Online workshop – fine art and portrait editing

Preamble :
This workshop, dedicated to portraiture, will allow you to discover many editing techniques. Natural rendering of the skin, softened style, or even painting effect, you will discover how to obtain the desired results in Photoshop.
Also, these 2 courses will allow you to learn complex selections techniques. This is often the case with portraits, when it comes to select small elements, such as hair.
At the end of this workshop, you will have learned to use many tools and techniques, allowing you to easily work on portrait retouching, and give your images an artistic style.

Content of the workshop:

Portrait between photo and painting :
(Sunday July 16, 2023)

This style of portrait is commonly called "Fine Art", or "painterly portrait effect".
This course will allow you to learn how to create this style of image, and obtain visual renderings between photography and painting. You can see some examples on this page. The atmosphere, the colors, the backgrounds, and also the luminosity, create a whole characteristic of this style of image.

Prerequisites :
This course is intended for users with a good knowledge of Photoshop (intermediate level).
Mastery of layer masks and smart objects are necessary to easily follow the course.
Concerning the selections, the technique of alpha channel (and which will be almost the only one necessary here) allowing to separate the subject from the background, will be an integral part of the course, and will be explained in detail.

Course content :
Presentation of this image style :
We will discuss the characteristics that are regularly found in these images.
Shooting :
Although we are starting from a file that will be provided to you, the shot used as a starting point for this style of image also has its own characteristics. They will be explained.
Selection of the subject :
This is the essential technical point that I mentioned above. In this course, you will learn how to select the subject with precision in Photoshop. Indeed, the idea is to place a new background behind the portrait. Selecting a character is usually a complex work, because of the small elements such as hair.
The technique explained here will be using layers, and working on an alpha channel (we also speak in this case of a separation mask).
There are several methods for creating layers that serve as the basis for preparation work. They will be detailed.
Edge enhancement :
A layer mask often needs to be refined. You will study the different techniques to obtain a precise result.
Painting effect :
Several effects will be studied. Insofar as these are intended to be subtle, in order to stay between photo and painting, they will be applied in a localized way, and with different techniques.
Atmosphere :
Here is a very important point. Indeed, as you can see in the examples, the atmosphere of these images is always very particular.
Once all the elements are in place in the image, work will be done to create the atmosphere. Several techniques and tools will be studied.
Final render :
Once the result is obtained, you will study the possible variants. An image created is always the reflection of its own sensibility. We each have our own, and that is why we will end the course on this subject.

Software :
For this course, in addition to Adobe Photoshop, the Nik Collection suite will need to be installed on your computer.
If you don't have it, you can find a trial version, or buy a license on the DxO website.

Working files:
The images (1 portrait file and 1 texture file) will be provided just before the start of the course (sent by WeTransfer).

Portrait retouching :
(Sunday July 23, 2023)

This course will allow you to learn portrait retouching techniques.
After a presentation of beauty retouching and its specificities, the following points will be studied :
Correction tools commonly used in portrait retouching.
Skin softening (2 techniques with a different approach will be presented, including split frequency).
Work on colorimetry (skin color).
Emphasize the look.
Digital makeup.
Using the Liquify Filter.
Selecting the subject with the technique of alpha channel.

Tips will be presented to you during the course

Questions / answers :
During the different classes of the 2 workshops, questions may be asked.
Also, 30 minutes will be devoted at the end of the workshop for a question and answer session.

About the workshop:
This workshop is delivered online (via the Internet), and live. The ZOOM video conferencing application will be used. The connection is established in a few clicks. You do not need to create an account or subscribe to Zoom to participate in the workshop. An invitation link will be sent to you by e-mail before each session. You will then simply be asked to download the application, in order to have the user interface. Its handling is very simple. Do not hesitate to contact us if you have any questions.

Video recording :
This workshop is accompanied by a video recording for each session.
It is recorded live during the workshop.
The video will be sent to you in MP4 format, by WeTransfer, after each session.

Working files:
The image files used during the 2 sessions will be sent at the same time as the videos.