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Male Model Retouch: Great Highlights to D&B
Feel free to retouch at your discretion; however please do NOT apply or utilize fantasy retouching. Retouch as if you want to use this image as your resume to receive retouching assignments on males.  Cool? Here is the processed 16-BIT TIFF in ProPhotoRGB using CaptureONE PRO 6.3. I went ahead and corrected the skin colors to yield a basis for further manipulation. http://www.ronaldnztan.com/temp/TAN_20111007_365.zip I used my Photek Softlighter II on the photo left (aimed high to low) and the rim lighting on Jonny Dee on the photo right is from my 22" beauty dish. Requires approval from me if you wish to use the image as an portfolio item. I do not required HIRES images. Please post your results at the maximum pixel width of 520. Anything beyond that stretches the MM forum. Starter tips: this image is a great candidate to apply and practice your D&B and making Jonny "pop" out. Oct 14 11 11:16 pm Link Ronald Nyein Zaw Tan wrote: A question, Why do you work in ProphotoRGB? Oct 15 11 02:23 am Link this is my result:  let me know what you think and what could be improved - i'm not sure about the legs for example. i tried to remove and decrease the shadows, but then it looked a bit too perfect which i also didnt like, so i simply left them like they were. Oct 16 11 06:03 am Link [Redacted: Wrong profile] Hi Michael, For male retouching, "less is more." Since you asked, I like what you have done here. If I was retouching my own, I'd dodge a little more on the knot of the necktie. Do you see the subtle highlights that would make the necktie truly shine? Michael Binary wrote: Oct 16 11 08:53 am Link ProPhotoRGB is the a large color space to "catch" all possible colors straight from my Canon RAW file. In this case, it was an arbitrary decision since I forgot to change back my settings when I exported into Photoshop from my CaptureONE PRO raw software converter. This image (file) would have looked suitable in AdobeRGB1998. Thank you for your question. The Focal Trip wrote: Oct 16 11 08:56 am Link I like what you have done here. If I was retouching my own, I'd dodge a little more on the knot of the necktie. I did a small revision since the file was still open, have a look again (i've overwritten the file, since i have it in my dropbox). Oct 16 11 09:55 am Link It looks great Michael. You can use for your portfolio. Thank you for asking. :-) Michael Binary wrote: Oct 16 11 11:20 am Link Photo Dumped Oct 16 11 11:36 am Link This is not a good try because you pulled the details out from the shadows. WHY?! You don't need to see all the details. The point of this thread is to learn. I want to encourage you to dial down your effects to the bare minimum, keeping in mind that when it comes to male retouching, "less is more." MP_Retouch1 wrote: Oct 16 11 12:14 pm Link Ronald Nyein Zaw Tan wrote: Great, thank you! If you would like to have the high-res file let me know. Oct 16 11 12:46 pm Link No, that will not be necessary, but thank you for being considerate. Michael Binary wrote: Oct 16 11 12:47 pm Link Here is My go I Like it hope you do as well ^_^  Aaron Oct 16 11 03:21 pm Link Aaron, Watch your highlights. Try not to make the important highlights pass RGB values of 245, 245, 245. The forehead area were the eyes, and the glass meet is getting a little hot when I took your image into my Photoshop to get the color readouts. As a retoucher, you should always think, "Will my image print well?" Good effort, but I think you missed it a little. Ex-Quisite Retouching wrote: Oct 16 11 03:54 pm Link Did quite a few things. Desatted using the red channel as a layer mask on the subject but increased saturation on the tie, removed moles/blemishes, fixed a bit of hair, smoothed skin a tad but kept detail, mainly to even out shadowing. Dodged highlights, burned shadows, did some pixel level D&B where necessary, blurred background to make grey more even (although now it posterized fir some reason), also reduced the noise on the background. Mind if I use in my ports: on here, dA, and Google+?  Oct 17 11 12:29 am Link Here's my one: Oct 17 11 03:55 am Link Dump Oct 17 11 07:51 am Link I am curious why you are extracting shadow information when it is not required? sukra33 wrote: Oct 17 11 09:34 am Link Jonny looks like a miniature Ken doll now. :-( You're working with men, don't think like you're retouching women—seriously, "less is more." I cannot in good conscience permit you to use this image in your retouching portfolio in its current state. Thank you for understanding. Thank you for wanting to practice your retouching. DH Retouching wrote: Oct 17 11 09:39 am Link Ronald Nyein Zaw Tan wrote: Because I like your image, and it's only the second male I've ever done. Here's a second image, without the blur layer. I am trying to get a feel for male retouching, and there are very few images on this site for men, at least when you talk about it's proportion to images of women. Oct 17 11 01:02 pm Link How are your highlight reading on Jonny's forehead, that is the "important" highlights. Where as the highlight due to the rim lighting could so "over exposed." I always like to keep my highlights at 245, 245, 245. At most, I'll go up to 250, 250, 250. This is a vast improvement. Nail those highlights and I could see this image as your portfolio for male retouching. Also: leave the noise in the background paper as I intended. No no is going to be "pixel peeping" in the background. I love "film" look which adds texture and life into the image. I like the fact that you did not pull out the shaddows. Just because someone could use the shadows filter, it does not mean they should! [Depends on image to image]. DH Retouching wrote: Oct 17 11 02:15 pm Link Ronald Nyein Zaw Tan wrote: Here you go, Sir: Oct 18 11 12:23 am Link I'm sorry but - does anyone care about the new rule about the photos posted here being for practice? I don't get why I keep seeing each new post after new post of people making all these stipulations and saying what you can and can't do with the image. I thought the point was that this is a forum to provide photos for people to do whatever they want with? I get the permission for portfolio usage, but that's really the only thing I think people should be saying about the photos being posted here; not 'you may do this but don't do that' and all of that. Why does it even matter