Can you touch people up?

[DuaneJackson]

A new member, Lee, joined us a few days ago and gave a link to his site: http://www.ffureel.co.uk/pthumbs.htm

I'm wondering, how common is this level of expertise with Photoshop? Are these skills easily available for hire? Is there a wealth of people out there that can do work to this level?

There are reasons for my questions but I don't want to go into them in too much detail just yet

(We really need a private forum!)

[creacom]

Hi Duane,

Well its not commonly available to get it as good as the example you have there. It takes a long time to get it right too.

My business partner is very very good at it though. :wink:

Jacqui

[Coding Monkey]

I think it's because he's been very specific in his level of skill that it's taken notice of. My designer could/does do that, and I'd suspect most *good* designers within graphic design who are experienced with Photoshop could as well. Photoshop is a huge program, that crosses so many platforms that it's overwhelming to the novice.

It goes on a lot, you just don't notice it - which is the point. Still, great to see it like that.

[Astaroth]

I dont know what the true rate of photoshop expertise is but I do post on another forum which has a digitial photography section and almost all of the regular amature photographers there are capable of doing amazing things in photoshop and certainly up to the "touching up" - there are also a number of semi-pro photographers there who are probably in the same league with photoshop but a better artistic eye for either the original photo or how to manipulate it (if you want more than just a good colour photo)

Photoshop does enable you to get fairly good very quickly - the last bit to excellence I think is as much about a good eye as it is about your ability to use the program

[DuaneJackson]

My business partner is very very good at it though. :wink:


To that level? I thknk as Astaroth says a lot of it is about having a good eye as well as the technical abilities. Can you email me an idea of costs to do one photo like that? 300dpi.

I need to get some idea of pricing for an idea I'm mulling over. I've got Lees pricing, and it's very competitive, but I wouldn't want to start something that's dependent on one individuals talents and pricing.

[creacom]

I will send you over some prices.

Jacqui

[Astaroth]

Duane

It may be worth putting a post on http://www.avforums.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=80

(sorry not sure if you can advertise unrelated forums or not)

There are semi-pros there who I am sure can do what you want and may be interested in a venture with you to move closer to the pro side of the world.

[DuaneJackson]

TVM : )

[Mac Yeti]

I agree it's one of those things that's easy once you know how.

I think anyone with a little interest in photoshop could do it. From what I can see he mostly adjusts the levels, hue/saturation, and uses healiing brush/clone stamp tool.

Of course, as is already said, you do have to have an idea of what is considered attractive - for example you can see he's made people's pupils bigger and reflecting more light.

[MarkPearson]

Its a good skill to have and my guess is there are lots of people out there that will pay good money to get their 'plain' images transformed.

[ffureel]

I didnt know secret posts were being made about me :D

Thanks for the compliments and stuff.

Anyway, to be honest the website doesnt do much justice with such small files and do need to update it really.

To the person who said its a simple case of levels and hue/ sat adjustments are wrong. It takes so many, many adjustments and masking to arrive to the final product. Not to mention the time needed. If I could show you all the layers used I would.

I think what I have over say graphic designers (who dont take photos themselves) Is that I am also a photographer, not too bad either, so I generally know what looks best for a photo.

[crus]

Good examples,

will set some time to play with photoshop in this way as could be useful.

Not to keen on the expansion of the eyes, nice when subtle but a couple of these were very intense, however it depends where they are detsined o be used.

D

[Mac Yeti]

To the person who said its a simple case of levels and hue/ sat adjustments are wrong. It takes so many, many adjustments and masking to arrive to the final product. Not to mention the time needed. If I could show you all the layers used I would.

I think what I have over say graphic designers (who dont take photos themselves) Is that I am also a photographer, not too bad either, so I generally know what looks best for a photo.

Hi ffureel,

Don't misunderstand me, I like your stuff, and I'd never criticise anyone that didn't ask for it.

I do both photography and graphic design and I love creating these type of images so I do know what goes into these pictures. Maybe I've just read too many photoshop magazines that my brain has become saturated with photoshop gubbins :)

Anyway, as I said - good stuff - do you do any non-people/general photoshop wierdness work?

[Eagle]

*
I just did a scan and restoration on an old 20"x16" 1950's wedding photo - took quite some time.

I teach Photoshop too (despite being an avid Corel user! ;))

[ffureel]

To the person who said its a simple case of levels and hue/ sat adjustments are wrong. It takes so many, many adjustments and masking to arrive to the final product. Not to mention the time needed. If I could show you all the layers used I would.

I think what I have over say graphic designers (who dont take photos themselves) Is that I am also a photographer, not too bad either, so I generally know what looks best for a photo.

