Well, I get to work today and my boss has scanned an image off a wallet for me to work on. It's a friend of theirs and her birthday is Monday, she'll be 70, had the portrait taken when she was 63. He tells me just get the colors right and lose a few of the scratches. Needless to say I can't leave well enough alone. I burn the original and bring it home and proceed to play.

My questions are this.

1: How do the skin tones and overall look of the fixed version look to you? Too much, waste of time, blotchy, something just not right or whatever? Still look like the same person?

2: If you were turning 70, how would you feel seeing this transformation done to your portrait?

Feel free to be as honest as you want.. Thanks Doug :)

And here she is after I played for a couple hours. Still not finished, wanted some feedback before going too far with it.. Thanks..

I've found that in retouching, especially for older folks, you want to leave some of the wrinkles and imperfections. Without them, the person no longer looks like themselves. In my opinion, you want to make a flattering photo, but not one that goes so far that it could have been taken 40 years ago. I also never quite understand that completely smooth skin look, but I feel like I'm probably in the minority on that one(at least, looking at some of the retouching sites).

In my opinion, overkill. I know there are some lines in my face that I would prefer were smoother. I know that there are things that I would like to never have (like bifocals) but each line I have on my face has been earned, each line tells a story. I think you have done a great job of making her look 30-40 years younger, but like Donald says, you want to make it flattering not one that she won't want to display in her home. The first image shows a woman of confidence, I mean she is 63 and has he photo done in a shaw. the second shows a memory. I would suggest sepia toning the the retouch and start over to give your client what they requested in color. Then deliver both. Just my $.02. Magick Michael (actually wishing he had those damn bifocals at the moment)

Hey Donald and Micheal, I agree with both of ya. I guess I should have stated that this is a personal project, not the one that will go to her, to see how far I could go with an image and still keep it real. Sorry for not making that clearer. Donald, I still plan on adding skin texture to get rid of the airbushed look. I'm not a fan of the totally smooth skin look myself. Micheal, I like the idea of sepia on the after print, hadn't thought of that. Giving her a print of the after version is what made me think of the second question. Unfortunately, even if I made her one, she would not get it. My bosses do not believe in giving away anything that took time or can have a dollar amount attached to it. Not too mention I am thin ground here of late. I have become friends with the owner of the new studio in town and that is verboten. Anyhow thanks for the feedback.. Doug

She looks younger...and that might not be what he wants... Just my opinion. Jinx

She looks younger...and that might not be what he wants... Just my opinion. Jinx