Skin retouching software
Apr 22, 2021 13:01:44 #
Mjump54 wrote:
I am starting to do more portrait shoots and find myself spending a lot of time manually editing in Lightroom and Photoshop for blemishes, skin tone, etc.
What is the best software to purchase for Lightroom/Photoshop that can automate a lot of this process? And is it worth it or do you find manual post work better?
What is the best software to purchase for Lightroom/Photoshop that can automate a lot of this process? And is it worth it or do you find manual post work better?
I also have had great results with Portrait Pro. A word of caution as to retouching in general; it's easy to get carried away and then you get an artificial look. Less is more, often, when it comes to retouching.
Apr 22, 2021 14:24:49 #
pego101 wrote:
You can select larger areas in portrait pro for skin softening like the whole body.
I don't see how.
Apr 22, 2021 16:22:59 #
There is all this talk about over-retouching- too much, too soft, not realistic, etc. Someof it is certainly true but there are a few points I would like to make.
Oftentimes, over or under retouching is not the fault of the software or method use but that of the photographer/retoucher. A competent retoucher, besides mastering the mechanics of the method of choice will know the elements of facial structure and aesthetics. One can know exactly how to apply any particular software tool or what to do with a method such as frequency separation, etc., but may not really understand what to retouch, what to leave as is, and how much or how little to apply to any given blemish or another issue.
If a particular software only offers presets or a limited number of pre-set choices it is likely that overcorrection will occur. If, however, a software programme has the presets AND a very comprehensive array of pre-set modifications and fully manual sliders, there is no reason for inappropriate retouching except for the operator's failure.
I can not offer a complete course in retouching here but there are some basics- for example, what is a blemish? A wrinkle is not necessarily a blemish, it may just be a characteristic of someone's face. Things like acne, sores, various kinds of dermatitis, lines or discoloration around the eyes due to sleeplessness or illness, hopefully temporarily conditions and should be retouched. A character study, with all the wrinkles and lines showing in detail, is OK but certain blemishes may serve as a distraction. Portraits make a "statement" about a person. If the statement is "an old guy with a weathered face" that's OK, however, if the statement is "an old guy with an enormous cold sore or a bad red pimple on his forehead" that is where the distraction kicks in.
In commercial or professional portraiture, the client's requirements or demands come into play. I have had clients, over the years, tell me to "retouch the hell out of my portrait". Portraits are not always documentary images, sometimes they are artistic interpretations. Some folks will leave it up to the photograher, others prefer collaboration and some have specific ideas of how they want to be portrayed or memorialized.
Even if a photograher has a specific style that he or she will not waiver from and if portraiture is artistic an artistic impression, who's to say what is realistic or fantasy. Besides, it's sometimes impossible to say what is overly retouched or softened with seeing the subject in person.
In my own portrait work, I believe in PRE-RETOUCHING, which is making as many corrections using lighting posing, and camera position in shooting, and in certain cases, the proper and professional application of makeup and other hair and costume preparations. Frankly, I am not a half-bad retoucher and the retoucher I employ at my studio can perform "plastic surgery" but we do not want to do that. It extremely time-consuming and that is where an artificial result may occur. Poor application of lighting can cause issues that require extreme retouching- good lighting can reduce or eliminate the need for certain retouching procedures. Issues like asymmetrical facial structure and smiles, deep-set eyes, extremely heavy or thin facial structures, heavy-chin/jawlines, stray hairs, noticeable difference in eye size, lazy lids, and many other issues can be addressed at the camera. A good MUA or hairdresser are your friends! Taking time with the subject to coordinate clothing style and colours is also helpful.
As for specially designed retouching software, I recommended Portrait-Pro. I will attach a screenshot of one of the many sections in the programme- SKIN SOFTENING. As you can see, the subject in the image is far for overly-softened and you will observe the multiple sliders for every aspect of the face. You can select a preset and modify any aspect or feature or just about start zero and of fully manual. If you have a large quantity of work, such as an entire graduating class of "senior portraits", you can create a very fast and efficient workflow and address a wide scope of teenage complexions.
