Facial Skin Layered Mapping

 

Part 3.6a – Mapping The Face: Creating the Base from an Image

Before You Begin

Load the reference images (front and side) and also SkinFrontSectionWork000.psd into Photoshop.

Introduction

The front/side images will be used in two ways: to create a base layer for the skin color map; to create a base layer for the skin wrinkle bump map.   This method was used for the layered maps used for the model shown in figure 3.6a.a.

 

 

Figure 3.6a.a

 

The reference images used are show in Figure 3.6a.b.

 

 

Figure 3.6a.b

 

Note 1: The following instructions are for Windows.

 

  1. Make copies of the reference images to work with (it’s a good idea to write protect the original reference images so that you never goof up and modify them).
  2. Place the reference images (the copies) next to each other and make them the same size.  Then, using the Hue/Saturation (<ctl>u), get the images looking as much alike in color and lightness as possible.
  3. Now duplicate the Background layer and then delete the Background layer.
  4. Using the tool of your choice remove all but the skin areas of both images.  Save.
  5. If needed, for each one select Image->Rotate Canvas->Arbitrary to make the images level.  Save and preserve these.
  6. Create a new image the same height but 3 times the width as the largest of the reference images.
  7. Select all on the front image (<ctl>a) then past this into the new image and center this using the move tool (v).
  8. Do the same for the side image and line it up as best as you can with the front image so the nose tips meet.
  9. On the side reference image do Image->Rotate Canvis->Flip Horizontal and repeat step 8 for the other side of the face.  You should wind up with something like Figure 3.6a.1.

 

 

Figure 3.6a.1

 

  1. Now duplicate the bottom layer (the front view) and move this to the top and adjust the Opacity of this layer to about 38%.
  2. The next step is to put a base layer below all this that contains just the approximate color of the images.  To create this base layer do Image->Duplicate (<alt>i, d, enter) to duplicate this image and then select the top most layer and then either: a) ‘link’ the layers below it then do <ctl>e to Flatten Linked Layers or b) do <ctl>e over and over until all the layers are flattened.
  3. Next do Filter->Blur->Gaussian Blur.  Set the blur radius to about 30 and press okay.  You should wind up with something like Figure 3.6a.2.

 

 

Figure 3.6a.2

 

  1. Now duplicate this layer 6 or 7 times and flatten all these layers (be sure to maintain the transparency – do not do ‘Flatten Image’ but rather flatten each layer to the next one using <ctl>e).
  2. Repeat steps 12 and 13.  You should wind up with something like Figure 3.6a.3.

 

 

Figure 3.6a.3

 

  1. Select all (<ctl>a) then paste this into the image with the faces then move the new layer to the bottom and name it ‘Base’.  You can delete the work image you used to create this layer.  You should now have something like Figure 3.6a.4.

 

 

Figure 3.6a.4

 

  1. Next duplicate this image and set the duplicate aside.  This duplicate is so you can go back and get any of the individual layers you might want to use in the next step.  You might save this so that you archive layers in case you need them downstream.  Go back to the original image and link and flatten the layers (again, be sure to maintain the transparency).
  2. Now work to breakdown and smooth out the lines between the front and side images.  Every image is different so exact steps are impossible to document but in general you do this by adjusting the opacity of the layers and using  the Clone Stamp tool with an opacity of about 75 and the Smudge tool with an opacity of about 15 varying the brush size as needed.  Maintain as much of the detail as possible and strive for a flattened face.  The process may take a little time.  While your at it, if needed, close the mouth by duplicating the upper and lower lips over the opening and do the same with the eyes.  You should wind up with something that looks like Figure 3.6a.5.

 

 

Figure 3.6a.5

 

  1. Now its time to bring this into the.  Flatten the layers again leaving the transparency, select all and copy.  Move to the SkinFrontSectionWork000.psd image, select the Color layer set (or position just below the Color layer for version 5 people) and paste.  Name the new layer Color Base. 
  2. You will need to fit the image to the mesh guide.  To do this first make the Guide 2, Mask, Color Base and Backing the only visible layers.  Turn down the opacity of the Guide 2 and the Mask layers so you can see the Color Base layer clearly.  Now <ctl>click the Color Base layer to select it and also select all the colored pixels on it.   Then, go into free translate mode (<ctl>t) and adjust the image as best as you can to the guide.  You must line up the eyes, nose, mouth, chin and ears.  You may not be able to do all this just using the translate tool and it is likely you will need to cut some parts out in order to position and rotate them into place.   You should eventually wind up with something like Figure 3.6a.6.

 

 

Figure 3.6a.6

 

  1. Once you are happy with the fit… save!  Duplicate the layer and move the copy to the Bump set (or area) and name it Wrinkles Base.  Hide the Bump set (or layer) and reselect the Color Base layer.. 
  2. The color image should only contain color information and not texture, wrinkles or shadows.  But… texture and wrinkles actually do have some color differences – the skin is compressed and so the color is darker.   We’ll perhaps get a tad of this coloring from the Color Base layer but most of it will come from an overlay we’ll be doing later.  For now well just try to get the over all colors in the Color Base.
  3. First use a Gaussian Blur with a Radius of about 3.3.
  4. Next using the smudge and clone stamp tools as before smooth out the ears and get rid of shadows so that only color remains.
  5. Be sure to review all of the image and get rid of any dark shadows using the clone and smudge tools.
  6. Finally, use the Gaussian Blur again with about the same radius as before.  You should wind up with something like Figure 3.6a.7.

 

 

Figure 3.6a.7

 

  1. Save.
  2. Hide the Color set and unhide the Bump set and select the Wrinkle Base.  In this image you want to remove the shadows but keep the wrinkles and texture as much as possible.
  3. After you’ve removed all the shadows, look at the texture and wrinkles.  If any have softened or blurred, go back the original image layers you archived or even the original front/side images and copy the areas and paste them in to restore the textures and wrinkles (be sure to smooth out the edges of the paste using the clone and smudge tools). 
  4. When you are happy with this image, de-saturate the image (<ctl><shift>u) making it a gray scale.  You should have something like Figure 3.6a.8.

 

 

Figure 3.6a.8

 

  1. Not that we have this base established, save then save to a new version (SkinFrontSectionWork002.psd).

 

Go to Part 4.1 – The Bump Maps: Finishing the Wrinkle Map