Portrait "Glow"

[rebekah_carson]

Can anyone tell me how to get that "glow" in photoshop? It's different

than softening the face because it's still clear and sharp. It's a real

glow. Any help would be appreciated!!

Here is an example:

 

http://www.bludomain.com/blu/index.php

[rebekah_carson]

http://www.boutwellstudio.com/

Sorry, that's the correct link. They have this glow thru

out their wedding gallery

[adriabrown]

Rebekah,

I have no idea how they did that...but that is one kewl web site!! Wow...very inspirational! Thanks for the link! Hope someone can help you out on the glow...I'm interested in how they did that too.

Adrianne

[mona_chrome]

Honestly, I went thru the work and am not totally sure I know what you are seeing. But what I

see different from most wedding folios I have seen is that they are using a lot of contrast

enhancement and probably are lightening the subjects in some cases. A few had some

softening on the skin--selectively done. But generally just not afraid to push up the

contrast, which pushes up the saturation in the darker, richer colors as an added bonus.

[nicola inglis]

Here's one way...

 

In the Layers menu double click on the background so it is Layer 0.

 

Right click to duplicate the layer.

 

Make sure the top layer is active.

 

Go to Filters >Blur >Gaussian blur and set it to taste (perhaps 20 is a good starting place)

 

Then go back to the Layers palette/menu and select the opacity slider, slide it down to about 25% (experiment a bit)

 

Then use the eraser to 'rub out' the blur over the eyes, mouth, jewellery etc.

 

Done badly this looks awful, a light touch is the key!

[tommyinca]

A faster way is to use a good soft focus lens and use it with a smaller aperture, something like a Minolta 100/2.8 soft focus. This type of lens retain sharpness and still provide the soft glow.

[rebekah_carson]

Thanks for everyones help. I'm not sure I'm explaining my question well enough. This portrait shows it pretty well. It's not a blur filter, it actually looks like her skin is glowing and it effects the lighter areas of the picture.

[emre]

http://www.luminous-landscape.com/tutorials/glow.shtml

[kim_ramsey]

Hi, there used several techniques to acheive this photo...

 

1)they duplicated the photo. so that they had 2 copies of the same photo.

2)converted one photo to sepia

3)placed the sepia copy as a new layer on top of the color copy

4)adjusted the top layer to acheive the colors.

5)merged both layers

6)duplicated layer again and added a gaussin blurr of about 25-30% to top layer

7)adjusted layer so that everything looked smooth

8)on top layer erased eye area, lip area, hair and clothes. So that it looks as though the skin is nice and shiney and smooth

9)merged layers again

10)duplicated layers once more

11)added another gaussin blur of about 25-30%

12)adjusted layer to give it a 'soft focus' look

At this point they may have worked with contrast. It will depend on your photo...

 

 

Hope that helps-Kim :)

[dougs]

kinda looks like a "diffuse glow" filter

not quite as strong as i have used here:<div></div>

[rebekah_carson]

Thanks everyone! I'm going to try your techniques!

[todd_masters]

I use this action all the time, I got it from <a href="http://www.craigsactions.com/Products/CActionsProductivity1.html" target="_blank">Craig's

Actions</a>.  It is more than just a diffuse layer at work to give the

images that punch you are looking for.  I use it to correct blemishes as

well to give that dreamy effect.  I highly recommend buying this action

set.  Email me if you have any questions!