PhotoShop CS2 : The Inspired Style - *Still pending*

[jayhan]

I'm feeling kinda like sandwich in between a small space with my findings at the moment. With due respect to many peeps in here who has spent much hard earned money to attend these wonderful workshops - for the the "look", and also to both of these Photographers who are really great... I just cant help but to hold back this piece of knowledge. And I know if I do post it up here, it would help many people... sigh.

So...ok... I am not gonna show anything here at the moment.

Anyway, I was driven by the challenge to find out how these images were made. Asked some of those who attended the workshops and didn't recieve positive feedback that helps on a massive scale - but I can understand that. So off I went on a "reverse-engineering crusade", purely based on what was posted by fellow members who's got results from the workshops.

Although I cant say the workflow that I have is 100% same as what you guys (those with the knowledge) have learned, but I think its very very similar. Probably on a 90% similarity (5% offset on personal touch which varies from diff photographers, and another 5% for other factors). I'm working on fine tuning this set of workflow at the moment.

How did I do it? Well, If one were to think of googling for such answer - I can assure you there's none. For me, it was simple... 2 hours of hunching over various PS:CS2 books in BORDERS Bookstore after office got me the answer (and hurting my back over the process! so hey I did pay a "price" for this ok! :P).

So now the question is : Should I, or shouldnt I make a tutorial out of this? :? :redface:

[noruazumi]

jay, u r a wise man. u'll know the answer. :D

[siew]

Jay, if you don't intend to post here, can you PM me your workflow? :D

BTW, your two hours are time well spent. Cheers.

[mobbes]

The way I see it, if you didn't get any input from those who paid for the w/shop, and since you reversed engineered it, there really is no ethical issue about you sharing your findings.

Whether it will break his ricebowl ... well, we're in the internet age and anyone who's confident of his own abilities ought to be prepared for competition & this sort of thing.

If anything at all, he ought to be flattered that somebody took the trouble to emulate his style. Heck ... he might even have a good laugh. Finally, many enamoured by his students' work will still pay for the original recipe.

My 2 sen for this morning :)

[ShaolinTiger]

Well in this case you did the hard work to nail the technique, so it's entirely up to you if you post it not.

Of course if it's right or not is another matter. :?

[qqmeng]

i think is pretty ok.

well it may not be the same technique/actions anywhere.

hehehe...actually i would love to hv the technique... can share ka? :D

[ckii96]

Since you've not joined the workshop and your writing will not be based on any materials from the workshop, I think there's no ethical issue here. You are just posting something purely based on your own experiment. :)

[sonyalpha]

the goos thing about photoshop is there are too many different way to lead you to the same output, as long as you are not taking other ppl effort and claim to be yours, i don see any problem with that.

So, show us!:D

[Initiald]

Thank you jayhan for changing the title. :)

[jayhan]

After some discussion which I had over shoutbox, and MSN with fellow members... especially those who have attended workshops to learn this (and pay for it), I've decided to hold up this tutorial for the moment. I've run a quick cross ref between my techniques with ST, and I'm glad to say my results and workflow are very very similar - although not 100%. Sorry for the disappointment, but I just dont wanna cause much huh-hah's over this.

I guess its true that some things are meant to be paid for, and trust me... the value of the workshop is not gonna be merely based on just the PP technique. Its way more than that. ;)

But if you were to take it up as a challenge, then my advice it to hit the bookstores. I'm sure you can find the answers in there... if I can do it, so can you.

[mobbes]

hmmm a bit disappointed but I'm sure all of us respect your wisdom. How about doing a short tutorial on selection & masking techniques ... especially to avoid that unnatural halo

[andretong]

I thought manny do not have a standard workflow but some which he use regularly. he always say adjust to your own taste. :D

jayhan, why not show us the result that your get before and after. would love to see it.

[jayhan]

hmmm a bit disappointed but I'm sure all of us respect your wisdom. How about doing a short tutorial on selection & masking techniques ... especially to avoid that unnatural halo
Thanks mobbes. On selection & masking technique, I'll try work on that. Sometimes the mood is just not there to do any tutorials, ya know ;)


I thought manny do not have a standard workflow but some which he use regularly. he always say adjust to your own taste. :D

jayhan, why not show us the result that your get before and after. would love to see it.
Yes you are absolutely right Andre. Based on the technique which I discovered, there is no standard precise 100% workflow. Every steps is purely based on each respective image which was captured in its original form. However, the core basics of the post processing remains the same, which is quite repeatative. What changes is the input values for these core basic steps. If you have been to one of the workshops, then I'm sure you know what I'm talking about - right?

Also, I'd have to say that this PP technique is not suitable for ALL KIND of images. Since all of my photos in my library are not shot to compliment this PP technique, I doubt any of it would look as nice, or impactful as those which were done in the workshop. Anyone care to "borrow" me an image of Krystal (prefer half body/full body crop with BG) for a quick result comparison? ;)

[jayhan]

Ok... I've done this editing based on some PP steps I've discovered.
The image is a courtesy from Zeffy, who also wanted to see what the outcome of my PP steps. As requested, here is the BEFORE and AFTER of an image of the beautiful Krystal.

BEFORE
http://i44.photobucket.com/albums/f44/jayhan78/CRW_9081.jpg

AFTER
http://i44.photobucket.com/albums/f44/jayhan78/krystal_after_plusjays-1.jpg
Some comment :
* I was being provided with a resized image of 800x600, which is why you may see some JPEG artifacts. I was kinda lazy to do massive clean up anyway, and also the skin clean up :P - so my bad, but dudes its almost 1am now!!). :P
** You might notice there is differences between my output and others which are processed via similar techniques. Yes - this technique is not a 100% copy, and neither is it a "you-must-do-it-like-this-100%" technique. The basics are presumably similar, and this is my claim.

So, here it is... the rest I leave it up to you guys - to think if I have achieved the currently HOT PP technique.

Feedbacks greatly appreciated. *Im more interested on feedback based on the similarity of my PP technique to that of the famed one, and not the photo itself. - Thanks!*

[qqmeng]

jay..

not sure but i hv tried mine

1129

well... some filter, curve in some color channel and mask ...

[ShaolinTiger]

Ok being somewhat familiar with this technique, here is my attempt.

1130

[NikonF2]

I try one also..

1131

Last one a bit dark , so lighten up a bit..

1132

[jayhan]

NikonF2 : waah you added the dreamy effect as well eh... :P

[sonyalpha]

i don know what style, but here are my taste...

1140

1141

[mobbes]

my try

1145

[wasabi]

fast pp from laptop screen... just play play only... i perfer darker cos i like dark skin ... :P ...( btw, i didn't pay much attend on her class, zzzz the whole workshop)......:D

1151

oh, mistake , for got to brighten the eye :S

[qqmeng]

oh, mistake , for got to brighten the eye :S

hehehe.... wasabi is giving us tips! :)

[noruazumi]

ok2... my 15 minutes try. definitely not the famed-one style!!! :?

1157

[NikonF2]

i tried again

[NikonF2]

Sorry refine a little bit, the scars now more harmonic with the skin..

[jayhan]

Its a bit dark... no, i must say, its overall darkish. becuz of this, it looks like underexposed kinda shot. try masking out the skin areas so its not so dark and you might get the effect ;)

[cucubud]

Hi jayhan,

If it is your work flow, then you have the right to share with others or not to share.

In the web, I found this site http://www.christyschuler.com/retouching.html
She gave video tutorials on her work flow.
Just click on tutorials and select which one you want to learn.

[qqmeng]

good site! thanks for sharing!