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A NO-NONSENSE GUIDE TO RETOUCHING FASHION, BEAUTY & PORTRAIT IMAGERY:
The expanded new edition for Photoshop CS4, an e-book by Gry Garness Eureka Imaging PublicationsAnyone who has tried to navigate the veritable forest of Photoshop literature in hope of finding a good book on beauty retouching will have discovered there are many books that appear to be about retouching, but it’s hard to find one that actually delivers. Retouching is a profession where those who are skilled in this ‘black art’ tend to keep their cards close to their chest, leaving aspiring retouchers and photographers resorting to the abundance of internet tutorials. Last year’s release of the Digital Retouching e-book by Gry Garness proved to be the revelation; explaining and de-mystifying essential techniques within retouching and color for Photoshop CS3.
The expanded CS4 version of ‘DIGITAL RETOUCHING FOR FASHION, BEAUTY & PORTRAIT PHOTOGRAPHY’ is released 28th May 2009, and it proves to be even more comprehensive. Gry is a working retoucher who has no trouble communicating the skills through writing and teaching, and is passionate about practicing good method and technique. Standing at 260 pages, the tutorials are presented as solutions to a range of cosmetic pixel problems. It has the feel of a good cookbook, using a wide variety of high-quality images to inspire and guide the reader. The tutorials are tried and tested in a professional workflow, and the same methods were utilized in creating the images that illustrate the book. This CS4 edition has a new section with more focus on the image as a whole, as well as a handful of case studies, where whole workflows bring together the different techniques and methods shown earlier in the book. It also makes sense of all the changes in CS4, integrating new ways of working into the tutorials and helping the reader circumnavigate potential CS4 pitfalls.
The e-book was originally conceived as a working tool for professional photographers – who are often expected to produce glossy magazine flawlessness in images that must stand up to close scrutiny and large outputs. The first edition proved to be a good source of new ideas and methods for digital operators, retouchers and graphic designers. In a lucid, down-to-earth manner Garness clarifies essential retouching concepts such as masking, raw processing, blending modes, and efficient selections, before weaving it all together. The tutorials are presented as step-by-step recipes, also explaining the thinking behind the method. It’s refreshingly free from jargon, and although advanced retouching isn’t simple, Garness aims to keep the method uncomplicated. There are plenty of tricks, but the emphasis is on developing good technique and skills whilst keeping the retouching subtle and editable! Based on Gry’s vast experience as a Photoshop trainer, the tutorials are suitable for all levels. Although it’s by no means a beginners’ book, there’s enough detail for inexperienced Photoshop users, while the more advanced users can fast-track skim the bold text and headings.
There are chapters on Effective Retouching, Color Enhancement, Skin Retouching, Facial Features, Hair, Figure, Fashion and Finishing, as well as the new chapter – the Full Picture. The e-book is nicely designed, easy to follow and refreshingly logical. PDF serves as the perfect format, with quick links and opportunity to examine the images in detail. Most of the images in the book have been published, as editorial, magazine covers, advertising campaigns and CD-covers, and include several well-known faces. For this edition there is now a set of core training images to practice on.
‘I am overwhelmed by the response to the previous edition. This was a labour of love and I initially wrote it for my own students, who are usually photographers, retouchers or designers. After several years of retouching for clients and teaching, I knew all the stumbling points, and I wrote the book from that perspective – not just to show off my skills, but to communicate how to attain those skills. I couldn’t have written it if I hadn’t been a working retoucher, with a strong body of commercial work under my belt. It’s easy to underestimate the amount of skill that goes into retouching – not to mention the patience it takes. Although I feel that images in text books should aim to inspire and set out a high standard, my book is not about promoting one particular retouching aesthetic. It’s about finding solutions that suit each particular subject, without leaving obvious evidence of retouching.’
See a preview of the Beauty retouching book View readers' comments on all Gry Garness books Various magazine features on Gry Previous published WDC Photoshop tutorials by Gry
To obtain review copies of any of the e-books, please email us with your request.
Editor’s notes: Gry Garness’s background for producing this book couldn’t be more suitable; she worked as a hair & makeup artist for several years while at the same time moonlighting as a radio and TV presenter, followed by a successful career in fashion, music and advertising photography. In the last six years she has dedicated herself entirely to retouching and Photoshop training on a high level and has been a tutorial contributor to What Digital Camera and Advanced Photoshop Magazine. The readers get more than just technical know-how from this book; they get to share the benefit of her unique insight into the aesthetics of both beauty and photography. Garness today works mainly as a retoucher and Photoshop trainer, finding time to write in-between projects. She retouches for other photographers - mostly portraits, beauty and music photography, but also some interiors and creative montage. She has trained clients ranging from large broadcasting companies, publishing houses, design agencies, fashion buisnesses, holiday companies, photo-labs, magazines and newspapers, as well as a whole host of photographers, digital operators and retouchers.
Gry ©John Sanders 2008 The Digital Retouching book sits comfortably alongside two Photoshop colour books by Gry Garness, also on Eureka Imaging Publications. These are: Essential Color Management This 50-page e-book has evolved from a Photoshop course handout to a comprehensive resource, full of practical advice, for all of those who can't take the mind-numbing science of color management. It's worded as down-to-earth as possible without dummifying the content. It's aimed at professional image-makers who need to deliver high-standard images for reproduction, and be confident that their workflow follows good industry practice. It reveals what lies behind the industry jargon, and clarifies the different colour specifications and definitions. Essential Color Optimization This 110-page e-book explains all the things a photographer needs to know about the core Photoshop color commands and the tools we use to define and measure color. The tutorials are based on the most typical and common challenges we face when adjusting color – using editable adjustment layers and Raw processing superior quality and full editability. In the tutorials the most essential content is highlighted in bold italic, so you can choose whether to skim them or follow in-depth. |
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