File :-(, x, )
Airbrushing: Yay or Nay? Anonymous
Failing my way into photography, used this photo as an attempt at airbrushing. This noob requests input regarding...

1) How should I handle the skin in and around the eyebrows/eyelashes? (I.E. smaller and smaller brush sizes or leave it alone etc)
2) How hard did I fail? (I.E. It plain sucks dude, less blue, more lens fla...)
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Camera-Specific Properties:Equipment MakeNIKON CORPORATIONCamera ModelNIKON D50Camera SoftwareAdobe Photoshop CS3 WindowsMaximum Lens Aperturef/5.1Sensing MethodOne-Chip Color AreaColor Filter Array Pattern822Focal Length (35mm Equiv)93 mmImage-Specific Properties:Image OrientationTop, Left-HandHorizontal Resolution300 dpiVertical Resolution300 dpiImage Created2007:11:02 17:15:49Exposure Time1/20 secF-Numberf/5.3Exposure ProgramManualExposure Bias0 EVMetering ModePatternLight SourceFine WeatherFlashNo FlashFocal Length62.00 mmColor Space InformationsRGBImage Width3008Image Height2000RenderingNormalExposure ModeManualWhite BalanceManualScene Capture TypeStandardGain ControlLow Gain UpContrastNormalSaturationNormalSharpnessNormalSubject Distance RangeUnknown
>> Anonymous
Looks like a realdoll.

Mouth looks wrong and skin is blobby and shapeless in parts. Looks wrong.
>> Anonymous
Why do you need SO MUCH airbrushing anyway? And it's better to start with a picture which is less noisy.

I usually run pictures like these through a mild soft focus filter, then airbrush (but not completely get rid of) the skin defects.
A totally glossy, plastic look is for Maxim covers. I hate Maxim.
>> ruka !IyFSGDdFgw
I think you did an okay job, if you want her to look like a porcelain doll. For a more realistic look I'd lower the opacity of the airbrushed layer, if you were cautious enough to edit only a copy of the background layer.

My peeve in this one is the eye color, I hate it when eyes get changed to an unnatural neon-green. Try and go for a more natural green, it will look less shopped but still impressive.

A small brush will do fine for small areas.
>> Anonymous
>>88073

ALL EYES MUST BE GREEN. Green contacts, green edits, whatever it takes. All eyes must be changed to green.
>> Anonymous
OP here, thanks for the advice. Personally I dont enjoy the look of airbrushing, some of my friends request it though.

I am a photoshop noob so trying to teach myself how to use the program. Though I did create a layer mask for the skin, and separate one for the eyes.

Things I will take a stab at...

1)Going to try messing with the opacity of that layer.
2)I assume I can fix the lips by getting in tighter with the brush and turning the hardness down on the brush and sorta fading them in?
3)Not sure how to tackle the issue of the shapeless/blobby skin.
>> Anonymous
thats a dude.
also, if you want to flatten out that xbox hueg nose, try using something moar close to 1000mm rather than 100mm
>> Anonymous
>>88096

Harsh but true. Longer focal lengths are better for portraits in that sense. More flattering. No one likes to have a nose that could cause an eclipse if they turned the wrong way.
>> Anonymous
>>88113
you also get a smaller field of view, so the background generally looks better, and less distracting.
>> Butterfly !xlgRMYva6s
>>88114
but you can just move further back to get the same stuff in since 50mm+ you dont exactly have to be far away to be just face.
>> Anonymous
>>88113

If you take portraits a lot and learn what to look for, yes it is noticeable. Most people when you take their picture won't know why a picture looks "nicer", but sometimes the difference can be noticeable to the layman depending on conditions.
>> Anonymous
>>88115
youd have to get closer to get the same on a 50mm. 50mm has a bigger field of view. if you step back then you have more stuff in the background and would have to crop etc
>> Anonymous
You won't get the same image moving and cropping. You can try some test shots. I've seen it done and tried it for myself. There are reasons for having these focal lengths available.
>> GDMFSOB
wow.
don't fuckin use ONE COLOR to airbrush the whole thing. this looks like shit.

When i airbrush, I keep my brush at about 25-35% opacity and changing flow amount, depending on the area. And i ALWAYS use the eyedropper (just hold down alt and click in color you want for the foreground, if you didn't know).

But i dont do the whole fuckin face. I usually just take off scars, pimples, stray eyebrow-hairs, unibrows, debris from lens, etc.
if you wanted to just redo the skin, try smart blur or something gay like that. or learn how to shade. shitsux.
>> Anonymous
>>88079
the solution to the blobby skin is to learn how to properly do it. youre doing it wrong (ur doin it rong) so it turns out like that.
>> Anonymous
>>88129

Not sure how the eye dropper would help me, I tried out a tutorial that suggested I blur it up then paint it in on the layer mask.

Thanks for the input guys.