Business Portrait Workflow Example

[srwatters]

It's been a while since I've posted any tips, so after working on a business portrait last night, I thought I'd show my workflow on a client's image (real estate agent). I saved this big enough so you can see the level of detail that I leave and what I take out.

First is the image straight from the camera after raw development in CaptureOne v5. Resized to 1080px high and converted from 16bit ProPhoto to 8bit sRGB:


And then the finished product resized to 1080px high:


I didn't run a clock on the process, but I'd guess about 15 minutes from start to finish. My basic workflow is:

- edit skin blemishes and other features (if requested and approved)
- save master image in PSD file (in case of a plug-in crash)
- smooth skin texture and color using Portraiture plug-in (50% opacity)
- use NIK plug-in to correct overall contrast and color casts (new layer, adjust opacity)
- use NIK plug-in to sharpen image (new layer, adjust opacity)
- save final layered master image in PSD format
- flatten image, convert to aRGB, convert to 8 bit color depth
- save print master in tif format (uncropped)
- crop image as required
- save print master in tif format (cropped)
- convert to sRGB color space
- save full size image as jpg (quality 10)
- run action to resize and logo for web
- save web image in jpg format

So I end up with 5 versions of the file:
- Layered PSD master file
- uncropped TIFF print master (in case I need to re-crop for different size)
- cropped TIFF print master
- full size cropped JPG
- web sized cropped and logo'd JPG

Next time I'll try to show some tips on the blemish removal and skin retouching.

[dmcantrell]

Thanks for taking the time to do this.

2 questions :

What is aRGB, is that Adobe RGB?

You mentioned sharpening in a Nik plugin -- which one? Why not use CS4 Smart Sharpen?

[srwatters]

Originally Posted by dmcantrell

What is aRGB, is that Adobe RGB?

Yes.

Originally Posted by dmcantrell

You mentioned sharpening in a Nik plugin -- which one? Why not use CS4 Smart Sharpen?

NIK Sharpener Pro

Because I feel I get better sharpening targeted for print or screen display with less added artifacts than using smart sharpen. If you take a look at a flat mid tone area before and after using smart sharpen, you will see what looks like added grain in the image. Since I use a lot of gray paper backgrounds, it affects me maybe more than others... Plus I like the NIK plug-ins because the control points allow me to limit the effect to certain areas of the image without using masks. It's much faster IMHO.

[dmcantrell]

Originally Posted by srwatters

NIK Sharpener Pro

Because I feel I get better sharpening targeted for print or screen display with less added artifacts than using smart sharpen. If you take a look at a flat mid tone area before and after using smart sharpen, you will see what looks like added grain in the image. Since I use a lot of gray paper backgrounds, it affects me maybe more than others... Plus I like the NIK plug-ins because the control points allow me to limit the effect to certain areas of the image without using masks. It's much faster IMHO.

Sweet, I'll check it out. I know exactly what you mean by the added artifacts to the flat mid tones. I see this all the time.

What exactly is the difference between "sharpening for print" and "sharpening for screen"?

[PeteQ]

Scott, I am seeing a weird purple-ish cast on the right hand side of the jacket that is not on the left in both the before and after. Anyone else seeing this?

[srwatters]

Yup. Moire' from a lack of AA filter on the P45 sensor. I knew there was going to be an issue when she showed up in that tight patterned jacket. The material was also a little shiny which added to the affect. The client wasn't concerned when I showed her the images. She was much happier with the skin retouching than concerned with the slight color cast on the jacket.

Interesting.... I just went back and looked at the master tif images and it's not there. The jacket is flat gray in that file. I wonder if I somehow introduced additional Moire' in the downsize or conversion to sRGB.

[AllenAyres]

Thank you Scott

[PeteQ]

Originally Posted by srwatters

Yup. Moire' from a lack of AA filter on the P45 sensor. I knew there was going to be an issue when she showed up in that tight patterned jacket. The material was also a little shiny which added to the affect. The client wasn't concerned when I showed her the images. She was much happier with the skin retouching than concerned with the slight color cast on the jacket.

Interesting.... I just went back and looked at the master tif images and it's not there. The jacket is flat gray in that file. I wonder if I somehow introduced additional Moire' in the downsize or conversion to sRGB.

That's what I figured, and there is a good chance in the downsizing that you helped to bring it out. I have had it happen on a jacket almost exactly like that. Same thing, wasn't there at high res (or prints) but showed up in the web proofs. And if you look closely you can see the pattern of the weave appear to change where the moire starts.

[bondarnes]

Originally Posted by srwatters

Yup. Moire' from a lack of AA filter on the P45 sensor. I knew there was going to be an issue when she showed up in that tight patterned jacket. The material was also a little shiny which added to the affect. The client wasn't concerned when I showed her the images. She was much happier with the skin retouching than concerned with the slight color cast on the jacket.

Interesting.... I just went back and looked at the master tif images and it's not there. The jacket is flat gray in that file. I wonder if I somehow introduced additional Moire' in the downsize or conversion to sRGB.

Moire' will come and go as the resolution is changed. Kind of now you see it, now you don't.