what a person practices? What if I really like this photo but want to practice 'fantasy' retouching? I also don't see the purpose in telling people what's 'required' when the goal is for them to practice producing beautiful images, a term which (correct me if I'm wrong) is relative to the viewer? Oct 18 11 01:59 am Link JWMedrano wrote: I agree but disagree with you (weird, huh). Oct 18 11 02:26 am Link I also don't see the purpose in telling people what's 'required' when the goal is for them to practice producing beautiful images, a term which (correct me if I'm wrong) is relative to the viewer? I think in retouching there is no "beautiful". There are rules of the market. Sure the viewer watches the picture, but the client pays you. I can't imagine that there is a serious client out there who comes to you and says "make this image beautiful". They will give you rules & guidelines and some of them are so basic that they are not even mentioned anymore ("less is more"). Oct 18 11 03:16 am Link JWMedrano wrote: Constructive criticism is not bad. I guess it is better - for practise - to work for a clear specification. So if someone tells you not to use too much blur for example, or not to do a fantasy retouch on pics like that, it's for your own further development. Oct 18 11 03:20 am Link Okay here's my crack at it! Nothing fancy, just skin clean up, toning and tried to make the clothing pop a little.  link to full size: http://dl.dropbox.com/u/1952500/TAN_201 … dit-fs.jpg Oct 18 11 07:57 am Link Oh well I wasn't trying to say that he's doing anything bad or anything like that. I just don't really get the purpose in questioning why people did something under the pretense that it's not 'required' or telling people how they can go about their practice. I've never seen someone at batting practice be told 'you can swing but no bunting and no swinging allowed if you think the ball is too fast' or anything like that. I just think it's silly to stipulate things. I agree that constructive criticism is good and all of that, and I do appreciate the additional feedback, but the fact to me is that this is a practice area, not a 'take my set of instructions and do what you can to produce something as close as I've instructed'. I don't enforce or make the rules, I just wonder. Also, I see what you're saying about the comparison to a client, but I don't really agree all that much as the OP isn't anyone's client. Client's are looking for work done to pay for, and that's exactly what this isn't is - paid work. So I don't really think it's fair for someone to act like a client when they aren't one. Detailed feedback = cool, instruction and stipulation = not. That's just where I stand. I'm just put off by the fact that apparently there are expectations of me if I decide I wanna mess with this photo; expectations to do only things that are 'required' and not go in a direction that I want to practice in but in the direction the OP wants me to practice in. I just don't think that's very fair for those who like the photo but wanna do whatever they want with it. Oct 18 11 09:58 am Link This is a great example of "less is more." I like this one. If you want, you're more than welcome to use towards your retouching portfolio. I see that you enhanced what's already there and it is what I want everyone to get a feel—hence this practice thread. Dan Skizz wrote: Oct 18 11 11:01 am Link How do you do Mr. Medrano: The purpose of this thread is NOT to get a free retouch. If you are familiar with my works, you'll see that I have more than enough men's fashion and beauty images. I wanted to help others learn and get a feel for "proper" male retouching. You are indeed correct that I am not their client, but in this scenario, I am their experienced friend and mentor. I believe the image I gave as practice is a great medium for practicing dodging and burning and the usual clean-up work that is like the Retouching 101. When I gave them feedback, I was polite and respectful of their vision. At the same time, telling them what is proper based on my experience and knowledge of male retouching. Thank you for expressing your opinions and I hope you'll better see that the participants felt positive and beneficial with their practice experience. Because I am not using any of their retouched works, I am not taking advantage of them. The participants volunteered themselves for the purpose of having a good male retouching image under their portfolio. Yours sincerely, Ronald Nyein Zaw Tan http://ronaldnztan.com JWMedrano wrote: Oct 18 11 11:15 am Link Hiya Markus, In the forums, I am a friend and informalities are encouraged. :-) That is a much better improvement! You're almost there, buddy. When I look at this image, I see that Jonny's right arm and right leg (photo left) is slightly more red. If I were to fix this. I'd use the Hue/Sat. adjustment curve and take the reds (in the reds drop down menu) down and use layer masking until the colors match. I look forward to seeing your final touches. Thank you for participating in this practice thread. sukra33 wrote: Oct 18 11 11:21 am Link Ronald Nyein Zaw Tan wrote: Hi Ronald, Oct 19 11 12:03 am Link My try. HQ available.  Oct 19 11 04:52 am Link I like this one Luka. :-) lukau13 wrote: Oct 19 11 10:21 am Link You're almost at the finish line! Take a look at Jonny's hair. Do you see the uneven areas? Combine burning with heal/clone to restore the hair patterns and you'll be complete. The overall image has your look and vision of retouching and skin coloring...I am OK with it. sukra33 wrote: Oct 19 11 10:24 am Link  i dont know if this counts like a fantasy retouch, if it does i apologize, if it doesn't, i have the high rez file. May i put in my porfolio? thanks. Oct 19 11 11:55 pm Link Ronald Nyein Zaw Tan wrote: here's another try: Oct 20 11 12:08 am Link YAY! You've reached the finish line. Good work and your learning spirit for improvement. sukra33 wrote: Oct 20 11 08:04 pm Link No need to apologize. Thank you for being creative. I do however think that the image is anachronistic and displaced. Why is this guy sitting on a stool in the middle of the desert?! You see? Thank you for playing and being creative. Feldi the retoucher wrote: Oct 20 11 08:08 pm Link Thanks for the image Ron! Hope you like it!  Oct 20 11 11:56 pm Link Ronald Nyein Zaw Tan wrote: thanks again ron, may i use this one in my port and personal website? Oct 21 11 12:43 am Link |
