One Life Photo Contest

Photo Contest in conjunction with Humble Arts Foundation

$25K prize!

More info here. http://www.onelifephotos.com/?f=hafny2

Asst #4: Skin Techniques

Read the 2 PDFs handed out in class (also on FFS or you can download it here) called "Skin Techniques". There are several different exercises on the PDFs. Choose 2 exercises and do them for HW. You can use the sample files (also on FFS) or your own images. Use a different image for each exercise you do.

Also, read in our Martin Evening Text the following pages:

In reference to Portrait retouching: Pgs 416-428 and 438-440

In reference to Selection methods:
pgs 452- 460 and 471-475

Monday Class: Due Oct 4
Thursday Class: Due Oct 7

Dove Commercial (Real Beauty Campaign)

HW Due Next Week: Retouch one more portrait with Skin Softening

For next week, retouch one more portrait using the INVERSE HIGHPASS skin softening technique we went over in class. (Skin Softening should be done last!!)

Be sure you start out with a RAW image or a high-res scan, processed at 300dpi and 16bit. Make sure you have separate layer groups for skin retouching, color correction and skin softening. Make sure new layers always go on the top of the stack!! Selectively sharpen eyes, hair and lips. Turn in on the drop box as a TIFF or PSD.

Monday Class: Due Sept 27th
Thursday Class: Due Sept 30th

Directions for Inverse Highpass Softening:
Please note: This must be done LAST!
You can use highpass to soften an image instead of sharpen by inverting it. This is a smoother, more controlled method than using gaussian blur.


1. Use this shortcut to make a “flattened” layer of the whole image.
Hold down “Apple Option Shift E” at the same time. This should make a new layer that combines all the work you’ve done so far into one layer that we will soften. It samples all layers.

2. Go to Filter> Other>Highpass, and move the slider to “10”. Then back on the layers palatte, make the blending mode of that new layer “Soft Light” or "Overlay". The gray should then become transparent and your image should look sharpened. While the layer is highlighted on the palatte, hit “Apple I” to inverse it. The sharpening will then turn to softening.

3. You can now make a layer mask and paint in the areas you want to be more soft. Remember to keep eyes, mouth, hair, clothing etc sharp. You can play with the layer opacity to get the amount of softening you want.

Week 3: Portrait Retouching, cont'd

This week in class we will continue retouching portraits and students will retouch portraits they have shot while I do demos in class. Building on what we learned last week, we will look at several different skin softening techniques.

Class Outline:

Attendance
Turn in HW to Drop Box (one retouched portrait using layer groups)
Open up a new portrait and begin to retouch
After skin has been cleaned up, together we will soften skin using Inverse Highpass Softening and other methods detailed on the handouts below.

Photography of Sculpture, 1839 to Today: MoMA

Go see this exhibit at the MoMA! It's free with your FIT photo ID.
Link to website for more info, here.

Asst #2: Retouch One Portrait

Monday Class: Due Sept 20
Thursday Class: Due Sept 23

Please retouch one portrait for class next week, setting your layers up in an organized manner, like we talked about in class. Separate pixel layers from adjustment layers and create a "retouching" group and a "color correction" group.

Make sure to have the following layers at some point in your file:
Curves
Levels
50% Gray Dodge Burn Layer
Empty layer with cloning/healing

**Make sure you make NO edits on your background layer.

Save and turn in as an 8Bit TIFF titled by your name and asst 2. ex: firstname_lastname_asst2.tiff

Layer Groups

It's important that you separate your layers into groups, separating color corrections from retouching and separating pixel layers from adjustment layers. You can organize things how you would like, but here is an example of what an organized file looks like:

Week 2- Intro to Portrait Retouching

Below is the handout from class this week. HW is to retouch a portrait you took using the below steps. Be sure to create layer groups (folders) and to label each layer.

Monday class: Due Sept 20th
Thursday CLass: Due Sept 23rd

For class next week, please be sure to bring 2 additional RAW portrait files you have shot to retouch in class.

Lee Friedlander at the Whitney

Lee Friedlander: America By Car
September 4–November 28, 2010

Wacom Tablets

Adobe Photoshop is specifically designed to be used with a Wacom pen tablet. Pen pressure, pen tilt, and even the airbrush's finger-wheel can control attributes like opacity, size, color, and exposure. With a Wacom pen, you have the power to dynamically control Photoshop's tools in the most natural and intuitive way possible.

Photoshop has more than 20 customizable tools that perform at their best with a Wacom pen. Simply press a little harder or softer with your pen for more or less effect. Photoshop feels every slight adjustment that you make with your Wacom pen.

Photographers, designers, and artists choose to work with Wacom pen tablets because Photoshop Quick Masks and Layer Masks are designed to be used with a Wacom pressure-sensitive pen. Color temperature, exposure, blur, and any other Photoshop effect can be applied with pressure-sensitive pen control. To selectively undo the effect, simply turn your pen over and use the pressure-sensitive eraser. Whether making selections, retouching, or applying effects, working with a Wacom pen is clearly the fastest way to work to achieve a smoother, more natural look.

For more info go to: http://www.wacom.com/tips/photoshop.cfm

For tips & a tutorial on how to use the wacom pen plus pen tool to do a composite, go to http://www.wacom.com/tips/tip.cfm?ID=91&STEP=5&category=Photoshop

To buy one, click here.