Matt K

[rhodeislandman]

Is Matt K ever on these boards? I have a question about one lesson in his book.

Charlie

[jjvera00]

What is your question? Maybe we can help. Is your question about his Layers book?

[rhodeislandman]

Thanks Johnnie maybe you can.. actually I was later thinking that just because Matt wrote the book there is no reason why I cant ask someone else a question\ about it

As I said before, the book is excellent..lots of very good info and very well laid out BUT i do have a problem with many of the examples in that they are very very subtle. its hard to see the difference between the before and after.
Now I want to soften skin and I like the part on 262 that deals with skin softening but when I get to page 265 about "something better" I just dont see what he is trying to do...and I dont see the difference between the end of the first step and the end of the "something better"
Maybe its me but what am I missing in the final part of the skin softening..
Thanks

[ricklepage]

Which specific book are you talking about? I looked at his Elements 6 for Digital Photographers book, and pp 262-265 are about softening, but I don't see the 'something better' part.

That would help us try to figure out what you're trying to do.

Rick

[rhodeislandman]

hello again

Take a look on page 265 step seven is introduced in the final part of step six.. If you want something better continue on.."

It then deals with masks and so on.. I just cant see what that something better is

Thanks again

:)

[jjvera00]

I got both MAtt's PSE6 Book and his Layers book. I'll look at them when I get home from work.

[ricklepage]

Take a look on page 265 step seven is introduced in the final part of step six.. If you want something better continue on.."

It then deals with masks and so on.. I just cant see what that something better is

I see what you mean - it probably could have been worded better, I think.

The 'something better' is essentially adding the texture mask to the skin that he talks about on page 262. If you stopped at Step Six, you would have a pretty decent portrait, with fairly smooth skin, but it could look a bit too "processed" for many people. Steps Seven on to the end detail the process for adding the skin texture back in.

It is a subtle effect, and it might have been better to have full-page versions of all three - beginning, after Step Six, and at the end - where you could see the differences, but I'll bet the printing would muddy the images enough that you might not see the differences between the latter two images.

I have followed Matt's tutorial to the end in the past, and you can see a difference between the two points; whether it's enough for you is a personal preference (I tend to leave many portraits softened without the skin texture added back in).

Is this helpful?

Rick

[rhodeislandman]

Ok Rick and others I get the idea..I know exactly what the over processed look is..I have done that many times!! I will check for Matts tutorial on the subject here..

Why cant you just take the processed layer and put it over the original and drop the opacity until you see some texture? Would that not be the same?

Thanks

[rhodeislandman]

Ok I get it now. I tried it again and really exaggerated the effect so I could see it.. and it seems to add more range of tone back to the pic while still keeping the face soft.. if you look closely you can see that effect in the book.. like most effects its a subtle one and those little changes make a big difference in the end. but like most beginners its hard for me to see this unless its pointed out to me..

Thanks again