Retouching Day 13 Lessening Freckles Pattern Stamp Question

[Teri]

Using the Pattern Stamp Tool (Method 2), when I paint over the freckles there is no change to the freckles. I have read the pdf instructions and watched the QuickTime movie many times but I am not able to paint over the freckles as if I am applying a blur. I have followed all of the steps in the pdf instructions many times without any success.

[CarolLHB]

Teri,
Do you have the right layer active in the layers palette? Cannot tell you haow many times I appled one or another thing-nothing happens-then I realize that I have the wrong layer selected in the palette :oops:!

[Wendy]

Hi Teri ...

... and welcome to the forum :)

Which version of Elements are you using?

just a few thought are:

Are you sure that you have selected the Clone tool and changed it to the Pattern Clone tool option .... then after that set it to the new pattern you have just created?
and check that the opacity of the tool is set to 100%.

See if either of those help :)

Wendy

[Teri]

Thank you Carol and Wendy for your replies.

I am using PE 3. Here's a screenshot. I did the pattern stamp only on one side of the face so that you can see that the freckles have not lessened.

http://www.pixentral.com/show.php?picture=1sMeKnn1rZwGcxZz0GXxvROcnRiPEU

It is frustrating because I don't know what I am doing incorrectly.

[Wendy]

Hi Teri ...

Did you blur it enought to hide the freckles and are you sure that you used the blurred image to make the pattern?

Wendy

[CarolLHB]

Is it just me?? Personally I think her freckles are fabulous! Seems like this method turns them into smudges and makes her face look dirty. Maybe I like them so much because I don't have any...that I wish were gone... :roll:

[Pauline]

I think you have to be careful with this technique, otherwise I find the the subject can tend to look plastic, or have a Joan Rivers - too many face lifts look. :lol:

[Wendy]

Hi ...

Opinions are always varied on the subject of glamour retouching ... I can't really see anything wrong in it except when they go too far.


Wendy

[Pauline]

Hey it's a lot cheaper this way than it was when I got my photo done!! At least if I do it to myself, I can still keep some resemblance! Every once in a while I look at the photo on the wall and wonder who that person is! I also remember how horrid I looked in the mirror with the gobs of makeup covering any facial flaws. PSE is much easier.

[Teri]

I watched the QuickTime Video and read the pdf instructions again and tried to lessen the freckles by using the pattern stamp.

I have been using the Pattern Stamp on layer 2 without any success. I tried the Pattern Stamp on layer 1 and nothing happened.

I agree. The young lady looks great with freckles. I just want to learn the technique of using the Pattern Stamp. If I were going to lessen freckles, Glaussian Blur Method 1 is much easier.

[Wendy]

Teri ...

I left you a message a way back in the thread ...

Are you sure that you used the blurred image to make the pattern? :) I wonder if you made the pattern from the wrong layer?

Wendy

[GaryK]

I gotta rewatch that one. I don't remember a pattern stamp method.

I think I'm loosing it. :lol:

[tfry]

Gary.... :lol:

[Teri]

Wendy,

Are you taking the Portrait Retouching on-line class? I don't know if it's OK to post the pdf instructions on Using the Pattern Stamp Tool Method 2.

You asked me if I used the blurred image to make the pattern.
It seems to me that the Background picture in the movie and in the written instructions is the Lesson 13 image with freckles.

I duplicated the Background layer which is the Lesson 13 image and selected all. The Define Pattern from Selection is the Lesson 13 image. After following a few more steps in the instructions, I selected the pattern I created and changed the mode to Lighten and then painted over the freckles (which is Layer 2) with a large soft brush but there was no change on the freckles.

Can you tell by looking at the screenshot I posted earlier if I am doing something wrong?

Teri

[Wendy]

Teri ...

I have sent you a pm ...

Wendy