If you saw my video you know I use the high pass filter for more than sharpening.
I tried to find someone who could explain it better than me but I failed miserably and decided to give it a try (This is part of a full retouching tutorial I’m writing but that’s going to take some time)
In the Procces of retouching an image there are a lot of steps and this is NOT the first one, in the sample image there has been curves, levels, fixing of the background and diferent exposures of the raw, not to mention a lot of healing so, one more time…. this is just another step an to make that absolutelly clear:
…Now we are going to use high pass to enhance skin.
The High pass way is something like an automatic (not as detailed and not as undestructive) way of getting smooth but tight skin.
What we do is retain the edges of texture with the high pass, blur them a little (for the same reason we use a soft edged brush when Dodging and burning), invert them (to get the negative of the details light/shadow) and blend them linear light because this blending mode burns or dodges by decreasing or increasing the brightness, depending on the blend tone. If the blend tone is lighter than 50% gray, the image is lightened by increasing the brightness. If the blend color is darker than 50% gray, the image is darkened by decreasing the brightness (Very like D&B with a set of layers, that’s why I call this automatic D&B)
Now … you won’t be using this on the entire image, so what we do now is mask the whole thing out (Layer/layer mask/hide all) and then paint back with a white soft brush where it’s needed.
How to chose your radius?
We are always using numbers we can get 1/3 of (multipliers of 3) and it depends on what you want to D&B out of the image.
Small texture – radius of 3 or 6
Medium spots or holes in the skin – radius of 6 to 15 … maybe even 21.
Fix sudden change of light or general face features – Radius of 30 – 45 – 60
Find the problematic area / Chose your high pass / Gaussian Blur 1/3 of the HP radius / Invert (command/ctrl i ) Blend linear light / Mask to hide / Paint back where need it.
In the sample image I just used a 15/5 and a 45/15.
February 26, 2008 at 5:52 pm
Great, thanks for the Tutorial.
I like this way too, fast and very well
yours,
phil
February 27, 2008 at 2:33 am
i really like this tutorial , because it describes high pass filter in a easy and understandable way
hope to talk to you soon.
Jose Leal :]
February 27, 2008 at 8:32 am
When I saw what you did in your retouch technique I really discover another world of possibilities, thx a lot 4 ur knowledge!
February 28, 2008 at 1:10 am
Hi Natalia,
You know, there are a lot of retouchers, only some them are good, but almost none of them wants to share professional secrets. Thank you a lot for all you are doing! You are really gifted and a great help!
Sincerely.
February 28, 2008 at 11:24 am
i must try this out… i started using high pass for getting more contrast in BW shots, then on coloured for sharpening… this seems to be good idea… btw i am never using burn and dodge tool anymore as it destructs original image, i do it with new layer filled with neutral 50%gray in soft light and paint with 3%-9% white and black to get the same effect
February 28, 2008 at 11:32 am
elviravonnosferatus
I’ve NEVER used the default D&B tools from Photoshop. I do all my D&B with a set of curves.
I don’t like 50% gray, you don’t have enough control over it.
Thanks for your comment
March 5, 2008 at 5:15 pm
wow great…
in the work flow this operation is the final??? after color correction, levels, curves, back ground adj…. before D&B and the global sharpness
March 6, 2008 at 2:43 pm
Hey Natalia
Really great tut. dodge and burn was never so simple before! haha, great technique for the small and big things! i also tried it, but what i noticed is that if you set the layer on 100% opacity is looks kind a blurred, dont know why nut is does. but never mind because that is only wehn you set the layer on 100% and mask the hole face out (exept for the futers/lines or how you would spell it) again: great tut!
question: when will youre website finish? he’s all for al long time online but still “under construction” you have great work by the way.
March 16, 2008 at 10:35 pm
Hi Natalia, congrats on starting your blog with an excellent tutorial, I have subscribed via RSS and will follow with great interest…
Since my first instinct was to make a mental note to turn this high pass process into a PS Action that I can use, and no doubt others have had the same thought, I was wondering if this is something that you might consider doing and releasing with each tutorial where appropriate?
On the other hand, I can understand why you might consider that a lazy way of going about things and would prefer people to create any Actions themselves…
March 24, 2008 at 9:24 pm
i am gonna show this to my friend, dude
April 3, 2008 at 2:48 am
Wow! Your work is amazing. So amazing i had to blog about it. Check out my blog
You are truly an inspiration. thank you for sharing.
aloha,
bp
April 22, 2008 at 8:59 pm
Hey Natalia!
Your video made my PS retouching so much fun! You revealed a whole new world to me. You can check out my site to see the portraits that I have taken and retouched with your technique. I know its not perfect, but I really love everything about retouching and I am eager to learn more.
I have a question, if you could answer it, it would be great. I dont do a lot of D&B in my retouching. For what use is that technique used, anyway? Does it remove the blemishes? If I understand correctly, you use healing brush for removing all the imperfections on the skin, getting really close (100%) into the photo. And with D&B you only even the skin tones?
i would be really happy, If you could share that with us. Also, do you have any books to recommend or a site on the net, that you used to get to where you are now?
Thank you for your contribution to retouching community!
Best regards,
Jure Dobelsek from Slovenia, Europe
April 22, 2008 at 9:21 pm
Ah, one more thing, why did you apply the filter on her hair? What does it do?