Question about DVD

[bavlondon2]

Hi there,

I really like the look of this DVD and intend to purchase it but I have a few questions first.

Are all the images used in the lessons provided on the DVD to work along with?

Is this technique one that you can confidently use in all your work? For example even this one?

http://nicksaglimbeni.com/wp-content...saglimbeni.jpg

I just want to be clear of these before paying as it's quite a lot of money.

Also is shipping from the states? What sort of tracking will be in place? USPS I presume? I have ordered retouching DVD's from there before and me being in the UK I end up being stung for $50 customs charges so is there any chance of some more discount? Sorry I know that's a cheeky thing to ask but if you get if you don't ask. I would go for the download version but I don't think my broadband connection is good enough for that.

Finally this isn't really directly related to the DVD but is there any site where I can get some unretouched pics to work on? I know there is Model Mayhem but they all seem to be more beauty head shots rather than glamour pics.

Regarding the actual workflow itself are you able to go into any detail on how you work on skin? Is there any pixel level dodge and burn involved? Frequency seperation?

Thanks for taking the time to read this and merry xmas.

Bav

[Nick Saglimbeni]

Hi Bav,

Thanks for your thorough questions. Let me try to answer them:

Are all the images used in the lessons provided on the DVD to work along with?

Yes, we will provide hi-res images of the same shots I retouch in the series. As we're still in development mode, I'm not yet certain whether they will be attached to the download/DVD versions, or whether they will simply be available for free on the website once the product is released.

Is this technique one that you can confidently use in all your work? For example even this one?

Yes, the technique is exactly the one used on those attached images, as well on nearly every shot of my glamour, fashion, and portrait work, all viewable at nicksaglimbeni.com and slickforce.com.

Also is shipping from the states? What sort of tracking will be in place? USPS I presume? I have ordered retouching DVD's from there before and me being in the UK I end up being stung for $50 customs charges so is there any chance of some more discount? Sorry I know that's a cheeky thing to ask but if you get if you don't ask. I would go for the download version but I don't think my broadband connection is good enough for that.

Those are all very good questions, and I understand your concerns. Yes, we are shipping from the States. We are currently compiling and comparing international shipping options because even only a few days after we launched the site, it seems the majority of pre-orders are coming from the UK, Europe, and Australia. As a growing brand, I LOVE our international customers, and will insure that every possible option is taken into consideration to avoid high shipping costs and customs fees & taxes. As you said, this obviously isn't a problem with the download version, but I will make sure to have a better answer for you as we get closer to release date. Please remember, though, that the DVDs won't ship until March, so it may take me a few weeks longer to answer DVD-specific questions (as opposed to downloads), as the product is still being built.

Finally this isn't really directly related to the DVD but is there any site where I can get some unretouched pics to work on? I know there is Model Mayhem but they all seem to be more beauty head shots rather than glamour pics.

Again, we will have hi-res unretouched images available on either Slickforce.com or MasteringRetouching.com once the series is released.

Regarding the actual workflow itself are you able to go into any detail on how you work on skin? Is there any pixel level dodge and burn involved? Frequency seperation?

Because the Slickforce Technique is still a proprietary technique that has not yet been released to the public, I can't go into technical detail just yet. However, if you look at the before and afters on the Proof section of the website, as well as my work, you'll see that focusing on highlights and shadows, while preserving contours and 3-D modeling, is one of the key principles of the technique.

Over the next few weeks, I will also have some of the beta-testers comment so that they can help me explain what it's like incorporating the Mastering Retouching techniques into your existing workflow for the first time.

Hope that answers your questions, Bav, and I do sincerely thank you for taking the time to post your thoughts. Happy Holidays!

[bavlondon2]

Again, we will have hi-res unretouched images available on either Slickforce.com or MasteringRetouching.com once the series is released.

Excellent thanks.

And thanks for the swift response. Roll on March.

[bavlondon2]

Looking at the FAQ's the size doesnt seem that bad also if they are split up into decent sized chunks I may as well try the download option as I believe we get a free hard copy anyway if we pre order? Sounds good to me, plus we get it a few months earlier too.

[bavlondon2]

The time is almost upon us!!!! Only a few weeks to go..

[Nick Saglimbeni]

Haha you're telling me? I haven't slept for a month LOL!