20+ Years Of Image Retouching.....

Retouch, I know... I work in the same industry :P

LOL! I remember you from PST!!! Yea...he has some cool stuff!

hey retouch,
havent been on in a while but just got back from some work. i was wondering about that absolut ad, u know the one where the bottles keep switching in and out? is that the final product? cause its going a bit fast (the switching that is) or is it a slow fade in fade out sequence?

mel81x, there were four bottles that had been retouched. That fact that they are switching too fast could be my fault. I just set the time between the frames at a very fast rate. People tend to skip through web pages quickly so I tried to waste as little of peoples time as I could!

Glenn

cool yeah i realized why u did that later on lol sorta answered my own question. good stuff man i was quite amazed with all the retouch work. what kind of camera are using in those pictures because im in the market for a new camera and was wondering what i should get.

mel81x

The shots were supplied to me. The cameras used though are typically high-end models from Canon, Nikon with Leaf backs. Not sure of the models, but they are expensive!

Glenn

very inspiring. I'm working on a few yellow page ads with some nightmare images... I know the pain!

Nice work! I also noticed you've written a book, I have Photoshop Restoration & Retouching, Second Edition, how are the books different? Restoration is more like a hobby to me, I've just started reading the Eismann book, but your retouching is also impressive.

The site could benefit from a redesign though, and if you're not a designer yourself look for a convenient web design firm in your area. I think a modern, simple design would be best fit to showcase your work.
Here are a few sticking points, some of which can be fixed without redesigning:

• the page background seems too dead because of the dark gray, you could go with a dark-medium purple or a ligher gray. I liked DIC2370s*, HKS41K, PANTONE 8387c (metallic coated), PANTONE 533C (solid coated) etc. The last one goes really well with the purple face pic. Sorry for the colour names, I was switching back and from profiles experimenting.
  
• the buttons are too big, navigation should be just small enough not to be unobtrusive and big enough to find it. I'd go for something more subtle. Like I said, this is what retouching inspires to me: finesse.
  
• the rollover on the buttons is a usability problem. Buttons should not modifiy content outside their borders, it distracts and confuses the user.
  
• all text on the site is too big/bold, again, it contradicts the nature of retouching in my opinion. You'll want copy that's 1 or 2 pixels larger than the one under the menu, for readability, and bold type for headings.
  
• the brushed aluminium would look much better if it stretched across the site, not just in the middle.
  
• the 'Glen Honiball' should have its baseline aligned with 'Image retouching'.
  

Here are some examples from templatemonster.com:
1. http://www.templatemonster.com/flash-templates/8851.html - don't like the navigation and bottom content arrangement and the background pattern may be too artsy, but it's simple enough
2. http://www.templatemonster.com/flash-templates/9256.html - pretty good, it doesn't even have to be flash
3. http://www.templatemonster.com/flash-templates/8700.html - with accent on the content, it's a bit too thin though
4. http://www.templatemonster.com/flash-templates/8549.html - good, still too thin
5. http://www.templatemonster.com/flash-templates/8586.html - too weird navigation but note how well the site frame contrasts with the background and the picture

hey glenn, I bought your book yesterday and I was wondering if you could post the images you used as examples in the book online so I can try the techniques out. I know I can use any pics but it would really help to use the same ones so I can compare.

Thanks and great work on the book!

Hey Guyz:

BT, I know what you are saying. I sort of in the process of redesigning the site. I've had a few people contact me to re-do it. I am open to suggestions though, much appreciated. Actually, I though this guy's site is pretty cool:

http://www.rayfresh.com/retouche/V2

psnewb, I have had a couple of people request the images. I did contact the publisher about it. There is an issue of the copyright with the images as they were used from istockphoto. I wish I had a better answer for you. I do believe they are working on it. I might suggest you contact O'Reilly, coming from some users, it might push them a little bit if you don't mind. Thanks.

Glenn