Trying something different

[srwatters]

I'm looking for something here. Don't know exactly how to explain it. I don't want the traditional 'glam blur' but then again I want some highlights that I can't get using diffuse glow. I've heard there are some skin luminosity actions out there, but I can't seem to find anything right.

So here's my attempt at moving in that direction. Tell me if it works or not?

Original process (no real glow, just my regular workflow):



The new version:



Tell me if you like it, then I'll spill how I did it

[Steelsun]

I like it and would like to know what you did.
At first I thought it looked like a low level version of the Orfit effect, but I just tried that on your top one and it does not match. A little tweaking got some interesting effects, but not like the one you have.

[srwatters]

Actually it is a variation on the Orton effect, but I didn't like the color shift in the reds. It makes the skin look too orange. In the sandwich layer, I added a touch of #82 photo filter, then added the original image back on top with an opacity of about 30%. I also started with the high res tif master, so that might explain why yours looked different too.

I came across the effect in a landscape thread here and thought it might look neat on a glamour style portrait.

I'm feeling like my images are a too 'life like' and need a new touch. I'll try not to go overboard, but may add some additional processing to call it my own.

[DJ.]

Scott, I think you might be looking for Lucis Wyeth actions. They produce that skin glow.

There is another tutorial for doing it without the action at:
http://www.innographx.com/forum/view...f134%209be356e

[CaptainTom]

This is a great thread. In the "old" days of photography you couldn't get a photographer to divulge their "secrets" without either paying a small fortune for a seminar, or if you were lucky, just a bottle of good hooch.

Today we get to be personally involved in the development of a very talented photographer.

[srwatters]

Thanks Tom... :blush:

The check is in the mail

[Clint_Smith]

Hey Scott, have you looked into Virtual Photographer? I used to use it some on my senior stuff. It is pretty cool and free.

[srwatters]

Originally Posted by Clint_Smith

Hey Scott, have you looked into Virtual Photographer? I used to use it some on my senior stuff. It is pretty cool and free.

VP appears to be a Windoze only plug-in. I have more than enough tools to do everything they provide and I hope I'm getting better at it...

Original:



Something different:



And yes, I asked for permission before removing her tattoo

[my3peas]

gorgeous! Love her glow in that last one!

[Dokk]

In the second photo, I've gotten similar results using surface blur in PS. I duplicate the layer, apply surface blur to get a little more than the effect I want, then turn down the opacity a bit. Then I apply a mask on the blurred layer and uncover only the blurred/smoothed skin that I want to see. Everything else stays sharp. After that, if I want more of the effect, I just go in with some very careful and judiciously applied dodging and burning. It can be tedious but it gets the job done. Also, you could smooth the skin and go back in with an orton effect while applying layer masks to control what the effect gets applied to.