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Cutting In Photoshop - part 1 of 1

by Jane Conner-ziser Published 01/06/2011

These retouching guidelines are by no means written in stone. They are just things to consider while you are retouching different age groups. Look for these things and then decide what you should or should not do about them. It's easy to overlook small things, like blemishes in the eyebrows or a hair sticking out of a nostril. This list is more of a reminder of what to look for and some information about what retouchers generally do. Thanks!

Jane's Retouch Checklist

Babies and Children:
Remove:
Soften or reshape:
Extensive drool on the face
Hard edges of lighting
Puffy eyes 50% if the shadows are very dark
Bulges in blankets or clothing
Do not remove:
Specular highlights created with the photographers lighting
pattern
Creases under the eyes
Shadows under the eyes
Dimples
Birth marks - unless requested
Freckles
Moles
Stray hairs unless they are distracting
Chipped or broken teeth - unless requested
Do not add teeth - unless requested (additional charge)



Teenagers:
Remove:
Blemishes
Glares on glasses
Scratches and scrapes -check the body
Stray hairs if they are not part of the hair style
Stains or yellow from teeth
Receded teeth
Soften or reshape:
Under eye shadows 50%
Hard edges of lighting
Blend skin tones 50%
Unflattering bulges in clothing
Crooked eye makeup
Do not remove:
Specular highlights created with the photographers lighting pattern
Under eye shadows
Freckles - thin out clusters, remove any that distract from expression
Moles
Dimples
Braces - unless requested (additional charge)
Chipped or broken teeth - unless requested
Do not add teeth - unless requested (additional charge)

Adult Women
Remove:
Stress and fatigue lines
Stress and fatigue shadows
Stray eyebrow hairs
Glares on glasses
Diagonal fatigue lines under the eyes
Blemishes
Vertical lines from around the lips
Stains or yellow on teeth
Receded teeth
Smeared make up
Stray hairs in nostrils
Small lines on the neck
Whispy "beard hair" on jaw
Stray hairs
Bulges in clothing
Veins on the hands and body
Soften, shorten or reshape:
Sculpt and lift body as needed
Thick lines on the neck - reshape and tone down 75%
Shadows under the eyes 35-50%
Shorten vertical lines from corners of mouth to chin 50%
Crinkles around eyes 35-50%
Soften hard edges of lighting
Blend skin tones 50%
Soften oily skin 50%
Correct crooked make up
Tone down or reshape distracting highlights on jewelry
Do not remove:
Specular highlights created with the photographers lighting pattern
Under eye shadows
Wrinkles - soften and shorten if needed after blending
Freckles - thin out clusters, remove any that distract from expression
Moles
Pore structure
Dimples
Double chins - minimize with Liquify up to 50%

vAdult Men:
Remove:
Stress and fatigue lines
Stress and fatigue shadows
Stray eyebrow hairs
Glares on glasses
Diagonal fatigue lines under the eyes
Blemishes
Vertical lines from around the lips
Stray whiskers
Shaving rash
Hairs in nostrils and ears
Stains or yellow on teeth
Receded teeth
Small lines on the neck
Stray hairs
Bulges in clothing
Veins on the hands and body
Soften, shorten or reshape:
Sculpt and lift body as needed
Thick lines on the neck - reshape and tone down 50%
Shadows under the eyes 35%
Shorten vertical lines from corners of mouth to chin 50%
Crinkles around eyes 35%
Soften hard edges of lighting
Blend skin tones 35%
Soften oily skin 35%
Heavy bluish beard stubble 35%
Tone down or reshape distracting highlights on jewelry
Do not remove:
Specular highlights created with the photographers lighting pattern Under eye shadows
Wrinkles - soften and shorten if needed after blending
Freckles - thin out clusters, remove any that distract from expression
Moles
Pore structure
Dimples
Double chins - minimize with Liquify up to 50%

In General:
Remove temporary objects from the face and body.
Remove signs of stress, anxiety and fatigue.
Tone down, sculpt and shape permanent objects on the face and body.
Do not move bone structure or facial features.
Do not remove the photographers lighting pattern.
Do not remove the pore structure.
Do not remove all sign of a man's beard.
Do not remove the bags under the eyes; soften only.
Do not remove all of the wrinkles on the face; shorten, shape and soften only.
Blend skin tones slightly more on women than on men.

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1st Published 01/06/2011
last update 09/12/2022 14:53:01

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