Hey guys,

I've been looking around the web for a tutorial on how to give the glow effect to the skin. I found one but it wasn't too great.

A skin glow like the one in the link below:

http://cs403825.vk.me/v403825474/6dc7/12n1JKh_vWM.jpg

I know lighting plays a part but not completely. Im also aware that alot of MUA use bronzer on the subjects skin but still, retouching wise whats the best way to get an effect like this done?

I believe you do this by adding highlights in Photoshop.

Go to YouTube and search for "Dodge & Burn" techniques in Photoshop, you'll be busy for weeks

Enjoy ...

I wouldn't exactly call that a glow. It's not created by adding highlights but by dodging the existing highlights to emphasize them. KInda like this photo in my portfolio.



Since I was going for a darker look, both the highlights and the other skin tones are darker in this photo than in your reference photo.

There was a lot of D&B in this photo to lighten the highlights and darken the other skin tones. Also, the skin tones in this photo were muted by adding a black-and-white layer (same photo, saturation = -100) and brushing it in to get the muted tones I wanted.

I have other photos of the same model, from the same shoot, where I didn't use a b&w layer, where the skin tones are more like the ones in your reference photo. They aren't in my portfolio, however. Again, dodging the highlights and burning in the other skin tones.

The other photos are in my first folder. I'll send you the link and folder password.

Nick Saglimbeni teaches a totally different technique for achieving the same look in his "Mastering Retouching" DVD. He calls it the Slickforce Technique, named for his Slickforce Studio in LA.

http://masteringretouching.com/

https://www.modelmayhem.com/83776

There is no substitute for the model having a soft established tan or good healthy skin - and good lighting - this saves much skin retouching afterwards.

Another easy way apart from D&B could be by using a 50% grey layer on a soft light mode and use Dodge and Burn tools to lighten/darken.. pretty good results!