Kimmy revisited

[jetrim]

Just went through 11 hours of retouching instruction on "the right way" to retouch images nondestructively, at the pixel level, for print. Learned some amazing things that I'll share in the post processing forum as time allows (if anyone is interested) - like why "high pass sucks, and how to do it better. Anyway, this will be a portfolio shot for me, so I reprocessed using many of the new techniques. I'm also attaching the original SOC version so everyone can see what changed in the processing. I'm fairly happy with it as it stands now, but when editing, you can always see more...

So, anything jumping out at anybody from a processing standpoint? (been staring at it for 9 hours now, need some fresh eyes :lol

[ksbryan0]

Jet, I think the new edit looks more pleasing and the skin texture/tone, eyebrows, lashes and lips appear more "normal". I think cleaning up the stray hairs on her forehead and along the edge of her hair-do would help the image, as you did in the original edit.

[n8]

I'd be interested to see what you have to share. I'll have to be open minded...high pass is my sharpener of choice.

[gahspidy]

Excellent point about retouching for print...I have been meaning to write about that on my blog at some point. We see a lot of processing that looks and goes over well on our monitors at low res, but seeing them in print can be a whole different experience. I have never used the high pass sharpening effect simply because whenever I tried it there were weird "embossed" like effects going on at the edges and while it looked awesome on screen, I knew it would look weird in print. (unless I was going at the whole thing wrong in the first place) Skin tones and tonal gradations can be quite ugly in print if we are not careful....

I like the cleaning up you did with the hair and other such areas, but I prefer the face of the SOC. Only I think because the edit looks over sharpened to me imo. Basically, you nailed it real well SOC. Good work.

[RoxyRNAB]

Great Job...My Only Nit Are Her Lips...The Retouch Makes Them Look Dry And Badly Made Up.

[starriderrick]

Every time you "share the things you've learned" We all learn.. Very interesting editing.I have experimented with high pass from time to time. I don't know enough about what you did to critique this.Very good thread.

Thanks James,
Rick

[GB1]

Jet - Decent work... I personally find the composition a little baffling with her looking down, top of head clipped, only one hand showing and the massive amount of negative space on the side, but this thread is about PP, so I will comment on that.

She actually looks pretty made up on the original, as that's the type of shoot it you did. I agree that her lips may be too detailed, but running with it I think a tad more warmth or color on them would make them stand out better and look more attractive. A nit is the slight reflection at the top middle of her closed eyelids: they look a little pixelated and should be smoother. I see you removed small hairs from around her hairline. I think this is in general a good thing to do, but somehow it looks a little unusual as is, almost like she is wearing a wig. Not sure how you should correct this, though. Maybe this is a danger with model PP in general - too much, and it makes her (or him) look artificial.

Would be very, very interested in hearing the tricks of the trade in the Post Processing forum !

G

[Anbesol]

I like high pass, I use it a lot. But, for portraits, it has a very limited ability, and can only do a very subtle change before it just looks bad. I recently found out lightrooms sharpening tool is much better for portraits.

But anyway, if not high-pass, what else (on photoshop) is there? Is the article stating USM or SS as the "right way"?

Good work by the way, my only critique is that the edges of her hair look a little too hard edged.

[hminx]

There seems to be a slight halo around her eye brows and eye lashes most obvious on her left eye
Did you use LAB to sharpen this ?