Our recent Lip Service costume packaging project presented quite a few challenges. Beside a rather insane time-frame to complete printing in time for a major trade show, there were a lot of photo editing and retouching issues to address in virtually all of the photos. When you have a deep and diverse list of great alt models, it’s a shame not to call them for a new photo shoot. Of course, most alt models have a wicked collection of ink all over their bodies which does not play as well for packaging of garments being marketed to mainstream markets.

One of the most consistent retouching tasks in this project was tattoo removal and lots of it. This is one example, chosen principally because the image includes other common retouching requests, removing skin folds and wrinkles and (there’s no way to say this gently) getting rid of visible nipples. There was also a bit of rumpling in the skirt to address, as well as coloring the pitchfork to coordinate with the color of the dress.

Before and after - click for full size

click for full size

Our recent Lip Service costume packaging project presented quite a few challenges. Beside a rather insane time-frame to complete printing in time for a major trade show, there were a lot of photo editing and retouching issues to address in virtually all of the photos. Sometimes a garment simply will not behave and lay properly, no matter how hard you try to adjust it. Add the factor of stiffer, shiny material such as vinyl and any awkward lay of the garment is intensified. In this specific case, the vinyl blouse refused to lay correctly over the model’s strapless brassiere, as well as rumpling obviously in several places. The skirt also created stubborn textures against the model.

The challenge in this photo was to rebuild the top to create a clean line at the chest, remove or reduce rumples and folding of the vinyl, and still retain the unique shine, feel, and texture of vinyl. There was also a slight modification requested by the designers to adjust the model’s thighs for a cleaner, slimmer line.

Before and After - click for full size

Chest detail - click for full size

Skirt detail - click for full size

Our recent Lip Service costume packaging project presented quite a few challenges. Beside a rather insane time-frame to complete printing in time for a major trade show, there were a lot of photo editing and retouching issues to address in virtually all of the photos. One of the constants one notes in alt models is that they tend to not like to stand straight and merely allow the clothes to drape on their frames. This, of course, presents an interesting textural landscape on fabrics; as the body bends and arcs, the fabric will needfully adjust creating deep rumples and folds. The designers were, rightfully, concerned about the overall impression that might be made by presenting rumpled costumes.

That’s where I come in.

This is one of the more vivid examples of fabric texture and folding, where folds and buckling were so extreme, virtually the entire garment needed to be rebuilt.

Before and after - click for full size

Chest detail - click for full size

Detail of skirt - click for full size