Trying to advance beyond the... well, blur style of skin smoothing... I've started working with some D&B for skin smoothing and some contouring.  I'd love your opinions...  Give me the good, the bad, and the ugly.  Tell me what you see that I need to change, and I'll get it done.  All in an effort to get better... so thanks for your comments!!

Unedited image:

(http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7578/1571 … 107d_z.jpg)

Edited image:

(https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7472/161 … fb49_z.jpg)

It's a little hard to see with the images being as small as they are. Maybe link to larger versions (don't have to be huge - but something at least 600 x 900)

Well done! You brought out the focus to her face and eyes really well, like what you did to the eyes a lot.

When you do this and ignore the hand, it just looks fake! Spend some time/attention to it as well.

Next time, try working on a better image with more details like skin or hair if you really want to master the art of retouching and share results.

Thanks a million for the critique!!  When you say that you would address the hand... do you mean to D&B the hand as well as the face/chest?  I know that it''s not as bright... which was on purpose to keep focus on the face/dress.  But if you have suggestions, I''ll sure take em.

Here is an image that I just finished... more details in the face to D&B and color correct.  Sometimes, I feel as though I see splotches of color and for the life of me can''t exactly figure out how to address it... so I started using selective color to try and fix.  The eye bags still get me though...

The only thing that I did not retouch in this image is the hair.  I am going through Krunoslav Stifter's D&B DVD over the next week or so, then will go over Natalia's and learn more about hair retouching.  Would love a critique or two on this image from educated eyes.  Thanks to all...

Retouched Image

http://thigpenimages.com/wp-content/upl … _22721.jpg


Unretouched Image

http://thigpenimages.com/wp-content/upl … ouched.jpg