply surface blur filter to new layer (adjust to smooth skin)
5/ Use pot healing brush for blemishes
6/ flatten image and save

Took about 60 seconds to do this one:ok:

dusktildawn
6th February 2008, 12:35 PM
If anyone wants a PS action script for a good skin softening technique then drop me a line! I'll email you the "Action"........Just drop it into your actions folder an voile'

kevrayner
6th February 2008, 04:54 PM
If anyone wants a PS action script for a good skin softening technique then drop me a line! I'll email you the "Action"........Just drop it into your actions folder an voile'

hey mate...can ya email me one ?

kev@image-i-nation.co.uk

kev

Jenny105
2nd January 2009, 10:04 PM
Barrys tutorial is great but can anyone tell me why and how to correct the picture problem. Im getting a small square and red cross in top left but no image. I can normally pick up images on site.
The same thing is happeing with imbedded stuff on email.
from a bear with litle technical brain but brave

josh_smaxx
2nd January 2009, 10:19 PM
Barrys tutorial is great but can anyone tell me why and how to correct the picture problem. Im getting a small square and red cross in top left but no image. I can normally pick up images on site.
The same thing is happeing with imbedded stuff on email.
from a bear with litle technical brain but brave

Not just you, i cant see the pics in the tutorial either.

BarryM
3rd January 2009, 10:32 PM
ahh my apologies, the images for this were uploaded onto old webspace i had years ago, it since went defunct and meant lost, il try and get some freetime and redo that tutorial agaain with pictures stored on forum server.

My apologies.