I'd like your opinions, please

[gcherry]

This is the original picture (the friendly neighborhood squirrel gorging himself on bird seed):

http://www.pixentral.com/hosted/1RH6CxRbjTyhXzO58ALh5ElfxjDB0_thumb.jpg (http://www.pixentral.com/show.php?picture=1RH6CxRbjTyhXzO58ALh5ElfxjDB0)

This is the retouched version ... I've always loved the "smudged" pictures, but my attempts were always disappointing (and never posted). This time, I used the Topaz Simplify filter first and then used the Smudge tool to get rid of the hard edges between different colors. I've been staring at it so long, I can't tell if I've achieved the "smudged" effect I was after. What do you guys think? (Please view them full size.)

http://www.pixentral.com/hosted/1U5KmWUpICcFoypUfQndKspTS7kBj_thumb.jpg (http://www.pixentral.com/show.php?picture=1U5KmWUpICcFoypUfQndKspTS7kBj)

[coaster]

Well, I don't know enough about it to answer your question about the "smudge effect" but I do know that I like the second picture more than the first, so whatever you did must have worked. ;)

[ladybug]

You achieved the look and more. Looks like a soft painting. I love it.

[gcherry]

Thanks for the feedback! Personally, I like how the face and tail turned out, but the body doesn't seem quite right ... and I'm not sure how to improve it. I'd welcome any suggestions/criticisms ...

[Chesney]

Glenda - I think the body of the squirrel really adds to that "painterly" look, I don't think I would do anything! Nice job!

[Sepiana]

Glenda, I know nothing about smudging techniques. But I like what I see in the second image -- that painting efffect made quite a difference. Nice work!

[lisabee]

Glenda,

that is a superb shot, I love everything about it.
Is it the effect of the simplify filter that 'loses' the darker bits from the body? I don't know how you could get that into the second version but that might make the difference you are looking for.:confused:

Lisa :)

[Derry]

Glenda, I shoot a lot of birds and have several squirrel photos also,, I guess I am form the old book as I like them razor sharp so I can review the fine detail fon the feathers, fur and face,,

I vote for #1,,

Derry

[gcherry]

Sepiana & Tammy, thanks for the compliments!

Lisa, I think what I'm not happy with is that it doesn't seem "blended" enough ... I may try layering with different blend modes to see if it makes a difference.

Derry, I also like nice sharp photos ... I just like to try something different every now and then. But you gave me an idea ... I had a couple of photos that came out a little blurry (the auto-focus was on the bush instead of the squirrel). I might try this again using the blurry photo and see what happens.

[jhzich]

Your editted squirrel definitely looks soft and friendly. The backgrounds look very similar...did you not want/try to blur to add any effects?