Skin Smoothing

I use CS4, IMO I think masks are the way to go, learn how to keep control and know what you are doing rather than an automated process.:)
 
If you don't mind me butting in, if the images are for print, I'd stay away from a lot of the actions out there - They can come up quite wrong looking in print. Portrait Pro is probably the best of the lot, but it's still very overpowering. If I were going to use it, I'd work away with it, then re-import it into photoshop, and work it as an adjustment layer onto the original.

I really find the best way is to sit down and take your time with healing the skin - It's frustrating, but something worth learning well :)
 
I think the the best way , and that gives most control is Dodge and Burn type of retouching. Having a blank layer set to Overlay and paint with white or black to increase or decrease contrast, and general contouring. You can also use a couple of Curves adjustment layers ( for highlights and darks ) and paint in their layer masks.

It is very time consuming to do this on a pixel level basis so its more for really special projects, not for the family album =)

Here are some links to images of before and after and the layer mask for a skin retouch i did on another forum.

// result and layer mask
http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/phot...?authkey=Gv1sRgCJfT9Iam2r_AWA&feat=directlink

// before and after

http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/phot...?authkey=Gv1sRgCJfT9Iam2r_AWA&feat=directlink

// Closeup for the eye ( mask )
http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/phot...?authkey=Gv1sRgCJfT9Iam2r_AWA&feat=directlink

But for general images you probably need a faster workflow, and there are a number of ways to do it. Heres a link to a collection of 70 beauty retouching tutorials in different categories ( it has probably been posted before but never hurts to post again ).

http://www.smashingmagazine.com/2008/07/15/70-beauty-retouching-photoshop-tutorials/
 
i just use the smooth skin brush in lightroom, works quite well.
 
pellepiano said:
I think the the best way , and that gives most control is Dodge and Burn type of retouching. Having a blank layer set to Overlay and paint with white or black to increase or decrease contrast, and general contouring. You can also use a couple of Curves adjustment layers ( for highlights and darks ) and paint in their layer masks.

It is very time consuming to do this on a pixel level basis so its more for really special projects, not for the family album =)

Here are some links to images of before and after and the layer mask for a skin retouch i did on another forum.

// result and layer mask
http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/phot...?authkey=Gv1sRgCJfT9Iam2r_AWA&feat=directlink

// before and after

http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/phot...?authkey=Gv1sRgCJfT9Iam2r_AWA&feat=directlink

// Closeup for the eye ( mask )
http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/phot...?authkey=Gv1sRgCJfT9Iam2r_AWA&feat=directlink

But for general images you probably need a faster workflow, and there are a number of ways to do it. Heres a link to a collection of 70 beauty retouching tutorials in different categories ( it has probably been posted before but never hurts to post again ).

http://www.smashingmagazine.com/2008/07/15/70-beauty-retouching-photoshop-tutorials/
Click to expand...


Welcome Pelle,

This guy shots great stuff and his editing is tops. Not bad for an ex cheese salesman!
 
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