“Perhaps our eyes need to be washed by our tears once in a while, so that we can see life with a clearer view again.”
Alex Tan

Credits:
Skin: (FFX Hibiscus) Isabella – what sarah said by London Dailey (House of London SOM gift, skin will be released August 27th)
Hair: !lamb. I’m a romantic – Honeycomb by Lamb Bellic
Necklace: (luc) Fashion Jewelry Heart Key Locket “Sweet Memories” by Lucas Lameth
Top: Kyoot – Beneath My Bones by Saeya Nyanda

Before I begin the tutorial, I’d like to add that the lovely printed lingerie (which is all hand drawn) is a little sneak peek. Zaara will be releasing this set in many different options and colors this weekend.

After

Please note that I have never received any sort of professional photoshop training. I am just sharing tips and tricks I have picked up along the way.

Before

As you can see from the above two shots, dodging and burning can add a lot of depth and personality to your image. Dodge and burn allow you to add light exposure to areas of your snapshot. Dodge is great for making certain areas of your image lighter, whereas burn will darken. Burn is great for making shadows. I often use it to create subtle shadows on different parts of the face and body.

These are the steps I took to achieve my end result that is visible in the first image in this post.

1. Snapped a high-res snapshot of my avatar.
2. Cleaned up the image using photoshop by utilizing the liquify filter and other adjustment tools.
3. Created a new layer above the last layer in the layers palette. If you do not see the layers palette on your screen, press F7 and it should appear. Once I created that new layer, I made sure it was selected.
4. In the Edit menu, I selected fill and then filled that layer with 50% gray.
5. At the top of the layers palette, I set that gray layer to overlay.
6. After selecting the dodge and burn tools in the sidebar, I made sure the range was set to mid-tones and the exposure was set to 20%. Then I increased and decreased the brush sizes, as I saw fit, while painting over my avatar to create shadows and highlights.
7. Using the dodge tool I highlighted the top areas of my avatar’s arms and body along with different areas of the background of this image. With the burn tool, I followed along the edge of my avatar’s body to create a shadow effect.

Here is a great video tutorial showing the procedure that I used: http://vimeo.com/6189101

If you have any further questions, feel free to contact me.

» You can view all of my current tutorials on my tutorials page.

Credits for what I’m wearing in the picture:
Skin: -tres blah- {Dark} Jejune Cherry – Dark Winged Brows by Julliette Westerburg
*Hair: Maitreya Nimue – Caramel by Onyx LeShelle
*Necklace: [Whippet & Buck] Memory Collector Necklace (Unisex) by Dakota Buck
*Lingerie: Zaara : Sumana *crimson* by Zaara Kohime (releasing this weekend)
*Pose: oOo Studio by Olaenka Chesnokov

*Promotional Copies

For this week’s installment of Berry’s Favorite Things I’d like to bring you….Sofia. Glam Affair’s new skin in dark that I’m not planning to take off anytime soon. As soon as I tried the demo, I just went wow and bought my favorite makeup. Now I’m regretting it and wish I actually bought the fatpack…perhaps I’ll do that in a few days. :)

The poses I’m using are by Elikapeka Yokosuka who just opened a new pose store by the name of Honey and Vinegar. I found the poses to be very simple and stylish.

The clothing and jewels I am wearing in the post will be available at the ~ Etheria – When Jeweler’s Dream ~ event. It starts on June 13, 2010 at 3:00 p.m. slt and is a collaborative fashion event between the following stores:
~ Caroline’s & Ingenue
~ Dark Mouse & Lark
~ KessKreations & Moonshine Designs
~ Lolapop! & Blue Blood
~ MONKEE & Evie’s Closet

Have a great weekend! <3

Credits:
Skin: -Glam Affair - Sofia Dark – make up 3 by aida Ewing
Eyes: Poetic Color eyes -star -mercury by Lano Ling
Hair: W&Y MODEL HAIR 20 by yukitan Farrjones
*Dress: Ingenue :: Valdez :: Bodice :: Golden 2 by Betty Doyle (Available @ Etheria on June 13th)
*Jewels: Caroline’s Jewelry Diamond by Caroline Apollo (Available @ Etheria on June 13th)
*Poses: honey and vinegar by Elikapeka Yokosuka
Location: Svarga

*Promotional copies

Nardya Rousselot of NX NARDCOTIX is about to release the MANA Footwear Collection. This release will occur on Sunday, June 13 at 1pm SLT and there will be 7 different and stylish shoes to choose from. This is the first time NARDCOTIX is releasing a collection of this sort, with prim feet attached and I must say, each shoe is so pretty and well done.

To celebrate this collection, they are having a fun blogger challenge where 3 lucky winners will receive a MANA color pack of their choice. All you have to do is read the questions on their blog and then go to the list of blogs to find the answers hidden in the posts.

Now, onto the shoes, I have the pleasure of introducing the Chelo Wedges to you. These summer wedges are textured so well and look almost like real jute heels with their natural and tough fabric that you would find in real life. The hud is fast and simple to use and contains 10 different preset skintones to choose from and tint. The shoes are also scripted so you have the option to change them into 12 different colors, including everyone’s favorites: black, red, pink, brown, beige, ivory, and many more.

But the best and most unique part about the MANA footwear collection is the Nail Art. Each shoe comes with two nail packs, but you can actually purchase more nail packs that are so artistically done. I have never seen anything like it and I know you guys are going to have so much fun with that. So before you purchase your new MANA’s be sure to get a spa pedicure at the NARDCOTIX new mainstore.

Is it just me or is pot dude totally checking out my ass?

Good luck with the challenge, I hope you win! <3

Credits:
*Shoes: NX-Nardcotix MANA Chelo Wedge SLV.2 Color Pack by Nardya Rousselot
Skin: Tuli (Available at the Dressing Room for L$65)
*Hair: >TRUTH< BoHo - chocolate by Truth Hawks
Dress: *Sari’s* Belle Boheme Dress Browns by Sari Telling (Only L$75)
*Jewels: {Zaara} by Zaara Kohime
Seat + Pose: The Loft – Alex Pouf by Colleen Desmoulins
Pot Dude: The Loft – Pot Dude by Colleen Desmoulins (Summer Group Gift)

*Promotional copies

This weekend Evely Lane of Evana skins is launching her new store and skin line. This is a sneak peek at one of the goodies that will be in store. I am wearing the tan tone. The highlights on the face and body are very sexy and I am loving the lips. For more details, please contact Evely Lane.

The hair is also from a new store. It’s by Rynja Zephaniah of Priestkings Code which is located on a Gorean sim and carries a wide variety of items. This is her first time making hair and I think it’s a great start. Currently she has 3 styles available, this one is called Tegan.

Before I forget, the beauty-mark above my lip is not part of the skin’s features. It is a 2.0 face tattoo by Aphrodite Outlander of Perse.

On a side note, there has been a change in my review policy. I request all content creators to read it before dropping any further content on me. Thank you :)

Credits:
*Skin: Evana by Evely Lane (Opening this weekend!)
*Hair: Priestkings Code – Tegan by Rynja Zephaniah
*Eyes: Amacci Real Eyes by Carina Larsen
*Beauty-mark: Perse Beautymark Left Lip Brown by Aphrodite Outlander
*Earrings: Morantique by Mo Miasma

*Promotional copies