kscanman Loc: Wisconsin

Has anyone tried this software? If you have what are your thoughts on it?

Kmgw9v Loc: Miami, Florida

I own it, but rarely use it.
It can be used effectiveLy, but it is very easy to overdo, resulting in plastic and unnatural looking images.
Even a minor adjustment on the eyes, may result in an unwanted change.
ON1Raw portrait software is easier to keep real.

joer Loc: Colorado/Illinois

I agree...the results can be spectacular if used sparingly.

E.L.. Shapiro Loc: Ottawa, Ontario Canada

Portrait Pro is fine software. There are, however, caveats so please understand the following.

Traditional portrait retouching is an art and a craft that requires many skill sets, For many decades, during the film era of photography, retouching was done manually by applying specialized pencils, dyes, etching knives, bleaches, and other mediums to negatives and prints. The removal or de-emphasization of blemishes and unwanted wrinkles from the subjects' faces is only part of the total process. A consummate expert possesses knowledge of the facial structure and photographic lighting and a good general familiarity with portrait photography. In the olden days of film, retouching required a great deal of manual dexterity and excellent hand/eye coordination.

Nowadays in digital post-processing, retouching does not require as much manual skill but all the other aforementioned talents and learned know-how are nonetheless required.

Any good retoucher will tell you that it is important to know WHAT to retouch, WHAT NOT to retouch, and most importantly WHEN to stop RETOUCHING a face or body. Altering features that should not be altered is just as bad as neglecting to retouch issues that require correction. Blemishes should be removed but not natural skin texture or that "plastic" look will result. Retouching should be INVISABLE- it should not be obvious where it is applied.

An experienced retoucher can electronically/digitally retouch an image with a number of various techniques such as frequency separation. This too is a learned and practiced skill and again, including much of the aforementioned knowledge. It can no be learned and mastered overnight. The process itself can be tedious and time-consuming, especially for a novice.

So...the Portrait Pro system can enable very decent retouching with comparatively less practice- there are a menu of various pre-sets that work surprisingly well. Those who complain about OVER-RETOUCHING probably have not taken full control of the system- you can apply as much or as little as most of the effects.
There are sliders to control most of the applications. If someone "erases the entire face" and applies teeth or whites of eyes brightening to a ridiculous extent, it's not the fault of the software.

The software also has more advanced manipulations whereby you can "sculpt" or change the physiognomy or shape of a face. Here is where knowledge of facial structure kicks in. This has to be done subtly if at all but it is not part of the presets.

The Portrait Pro line of retouching programs is not terribly expensive. The company provides great customer service and I am sure you will enjoy their software. At my studio, I do employ a full-time retoucher who has been at it all of her adult life and does superb work. Personally and frankly- I have been involved in professional portraiture for over 50 years, however, retouching, admittedly is not my foremost talent. I took all the courses, learned the old ways, and the latest methods to little or no avail. In the busy season when we have a studio full of graduation (senior) portraits, weddings, headshots, and executive portrait orders, with Portrait Pro, at least I can pitch in and help get all of the work out on time. It works well, provides good workflow and the clients are pleased.

Good luck- if you decide to order it, let us know how it is working for you. You can post in the Professional and Advanced Portraiture section of UHH or the Post Processing of Digital Images section for more good information.

joseph premanandan

you can get a professionally looking portrait using lightroom or photoshop or Luminar4.

kscanman Loc: Wisconsin

Yes, but in photoshop how much work do you have to do?

joseph premanandan

i do not use photoshop that much for portrait photography except to change the background using layers,clone stamp.i try to do most of my portrait editing in lightroom and recently i have started using Luminar4 and it also does a good job.

A10 Loc: Southern Indiana

I like Portrait Pro, but I turn down all the presets to my liking.

E.L.. Shapiro Loc: Ottawa, Ontario Canada

Yes! You can use any and all of these methods if you know exactly how to apply each tool. Luminar has some nice features dedicated to portrait retouching. The Portrait Pro is specifically dedicated to retouching portraits and has much more potential for more complex corrections.

Making "professional-looking" portraits is not ONLY a function of retouching- lighting, posing and camera angle methods, and much more has to be intrinsic in the file. Retouching is a form of enhancement that will usually not remedy a lack of camera technique.

One software is not going to address every requirement. Topaz has great textures and noise reduction. Luminate is the king of sky replacement, however, changing a skyscape that is no compatible with the lighting on the landscape produces an artificial look. Overkilling with Port-Pro will creat "plastic skin" incompatible lighting corrections and one can "disfigure" a face with inept sculpting.

Whatever software you select or use you have to supply a good file and know exactly how to apply the tools in order to achieve maximized realistic and believable results. It all in the SKILLS!

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

I got it when it first came out, and I liked it. I updated last year, and the newer version was so much better - and easier to use. Aside from making people look better, you can get a lot of very funny results by playing around with it. I was doing a lot of head shots for a local theater group, and it was perfect for that.

They also have a landscape version, but I haven't tried it.

Sensei

I like the software, but it can easily be over done. Just as in taking a photo, the results can vary. I might try Portrait pro on ten pictures, before I find the one I am happy with.

rmalarz Loc: Tempe, Arizona

It's great software. With a few easy clicks one can transform a normal human being into a plastic-looking replica of the original subject. I'm a bigger fan of PS and frequency separation.
--Bob

cyclespeed Loc: Calgary, Alberta Canada

I am quite pleased with Luminar 4 which has a complete set up for dealing with portraits.

rfmaude41 Loc: Lancaster, Texas (DFW area)

They also have two more:

PortraitProBody and a "general purpose"editor, SmartPhotoStudio.

Tom Hungerford Loc: Thomaston CT

I only use PortraitPro, and I've upgraded it twice. I find it's perfect for my needs. BUT...the very first time I used it, I "over" used it. The results were not good. Everything was over-done. Now, I find it to be just what I'm looking for.

Tom