Portrait Professional

mattchewone · 21 Jul 2011

I am curious to know how many people use this software for editing portraits? I have used it as a trial and quite like but wondered if many professionals actually use it.

Regards

Johnd2000 · 21 Jul 2011

I don't really class myself as a pro, but I have done paid work and yes, I use portrait pro among other applications for skin work.

It's rarely the only app I use for beauty work. I find, like all such tools, it works best when used very sparingly. Typically, I'll use tiny amounts of treatment in up to three apps. PE9 for spot/blemish removal, PP for a general clean up and Dfx2 for softening.

I had a picture removed from the port pro flickr group once, because they didn't believe I'd used the software. I was rather flattered by that! ;-)

mattchewone · 21 Jul 2011

I do think the work on it needs toning down as it does come out very model and magazine like, and although I do like that, I prefer my shots to look slightly more natural and would only use it to smooth skin slightly and make minor adjustments, I mainly use LR for adjusting most things and then blemishes on CS5 but want something like PP for skin smoothing as I find it quite time consuming in CS5 to do it and PP is very quick.

Can I ask what DFx2 is?

swanseamale47 · 21 Jul 2011

We have used it a few times in the studio (turning down the default a lot) but we don't actually use it much if I'm honest.

mattchewone · 21 Jul 2011

Is there any other software which does similar that is as good if not better?

POAH · 21 Jul 2011

used to use it but won't skin soften any more - its not what models look like

Johnd2000 · 21 Jul 2011

mattchewone said:
Can I ask what DFx2 is?

Tiffen Dfx2 is a collection of filter emulations, including their excellent softening filters. Handy for getting that Doris Day look.

Kosibah 12R by jd_shotz, on Flickr

swanseamale47 · 22 Jul 2011

mattchewone said:
Is there any other software which does similar that is as good if not better?

Imagenomic Portraiture is a plug in for photoshop and does the skin smoothing part but doesn't have the face shape ajustments.

Kerioak · 23 Jul 2011

I use Photosho tried a sample but did not get the results I wanted, maybe should have persevered but am used to doing things another way

From what I have read on other forums the full timers might use it for "quick and dirty" edits where a client wants a cheap fast result but will otherwise do it more throughly in PS where many, many layers can be involved.

Mahoneyd187 · 23 Jul 2011

Portrait professional is awful.

Portraiture by imagenomic is much better IF you have to go automated...

the888account · 23 Jul 2011

Agree with Mahoney - I've used it on a demo to see what its like, but its way to processed for my liking - faces come out like china dolls!

nickshek · 24 Jul 2011

Mahoneyd187 said:
Portrait professional is awful.

Portraiture by imagenomic is much better IF you have to go automated...

This.

Although if you use Imagenomic Portraiture "correctly", very good results can be achieved.

Mahoneyd187 · 24 Jul 2011

nickshek said:
This.

Although if you use Imagenomic Portraiture "correctly", very good results can be achieved.

Definately, when used in combination with other techniques it's absolutely excellent. It's not about having one tool for the job, it's always about using whats best for what you want to achieve. I've heard of pro retouchers that still use the portraiture plug in...but then I've spoken to other pro retouchers than curse it, and the people that use it lol

scoff · 24 Jul 2011

Mahoneyd187 said:
Portrait professional is awful.

I'd disagree.

It does what it says on the tin, its down to the end user to get the desired results, but this does help achieve that quickly.

I used to do it all in PS, but I dont really have time now, so PP helps my workflow significantly, and the models are very happy with the results.. which is the end game is it not?

I however use this as the 2nd step in a 3 step workflow.. Aperture, PP then PS

photo si · 24 Jul 2011

I think the defaults are set way too extreme on Portrait Pro, but with a bit of tweaking can give good and very quick results.

So, depends on your business, but it's certainly a good tool for some jobs.

swanseamale47 · 24 Jul 2011

photo si said:
I think the defaults are set way too extreme on Portrait Pro, but with a bit of tweaking can give good and very quick results.

So, depends on your business, but it's certainly a good tool for some jobs.

Yes dial them back and it's not bad at all, a lot depends on how you use it.

Johnd2000 · 26 Jul 2011

photo si said:
I think the defaults are set way too extreme on Portrait Pro, but with a bit of tweaking can give good and very quick results.

So, depends on your business, but it's certainly a good tool for some jobs.

I've noticed the last 2 upgrades have progressively scaled back the default settings a bit. I find it still needs toning down a fair bit, but its getting better.

Who uses any software on default settings anyway?

sam_cat · 26 Jul 2011

Johnd2000 said:
I've noticed the last 2 upgrades have progressively scaled back the default settings a bit. I find it still needs toning down a fair bit, but its getting better.

Who uses any software on default settings anyway?

People who dont know what they are doing... People that want it 100% automated...

Sam