Hi ffureel,

Don't misunderstand me, I like your stuff, and I'd never criticise anyone that didn't ask for it.

I do both photography and graphic design and I love creating these type of images so I do know what goes into these pictures. Maybe I've just read too many photoshop magazines that my brain has become saturated with photoshop gubbins :)

Anyway, as I said - good stuff - do you do any non-people/general photoshop wierdness work?


Ok yes, I didnt know you did this sort of work yourself. It just grates when someone who has no clue gives the "oh its easy" thing. :)

Id love to see your photography, Its nice to find others in the same field.

No I dont create artwork in Photoshop, I like photos to be honest. Its just my thing.

And Eagle I take my hat off to people with the patience to do restoration work. I prefer the more arty side of retouching as opposed to the more technical art of restoration.

[Mac Yeti]

Id love to see your photography, Its nice to find others in the same field.


Are you aware of Oliver Ottner? I absolutely love his naturemorphosis work. Here's something I did inspired by his stuff:

http://www.10yetis.co.uk/images/designportfolio/fakefur.gif

Here's another more grungy type image I did:

http://www.10yetis.co.uk/images/designportfolio/halloween.gif


No I dont create artwork in Photoshop, I like photos to be honest. Its just my thing.

Your photo's do have a pure quality, do you ever do any fashion work for magazines? I can imagine your skills would fit in to that sort of thing perfectly.

If you ever want to do some collaboration stuff (all the rage this year ;) ), let me know!

[Mortime Business Software]

Is there a wealth of people out there that can do work to this level?

Yes!

I would say the work is easy. It is pains-taking and actually quite tedious after you've done so many. Remember that the easier something is to do, the more people will do it.

Many moons ago I worked for an advertising agency doing illustrations and photo-retouching with a *real* airbrush. After 10 months of utter demoralisation, I went back to finished art because I found that gossiping with my work-mates was much more interesting than producing psuedo-art.

Regarding art, I am a purist. Photography has no place in paintings or illustrations.

ffureel has done a job on his photographs. My joiner did a very good job on a couple of my interior doors last month.

Dave

[Mac Yeti]

I would say the work is easy. It is pains-taking and actually quite tedious after you've done so many. Remember that the easier something is to do, the more people will do it.

Regarding art, I am a purist. Photography has no place in paintings or illustrations.


I won't disagree with it being easy - it is once you know how, isn't everything?

But I do disagree that photography has no place in paintings or illustrations - why shouldn't photography used in an illustration be just as valid a piece of art as a photograph or illustration on their own?

[Mortime Business Software]

I won't disagree with it being easy - it is once you know how, isn't everything?

I suppose anything is easy enough if you have enough passion for it. I would also say that some things are easier than others. I've found that using computer programs is a lot easier than writing computer programs.

But I do disagree that photography has no place in paintings or illustrations - why shouldn't photography used in an illustration be just as valid a piece of art as a photograph or illustration on their own?

I should probably not have included "illustration" because nowadays that word means to "visually elucidate" or "visually enlighten" by way of visual representation.

But it has not always been that way.

Look at some of the classical "illustrations" which don't really hold any useful information (Albrecht Durer is my favourite (forgive the spelling)). Many of them were created as studies for great paintings which followed. Many others were produced as elaborate doodles to fill in the time between paintings.

The reason I included illustration is because ffureel's touch-ups are not really for technical information or education. They are aimed more at uplifting the spirit and feeling amazed by the creator's skill. (These, surely, are the two most important prerequistes of "art"). Therefore, to the purist, they are illustrations where, really, the work is already done by the camera.

Photography has no place in true visual art, just like a computerised drum machine has no place in music.

So, in answer to your question; to produce a good painting or soul-inspiring illustration, one must first understand depth in monochrome.

Dave

[Eagle]

Photography has no place in true visual art, just like a computerised drum machine has no place in music.
Oooffffffff! Controversial! ;) :wink:

[ffureel]

Id love to see your photography, Its nice to find others in the same field.


Are you aware of Oliver Ottner? I absolutely love his naturemorphosis work. Here's something I did inspired by his stuff:


Cool nice stuff!

Fashion photography is something I want to do, just sorting out portfolios and the like.

Im not sure what you mean by a callaboration, but yea sure sounds good! :)

[ffureel]

Is there a wealth of people out there that can do work to this level?

Yes!

I would say the work is easy. It is pains-taking and actually quite tedious after you've done so many. Remember that the easier something is to do, the more people will do it.

Many moons ago I worked for an advertising agency doing illustrations and photo-retouching with a *real* airbrush. After 10 months of utter demoralisation, I went back to finished art because I found that gossiping with my work-mates was much more interesting than producing psuedo-art.

