Gaussian Blur

[Sunny]

Help...new Photoshop user...should I use the gaussian blur on faces before I do any cloning
on the background? I did clone stamp then realized I should have used the gaussian blur. I lost all my clone stamp info when I did the blur...is the history still there or what? Thanks for your help...photoshop classes/tutorials for me for sure!

[xseption]

that is a good question: What is the suggested order of events when working with portraits? Do you clone (some use patch, is that better?) first? I understand that USM (unsharpen mask) or any sharpening tools should be last.

Is there a resource or TPF thread that can answer these questions?

thanks!

edd

[srwatters]

Although I don't use the Gaussian blur any longer (I use Kodak Digital GEM airbrush), I always did blemish removal with the patch tool before adding any blur. Watch your layers. I create a new layer for skin touchups before doing them so I can always change the opacity to blend the work.

There are tons of different ways to do the same thing. I just prefer the plugin.

[xseption]

Originally Posted by srwatters

Although I don't use the Gaussian blur any longer (I use Kodak Digital GEM airbrush), I always did blemish removal with the patch tool before adding any blur. Watch your layers. I create a new layer for skin touchups before doing them so I can always change the opacity to blend the work.

Scott:

Is there a resource you would recommend for us newbies?

thanks!

edd

[evil4blue]

Okay, let me chime in. Like Scott, I now use Kodak gem airbrush, but before that, I would only use blur for special effects (glamor glow/blur, soft focus, etc...). I prefer the patch tool to clone stamping because the patch tool will average the surrounding areas color and lightness to better match the patch.

There is a technique where you duplicate a layer, blur, add noise/texture, and then erase the above layer where the blemishes are to expose the smoothed under layer. This works well, but IMHO, is much slower than the patch tool.

My suggestion is to play with all the techniques and use which works best for you.

I'm off to a meeting now, but if you have any specific questions, I'll try to answer them when I get a chance.

[engstrom]

What's the advantage of using the patch tool instead of the spot healing brush for removing blemishes? I've used the spot healing brush with success but if the patch tool provides some advatage I'll switch to using that.

[evil4blue]

The patch tool is made for larger areas. I believe that's the gist of it. Personally, I feel like the patch works better, I can't prove it, I guess its more mental. The 2 tools may sample surrounding areas a little differently, maybe that's why I prefer one over another.

[srwatters]

Originally Posted by engstrom

What's the advantage of using the patch tool instead of the spot healing brush for removing blemishes? I've used the spot healing brush with success but if the patch tool provides some advatage I'll switch to using that.

Biggest advantage for me is that I get to choose the texture that I replace the blemish with instead of the software. Think about a blemish near a crease in the skin or on the side of the nose. I can select a similar area that is on the other side of the nose or adjacent to the crease. The software just isn't that smart. I do like the healing brush for some things because I can control the feather, size, and hardness of the tool. How do I make the decision on which to use? I try with the patch tool, but if it fails to produce what I want, I try different methods including the clone, healing, and spot healing tools. YMMV.

[engstrom]

Originally Posted by srwatters

Biggest advantage for me is that I get to choose the texture that I replace the blemish with instead of the software. Think about a blemish near a crease in the skin or on the side of the nose. I can select a similar area that is on the other side of the nose or adjacent to the crease. The software just isn't that smart. I do like the healing brush for some things because I can control the feather, size, and hardness of the tool. How do I make the decision on which to use? I try with the patch tool, but if it fails to produce what I want, I try different methods including the clone, healing, and spot healing tools. YMMV.

Thanks Scott, yeah, I've noticed the unsatisfactory results when using the spot healing brush near surfaces with texture. However I've gotten around those with the regular healing brush and picking the source location on a similarly textured area. I'll give the patch tool and try and see if I like it better. Thanks!

[evil4blue]

Originally Posted by srwatters

Biggest advantage for me is that I get to choose the texture that I replace the blemish with instead of the software. Think about a blemish near a crease in the skin or on the side of the nose. I can select a similar area that is on the other side of the nose or adjacent to the crease. The software just isn't that smart. I do like the healing brush for some things because I can control the feather, size, and hardness of the tool. How do I make the decision on which to use? I try with the patch tool, but if it fails to produce what I want, I try different methods including the clone, healing, and spot healing tools. YMMV.

Yeah, that's the biggest advantage to the patch tool, but it can also be it's biggest disadvantage if you don't have a good area (big enough) to sample from. Pluses and minuses to all tools.

[markfh]

I use all the tools. One is better than the other in certain cases and visa versa.

Like the 1.4GB scanned 1940's painted photo I'm doing now I zoom in enough (100% or more) that when I use the tool I can tell if the effect is obvious. If it is I try something else or a combination of tools.

It all depends on what your doing and how you can use the many different tools and their flexibility to get the result you want. You'll learn to maximize your time as you learn what tool or tools to use for specific work.