Infant photography

[Annmsmith]

Hi I recently had my sons photos taken and they turned out awesome, however I really love the post processing of the photos and was wondering if someone knew how to create this effect? I really like the smoothness of the skin it almost has a silk like texture. Thank you in advance.

[mitchell1383]

Don't know if you have figured this out already, but in Paint Shop Pro I use the Digital noise removal.

[hue-e]

a couple of ways you can do this.

- copy the image layer twice (don't mess with the bg one).
- on the top one, gaussian blur it a few pixels (just until it looks as smooth as you want it.
- create a layer mask on that top layer (use layer masks so you can erase what you want to recover if you screw things up), then begin brushing in (black, soft brush) the detail areas (eyes, mouth, around the bottom of the nose, hair and along the edges of the body, etc) of the lower, more detailed layer, you want to come through. make sure you keep adjusting the brush size, softness and opacity. it will take a little time, and practice.
- once finished, combine those two layers, then copy that combined layer...
- this is an extra step not always needed... go back to blur, "surface blur." I don't have specific settings for you, but just play around with it until it looks good.

a second way, and I think this would only really work on a babie's already smooth skin is to simply use the surface blur on a top layer and repeat the steps of masking then painting the details back in on that layer mask.

[epoh]

In Lightroom I use the brush tool with the 'skin soften' setting. :)

[hue-e]

I really need to get in on this lightroom trend.

[epoh]

You do! Lightroom is amazing. Once you get used to it you won't remember how you lived without it.

[hue-e]

I've just been a diehard PS user since 2.5 :|

[epoh]

You don't have to stop being a PS fan. They work beautifully together. You use Lightroom to import/catalog/tag/organize everything. Do the basic editing and touch-ups, then export to PS for any major editing, save, then it loads back up in LR with the changes.

[49884]

I too have been considering a Lightroom purchase.