Regarding art, I am a purist. Photography has no place in paintings or illustrations.

ffureel has done a job on his photographs. My joiner did a very good job on a couple of my interior doors last month.

Dave

Hi Dave,

Yes it is easy...after years of hard work learning how to.

But anything is easy once you know how. I would find building a house hard, but an experienced builder would find it easy. Im sure the builder would find retouching hard likewise.(assuming he isn't a retoucher on the side :D

And your last point, Im confused. Are you trying to suggest that photography has the same artistic merit as a carpenter who builds doors?

Oh come on...... :lol: :roll:

[Mac Yeti]

[quote=Mac Yeti]IPhotography has no place in true visual art, just like a computerised drum machine has no place in music.

So, in answer to your question; to produce a good painting or soul-inspiring illustration, one must first understand depth in monochrome.

Dave

I think that's a bit narrow minded. Photography along with sculpture, cooking and finger painting is a visual art, but I think we'll just have to agree to disagree (I'm right) ;)

I do warn you though, I have a half yellow belt in Tae Kwon Do.

[Mortime Business Software]

Yes it is easy...after years of hard work learning how to.

I'm not having a go, but it took me just weeks to become competent in the craft of photo-retouching. Maybe this was because I had a good general grounding in colour theory and daftsmanship.



But anything is easy once you know how. I would find building a house hard, but an experienced builder would find it easy. Im sure the builder would find retouching hard likewise.(assuming he isn't a retoucher on the side :D

I believe a builder or anyone else could master photo-retouching quite easily.

And from what I've observed, building a house would be very simple. But engineering a house, now that would be much more interesting.

But I'm not saying that your work is not fit for purpose. I think it is very pretty, but I can't help preferring the original photographs most of the time.

By the way, if it appears that I'm trying to personally derogate you, sorry, that is definitely not my intention. I am merely trying to express the generally accepted, classical definition of "art" - and it doesn't include the camera.

I have a couple of painter-friends who would probably chop off the fingers of anyone professing to be a painter, and using a rubber, (unless they were having sex of course! ;) )



And your last point, Im confused. Are you trying to suggest that photography has the same artistic merit as a carpenter who builds doors?


Not quite ffureel. I was trying to say that the level of difficulty and thought that my joiner put into my doors was probably larger than that which would be required for retouching a photo.

[Mortime Business Software]

I do warn you though, I have a half yellow belt in Tae Kwon Do.

You bully! Hee hee! And I have a big brother. ;)

But hang on, at our ages I might be better off citing my younger brother who's a bit younger and healthier than us! :) He'll sort ya' out you big bully you!

Dave

[Mortime Business Software]

I think that's a bit narrow minded.

By the way, there's no need to insult me. I didn't insult you did I? ;)

Dave

[DuaneJackson]

Thinking something isn't an insult, surely?

<attempts to lighten the mood>

I once went up to a policeman when I was drunk and asked "Can I be arrested for what I think?"

"Ofcourse not!" he said.

"Good," I replied, "'cos I think you're an ugly *******!"

He didn't seem to see the funny side of it though.

Ever heard of Section 5 of the Public Order Act?

[DuaneJackson]

Thinking something isn't an insult, surely?

<attempts to lighten the mood>

I once went up to a policeman when I was drunk and said "Excuse me ossifer, can I be arrested for what I think?"

"Ofcourse not!" he said.

"Good," I replied, "'cos I think you're an ugly *******!"

He didn't seem to see the funny side of it though.

Ever heard of Section 5 of the Public Order Act?

[Mortime Business Software]

Thinking something isn't an insult, surely?

I suppose not. But the words were actually uttered and I didn't enjoy hearing them?

Dave

[Mac Yeti]

I do warn you though, I have a half yellow belt in Tae Kwon Do.

You bully! Hee hee! And I have a big brother. ;)

But hang on, at our ages I might be better off citing my younger brother who's a bit younger and healthier than us! :) He'll sort ya' out you big bully you!

Dave

Cheeky Git! I'm not that old!

Anyway, Everyone is more than entitled to their opinion and I do so enjoy a good debate. So thanks to you Dave for brightening up my afternoon.

(You better hope you don't meet me when I'm fired up after one of my yoga lessons)

[Mortime Business Software]

Cheeky Git! I'm not that old!

I was talking about my older brother and I. :)

Dave

[Dawg]

have a couple of painter-friends who would probably chop off the fingers of anyone professing to be a painter, and using a rubber, (unless they were having sex of course! Wink )

Is the used rubber in Tracey Emin's Bed installation art then? :lol: