Let's improve this child portrait

[Pallycow]

I find often when needing to remove blemishes or such things on a per area basis, instead of smoothing whole skin or messing with masking off layers...just use the spot healing brush tool....but instead of using "content aware" which we most often do, use "proximity match".

I have found that most helpful on skin. "content aware" will smooth as a by-product...which can be a good thing. But then you lose skin texture. Using "proximity match" actually uses an area close to the spot your healing and clones that spot, which works for keeping skin texture congruent with natural texture as well as tones and colors. I have even used this with a wide brush to match skin tones in tough areas, opacity set to needs.

I would not swipe or stroke either...really just a tap here and tap there, occasionally a swipe on a line or wrinkle. If you swipe or stroke...sometimes it calculates wrong and grabs a "proximity" from its azzhole I think 'cause it puts odd chit from other areas of the image. lol.

 

[raaskohx10]

Now I realize the importance of "portrait" option on the main dial. Canon must not have given that for no reason. If you check the custom settings of the camera you will notice that in the portrait mode the camera reduces sharpness and resultantly we get softer skin of the subject esp of babies. By taking pics in other mods (I took this baby pic in AV mode) sharpness level is much higher and that's why we are struggling to make the cheeks smooth in post processing. Bottom line: Use the appropriate mode on the main dial while shooting.

 

[ralphh]

Or use RAW and make these decissions later - including the white balance...?

 

[gsgary]

This was an indoor shot so had to use the camera flash (which left an unpleasant shadow as visible near neck). How would you take this shot and under what camera settings?

Not sure why you were shooting at iso3200 if you have to go that high the shot is not worth taking, there is no way of giving you settings without being there

 

[cgipson1]

Now I realize the importance of "portrait" option on the main dial. Canon must not have given that for no reason. If you check the custom settings of the camera you will notice that in the portrait mode the camera reduces sharpness and resultantly we get softer skin of the subject esp of babies. By taking pics in other mods (I took this baby pic in AV mode) sharpness level is much higher and that's why we are struggling to make the cheeks smooth in post processing. Bottom line: Use the appropriate mode on the main dial while shooting.

Bottom line... don't use the modes... don't let the Camera decide what it is YOU want to do.

 

[Granddad]

The only mode I've used since I got my D700 and got serious is M for manual. Shooting in RAW allows me to fix it when I screw up, so long as I don't screw up too badly.

 

[amolitor]

Does every thread on TPF eventually become a 'what modes are acceptable to use on your camera' if they go on long enough?

 

[raaskohx10]

The only mode I've used since I got my D700 and got serious is M for manual. Shooting in RAW allows me to fix it when I screw up, so long as I don't screw up too badly.

I doubt if sharpness can be adjusted from Manual mode (main dial). Rather it can be controlled by making a "user defined" setting from custom settings.

 

[ralphh]

Shoot RAW... then you can play with these settings later on your PC, rather than at point of capture and permentently apply them to (ruin) your photo

 

[Granddad]

The only mode I've used since I got my D700 and got serious is M for manual. Shooting in RAW allows me to fix it when I screw up, so long as I don't screw up too badly.

I doubt if sharpness can be adjusted from Manual mode (main dial). Rather it can be controlled by making a "user defined" setting from custom settings.
View attachment 35213

I wouldn't know, I've never tried. If I can't get it in sharp focus I dump it. If I need to sharpen anything for effect I do it in post.

 

[cgipson1]

The only mode I've used since I got my D700 and got serious is M for manual. Shooting in RAW allows me to fix it when I screw up, so long as I don't screw up too badly.

I doubt if sharpness can be adjusted from Manual mode (main dial). Rather it can be controlled by making a "user defined" setting from custom settings.
View attachment 35213

I believe those settings only apply to Jpegs.. not RAW... much better to sharpen / unsharpen in post, then have the camera do it anyway....

 

[raaskohx10]

Well, thanks for your comments, guys. Now let's get back to our topic and attempt a professional looking edit for the baby's portrait.

 

[jowensphoto]

 

[raaskohx10]

B&W portraits have always been breath taking. Good job.

 

[Blitz55]

I gave it a try just for fun.
Did a black and white then added a hint of blue and pinkish color.