It seems to me that the designers have integrated many aesthetically based aspects of old-time manual dye and pencil retouching so many of the presets make sense. There are also some novel ones that add makeup, etc- fun- but I do not use them. My retoucher uses this and many other fully manual techniques that are way above my paygrade and knowledge of technique, so that's why he gets the big bucks. We also do lots of enhancements on commercial product shots so he is always busy.
Oftentimes, over or under retouching is not the fault of the software or method use but that of the photographer/retoucher. A competent retoucher, besides mastering the mechanics of the method of choice will know the elements of facial structure and aesthetics. One can know exactly how to apply any particular software tool or what to do with a method such as frequency separation, etc., but may not really understand what to retouch, what to leave as is, and how much or how little to apply to any given blemish or another issue.
If a particular software only offers presets or a limited number of pre-set choices it is likely that overcorrection will occur. If, however, a software programme has the presets AND a very comprehensive array of pre-set modifications and fully manual sliders, there is no reason for inappropriate retouching except for the operator's failure.
I can not offer a complete course in retouching here but there are some basics- for example, what is a blemish? A wrinkle is not necessarily a blemish, it may just be a characteristic of someone's face. Things like acne, sores, various kinds of dermatitis, lines or discoloration around the eyes due to sleeplessness or illness, hopefully temporarily conditions and should be retouched. A character study, with all the wrinkles and lines showing in detail, is OK but certain blemishes may serve as a distraction. Portraits make a "statement" about a person. If the statement is "an old guy with a weathered face" that's OK, however, if the statement is "an old guy with an enormous cold sore or a bad red pimple on his forehead" that is where the distraction kicks in.
In commercial or professional portraiture, the client's requirements or demands come into play. I have had clients, over the years, tell me to "retouch the hell out of my portrait". Portraits are not always documentary images, sometimes they are artistic interpretations. Some folks will leave it up to the photograher, others prefer collaboration and some have specific ideas of how they want to be portrayed or memorialized.
Even if a photograher has a specific style that he or she will not waiver from and if portraiture is artistic an artistic impression, who's to say what is realistic or fantasy. Besides, it's sometimes impossible to say what is overly retouched or softened with seeing the subject in person.
In my own portrait work, I believe in PRE-RETOUCHING, which is making as many corrections using lighting posing, and camera position in shooting, and in certain cases, the proper and professional application of makeup and other hair and costume preparations. Frankly, I am not a half-bad retoucher and the retoucher I employ at my studio can perform "plastic surgery" but we do not want to do that. It extremely time-consuming and that is where an artificial result may occur. Poor application of lighting can cause issues that require extreme retouching- good lighting can reduce or eliminate the need for certain retouching procedures. Issues like asymmetrical facial structure and smiles, deep-set eyes, extremely heavy or thin facial structures, heavy-chin/jawlines, stray hairs, noticeable difference in eye size, lazy lids, and many other issues can be addressed at the camera. A good MUA or hairdresser are your friends! Taking time with the subject to coordinate clothing style and colours is also helpful.
As for specially designed retouching software, I recommended Portrait-Pro. I will attach a screenshot of one of the many sections in the programme- SKIN SOFTENING. As you can see, the subject in the image is far for overly-softened and you will observe the multiple sliders for every aspect of the face. You can select a preset and modify any aspect or feature or just about start zero and of fully manual. If you have a large quantity of work, such as an entire graduating class of "senior portraits", you can create a very fast and efficient workflow and address a wide scope of teenage complexions.
It seems to me that the designers have integrated many aesthetically based aspects of old-time manual dye and pencil retouching so many of the presets make sense. There are also some novel ones that add makeup, etc- fun- but I do not use them. My retoucher uses this and many other fully manual techniques that are way above my paygrade and knowledge of technique, so that's why he gets the big bucks. We also do lots of enhancements on commercial product shots so he is always busy.
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