I ♥ Faces: Fix-it Friday

So far, I've been having fun posting for the I♥Faces weekly contests. Well, they've put in an installment called "Fix-It Fridays". They post great tips on how to enhance and fix-up your photos, typically using Photoshop, or like program. This week, we were challenged to fix up the photo and post about it.

Before
Lacks contrast, a bit bland - needs more color, a small blemish

After

I used Paint Shop Pro 8. I've taught myself how to use the program and read up on the internet for tips and tricks (most of the time having to convert tips in Photoshop to Paintshop).

So, here's what I did:

• Create two duplicate layers. I had the background layer and two layers above that
• On the topmost layer, I used the Hard Light function. This really added a lot of color to the photo, which is the effect I wanted.
• On the middle layer, I used the Screen function. Because this lightened the photo too much, I dropped it to about 5%.
• I flattened the image, so that it was one solid image instead of several layers.
• I used Pioneer Woman's technique on how to make eyes pop by selecting just the eyes, feathering them at a 10, and unsharpen mask (R 3.6 S 30 C 0).
  
• I then did unsharpen mask on the whole image (R 2 S 15 C 5).
• Using the clone tool, I remove a blemish that stood out.
• Using a light effect, I adjusted the lighting on the photo to give it a darkness around the edges and highlight her face more. I didn't create too dramatic of an effect though.

So, what do you think? Paint Shop, Photo Shop or whatever other programs there are out there can be very, very useful. They can take a good photo and make them better, so long as you know what you're doing. I only pretend. :P