Something like Michael Woloszynowicz demonstrated in this video using surface blur and apply image. I would love to see a method to sharpen images where the user can customize the amount of sharpening differently than just by adjusting the opacity of a layer.A 14-day trial version would be appreciated by many people.The installation is very easy and the panel fits well in the Photoshop interface.The price is more than affordable at $69.It does follow a logical pattern for retouching images and thus makes retouching easier and more consistent. The graphical interface is well thought out.Some scripts you find for free on the web are oftentimes buggy or slow. The scripts seem to be really well optimized because they are quite fast to execute.
If you are lazy, not well organized in your retouching, or are looking something that will help you speed up your retouching, you should definitely give the panel a try. If, like me, you hate going through processes that could be automated, the panel is made for you. Most likely after one shoot it will already be paid for. Is the Beauty Retouch Panel Worth Its Price?Ĭurrently priced at $69, the panel is not very expensive. By having a more consistent editing process, my images are getting better and more consistent too. Did it make my images look better? Somehow, I could say yes too because the panel helps me to be more structured in my workflow. So did it make me a better retoucher? Well, yes, my files are more organized than before, and my workflow is quicker so I spend less time in front of my computer. At the bottom of the panel you can also find quality control features as well as the most used adjustment layers that could come in handy any time during your retouching. Meaning you will find dodge and burn right below common tools, then comes the frequency separation, and finally functionalities for skin and makeup. It will also help you stay organized because the panel is created in the way that most retouchers edit their files. With a well-organized workflow, files and layers, it is much easier to produce great images. But unlike many of us, the panel is not lazy and will name the layers as well as put them into groups. Though it might help you get better results, as it will force you to stay organized, it will not teach you how to retouch nor will it do the retouching job for you. The panel’s functionalities will create layers for you. If you are wondering if the panel will make your images better, I think you should rethink what retouching is. So yes, the panel definitely made me a better retoucher because I can retouch faster than before and in turn makes my time more profitable as I can edit more pictures within the same time. To me, retouching is about spending as little time as possible in front of my computer and getting the best result possible within that time. I do feel like it made my retouching better, and here is why and how. Photographers that see me using the panel often ask me if the panel improved my retouching. One single panel to access the most common retouching methods and techniques - from dodge and burn to creating a new layer or making a selection based on luminosity values - everything is there. However, if you are not into JavaScript or Apple Script, good luck trying to create your own.Īnother advantage of the panel over having thousands of separated scripts is that everything is there on your screen, just one click away. Scripts are actually what is behind the buttons of the panel. Scripts, on the other hand, are way more advanced and they are awesome. Actually more than one advantage! First, actions have their limits and some techniques cannot really be put into actions without having to use scripts. Sure, you can do the same with actions and scripts, but the panel has a great advantage over both of them.
I am sure when reading that some of you will tell me how great actions and scripts are. What does this mean? If you need to create a frequency separation or dodge and burn layers, with the panel you only have to click on a button to create these layers instead of having to go through the whole process you would normally have to. The panel will not make creative decisions or do the work for you, it will be there to help you accelerate your workflow by creating the layers and adjustments you need for high-end retouching. The RA Beauty Retouch Panel is not that kind of plugin. You have probably seen and heard of plugins such as Portraiture or Portrait Professional that will do the retouching for you… or at least they will try to do so, but it generally results in a cheap looking image with very poor retouching. It seems like many people get confused about that. Let’s start by saying what the RA Beauty Retouch Panel is and what it is not.