Esthetics Faceup mock-up tips

I am not super familiar with CSP, but I assume it has all the basic functions similar programs have. Make sure to play around with brush opacity! For blushing etc you'll need to go at with quite low opacity and even for stronger lines and lash/brow hairs, it shouldn't be at 100%. I'd recommend working in layers so you can also toggle with the layer opacity and blending modes to get a more-or-less natural result.

 

Okay, so I use PS instead of CSP and since I am often too lazy to get out my tablet to work on I also usually just do the mock-up with my mouse (that Wacom was a really useful investment ).
But what really helped me to get it done fast and with stable results was to download brushes for specific things (like eyelashes), so I can just stamp them on and tweak as needed. Eyelashes below were done this way, same for the scales pattern.
Else I usually just do blushing in one or two layers, by adding color with a soft brush and then playing around with the layer modes (Multiply, Soft Light, Overlay are usually my go-tos). A little bit of blur/smudge to get those blushing layers to blend into each other helps as well...just like in real life! I sometimes enhance areas via dodge/burn too, when I know those will be the spots I will later darken on a face-up too.
Eyebrows I usually just roughly block out, then use a soft brush to erase into a basic shape, before I then use the smudge tool on a very small round brush setting (like 1-2px in size) to swipe away hairs from the base.

Below is a recent mock-up I did just as proof of concept for the customer in regards to expression/scale placement mostly. The colors were pretty much set anyway.

 

Blending modes are a must! Since you're working on a photo of a 3D object, if you just airbrush over it your colors aren't going to reflect the 3D shape of the doll. I think if you mess around with blending modes you'll have much better luck!

My biggest issue with mockups (and why I generally don't make them) is that if you implement a bunch of saturated colors, it's really difficult to make it look that vibrant in real life, leading to disappointment. So while creating your mockup, be careful that you make it achievable, and not just a beautiful digital image that will be hard to replicate.

 

Since you describe it as "clownish" I'm assuming the colors are coming out really bright or not blending in with the doll's features? Modes should help it blend into the sculpt instead of sitting on top.

CSP has details about each blending mode here but all that info at once can start to morph together so I would start with these three. This is just how I describe them for reference.

Multiply: Lays the color over while retaining shadows
Overlay: Lays the color over while retaining brightness
Color: Similar to overlay but more saturated

I use a mix of these for laying down colors with an airbrush and then detailing with harder brushes on a separate layer. My mockups are on the rougher side because my style is in general, so I think the stamp/brush advice Ara gave should work well for what you have in mind!

 

Ara, you mentioned that you use "PS". Which program is that?

 

@Flemcat Photoshop ^_^

 

Haha sorry, abbreviation curse! Yes it's Photoshop, like Jareth said. As it is I am using an old ass version of CS3 cause I got that legit eons ago

 

Look into Layer blending modes, you can even make multiple layers each with different blanding mode and experiment a bit. It will never look natural without using the modes, in my experience. Having a graphic tablet sentitive to pen pressure also helps a lot.

I wish you good luck!

 

Don't worry, you will manage to refamiliarise with it quickly! One can get out of practise, but not entirely forget it! Crossing fingers for you