Preserved Topic: Airbrushing?How do they do it?

Hello again, I am trying to learn to do airbrushing on models and I cannot find tutorials/books on the subject (only on how to airbrush cars!!!). Can anybody explain how to professionally approach the task or maybe suggest serious reading material? I enclose some examples from magazines to clarify what I mean: http://www.ivanoconfalone.com/airbrush/index.html
Which techniques do pros use?
Please help if you can! Cheers.

You mean those pictures aren't natural !!??!!??

Seriously, though, I would imagine that the people who do that sort of thing for a living have a lot more than just a book to read. I would guess that most of them have taken years of some sort of art classes. Also, and probably 'more' importantly, they have had literally years (like 5-7 yrs or more) of anatomy study.

If you were really serious about doing this for a living, I would look to get into the best art school you can afford. Study painting, photography and anatomy.
And start practicing. Find unadultrated pictures (or, better yet, take your own) and imitate the stuff you see in magazines.

mobrul

Lee Varis has some good info online:
http://www.varis.com/Navigation/Downloads.html

Katrin Eismann's book Photoshop Restoration and Retouching has some really good content too, but not online.

Maybe search thru some of the stuff at PEI Magazine? I think it's http://www.peimag.com/

Beyond this -- I'd be interested in some new links too!

And MOST importantly - PRACTICE.

Start painting. Obviously you'll still have questions, but you'll learn *nothing* until you start practicing. A LOT.

Well, 85% of model photography is make-up, and photography. In most cases I have just needed to whiten the teeth, and bright the eye and the odd pimple or flair removal.

I would take steve's advice and check out PEI magizine, they are geared towards the pro-level prepress and photography user. There is even a brief artical on model retouch in this months. Basicly showing how editing in the cyan channel can aid in editing flesh tones.

I would also follow the advice given in that artical to find a make-up class or a book covering model make-up. As It is much easyer to edit if you know how to apply it.

jstuartj



[This message has been edited by jstuartj (edited 11-09-2001).]

Eddie Tapp is referenced in the Eismann book. A quick visit to his site turned up a useful pdf on enhancing portraits using gaussian blur, history brush and blend modes. A very good starting point:
http://www.eddietapp.com/pdfs.html

No quick solutions. Lots of hand work with a light touch. An understanding of make up seems to be important by most accounts I've read.