Skippy

Greetings.

I have been googling for days trying to find some help on this issue and so far no luck. I did however find this forum, so I'm gonna ask for opinions here.

I have posted some of the images I'm working with (cropped and sized down so they are not totally huge) and they can be viewed at:
204eastsouth.com/problem-1.jpg
204eastsouth.com/problem-2.jpg
204eastsouth.com/problem-3.jpg

I have two problems with these photos. The film really enhanced her tan lines & the bags under her eyes. How can I fix these things? I have tried various attempts with the smudge tool and the clone tool but the results never look natural. I will be the first to confess that I have no clue what I'm doing. I never touch up my photos unless I'm fixing film damage or scanning artifacts. This is my first attempt at doing a makeover on a person.

I have been searching for tutorials that cover this sort of information, but not much luck there either. I found some information that got me started, but I still don't have the experience to make it look real.

Any hints on how to cover up these things while keeping it natural looking? Much thanks.
Adrian

MsOz

Use the clone tool, or the Paintbrush at very low opacity, and make a gradual build up. Start with a larger brush, and work your way to a smaller one.

It's not one-step easy, but you have the tools to do it properly.

Welles

First of all, Skippy, congratulations for being registered member 2,000!

:} :} :} :} :}
[size=9px](a small crowd applauds!)[/size]

Just to add a few fine points to MsOz's suggestions. I would load the image as your background layer. Now add a new layer on top of the original image. Choose the Clone tool and set it up by with a soft brush, fairly large depending on the area you are working on. Leave aligned unchecked and check Use All Layers. Set the opacity to about 20%. No Alt (Option) click on the tanned area near the particular tan line you are working on. Rather than brushing an area, try a technique of clicking many times, moving your bush in between each click. That way you will always be using the area of your original source click and the color will maintain consistancy.

Once you have a good result on your clone layer, you can smooth out the result by using Filter > Gaussian blur. If you have gotten the clone layer in areas you don't wish to have it, such as the eyes and lower lashes when you are working there, you can use a layer mask to clean up your result. With the layer mask active, you paint on your image with black and white. Black conceals the result of the layer and white reveals grays are equal to percentages.

Another couple of ideas are to keep in mind is to zoom in on the area your are working on for greater accuracy and use new layers for the different areas to be cloned. That will give you maximum flexibility for changing your mind. Also you will most probably wish to use some sharpening on the final result. We've had a fair number of discussions on sharpening an image so if you don't yet have a favorite technique, try a search of the forum for a variety of ideas.

Good Luck!

The Coach

Good luck!

Welles

Darn good technique there, JoeD! [righton]

Elaray

Aww man joe, good work! I had this exact same problem with tan lines a month ago, wished I'd have asked.

And with the facial problems, I refer to this link a lot:

http://www.photoshopgurus.com/interm...makeover.shtml

I have used tips from this technique to clear up dark eye bags.

I have cleared up bags by creating a layer and used a lighter skin tone from the subject's face, painted over the dark area and played with the opacity and blend modes to even it out.

Like I did here. (I hope it was ok to tweak your image.)

The Coach

Thanks Welles, Sheba and nice job Sheba! [righton]

Skippy

Geez... Thanks for all the helpful tips. I haven't had time to check back for replies until now. I have been playing around with this a bit on my own and have discovered thru trial & error (mostly error) some of the suggestions you have all made, but certainly not all of them. I just finished up a session of trying things out and have gotten better results, but not I'm thinking the best that I can get.

I also rescanned the original images in order to get some sharper scans. The first scans were pretty blurry, as I'm sure most of you noted.

As to me being member 2000... well what an honour. And here I just stumbled on the site and joined out of desperation. *haha*

I'll be trying your suggestions out as soon as I have the time...

Again, thanks to everyone. Some good jobs you all did on fixing my photos. Maybe I'll have to set up some before & after images so you folks can rate my work and tell me if I can do better.

A good day to everyone --

Skippy

huma

Welcome aboard. Now, let's see your results so far.



Nice tips everyone.

Skippy

Okie, I'm back ---

I have to ask, JoeD, how did you get where you got with removing the tan lines from the models legs. I'm looking at your screen shot and just not able to figure out exactly what you did.

I took photoshop classes back in the day . . . 7 years ago. I don't remember if it was version 5 or 6, but now here I am using PhotoshopCS and I have no clue what you did.

Sorry to be such a dummy, but can you, or anyone else, clue me in??

Much thanks.

I think I've doing pretty good at fixing the problems with the bags under the eyes.

Thanks all.
Skippy