PSE5 Help with touchups, Please!

[gsbuck]

Hi, I'm new to photo editing and am trying to touchup wrinkles, erase double chin, remove redness from cheeks and nose, fluff up the hair, and remove the arm holding a glass. I have managed to fluff the hair and work on the chin some, but am having real problems with the red cheeks & nose, and how to fill in the background where the arm was. When I use the clone tool it just makes spots all over the redness. And if I drag the mouse it duplicates the eye onto the cheek???
I have not been able to access the "free" tutorial offered by Adobe for purchasing the program. When I click on the link on the Adobe page it only gives a black screen. I have downloaded the flash that it recommends.
Any help is greatly appreciated!
1st url is the original pic, the 2nd is what I have managed so far.

URL=http://www.pixentral.com/show.php?picture=1JqwlLGiEEo5Qg9xiLQVZsiupolOfu]http://www.pixentral.com/hosted/1JqwlLGiEEo5Qg9xiLQVZsiupolOfu_thumb.jpg[/URL]
URL=http://www.pixentral.com/show.php?picture=1vINGU9ALnujeKBxeRkunwubpjgLo60]http://www.pixentral.com/hosted/1vINGU9ALnujeKBxeRkunwubpjgLo60_thumb.jpg[/URL]

[kimi_boo]

Welcome... :)

Not sure I will be of much help. First thing I would do is crop. That way you don't have so many distractions to deal with. I can see she looks thinner and her hair is better. I think her skin tone has improved.

The links you posted aren't working so I am going by only the thumbnail I can see. You may want to try again with Pixentral.

I would try the spot healing brush for wrinkle's.

[GaryK]

Hi

I agree with Kimi. I'm not sure though, whether the second one is out of perspective on purpose or not. :confused:

Cloning in to get rid of the hand/arm is going ot be tricky because of the pattern on the shirt. The hand/glass part should be ok , you just have the window and seat in behind to copy.:)

[GaryK]

OOps

Sorry forgot to welcome you to the forums.:o

Sooooo ... Welcome.:D

[Daviskw]

Hi there

I gave your picture a try.. I mostly used the clone and healing brush tools. I am sorry for the sweater I have no artistic ability and it is a poor representation of the pattern I'm sure.

The texture of the material made it easy to clone... I unchecked align when cloning and made small movements... the texture blended nicely.

For the skin I smoothed with the smudge brush and did a little cloning.

I believe it can be done..at least when viewing from a distance...:p

Butch

http://www.pixentral.com/hosted/1KLl2frHOC3XKxLrtLeTPhf2q7R6q_thumb.jpg (http://www.pixentral.com/show.php?picture=1KLl2frHOC3XKxLrtLeTPhf2q7R6q)

[kimi_boo]

Butch... when I grow up I want to be as GOOD as you! :eek:

Wonderful as always.:D

[Inspeqtor]

kimi, I agree with you! I also want to be as good as Butch when I grow up!!
(I am 56 now, when do I get to the grown-up age?? :) )

[gsbuck]

Thanks so much for all of the help and advice. Butch, that is great! I hope to be able to do that myself soon. Thanks!
I was finally able to access the freebie videos from Adobe by using Internet Explorer rather than Mozilla. I had not thought to try that before.
I guess I need to subscribe to the newsletter in order to learn faster.
Thanks again to all who posted!
Gayle

[kimi_boo]

Oh Gayle.... it's not just the newsletter. When you subscribe, you get access to all kinds of fantastic videos. :D
I have lost track of the number but that doesn't even count the written ones. It is well worth the money!

[apasskey]

[QUOTE=Daviskw;199249]Hi there

I gave your picture a try.. I mostly used the clone and healing brush tools. I am sorry for the sweater I have no artistic ability and it is a poor representation of the pattern I'm sure.

I believe it can be done..at least when viewing from a distance...:p

Butch

Butch!!! You are so adept at Elements. :D How long have you been doing digital photography? It boggles my mind that you can always come up with a solution for a difficult picture. There is a house for sale in my neighborhood - wanna move to Scottsdale??heh heh heh???:rolleyes:

Andie

[Wendy]

Hi Gayle ...

It is well worth subscribing ... there are over 150 Video tutorials and around 90 written ones plus downloads, extras.

... plus the newsletter and also a Gallery to show off your work :)

Wendy

[Diana]

Hi GS, Welcome to the forum.

For evening out skintone and smoothing wrinkles, I have great success with the method Butch posted in this thread:

http://www.photoshopelementsuser.com/forum/showpost.php?p=104466&postcount=6

Diana