Watch video: Retouch portraits with FREE actions in Photoshop CC
Retouching can be a sticky subject. People naturally want to look their best – just look at the popularity of face smoothing modes and apps. But there’s a line where things stop looking natural and start to look fake. This is why Photoshop CC remains the best tool for retouching.
We have complete control over the look of the image and, because we can make our adjustments on separate layers, we have the freedom to undo or tone things down if the effect begins to look a little over-the-top. There’s always a temptation to remove imperfection, but often if we reduce the effect slightly, the result – while still flattering – is more authentic. In this tutorial we’ll show you how to make effective, but subtle, enhancements to a face; from removing tiny imperfections to reducing bags under eyes.
• Read more: 100 Photoshop tips
We’ll come across a few retouching tools, like, the Healing tools, which remove problem areas for you. Then there’s filters and Adjustment Layers that can work wonders over eyes and skin.
We’ve also supplied a set of Retouching Actions among the files here. These are a recorded set of commands you can play on your own portraits. The person in the photo will be thank you for making them look their best, without looking unnatural!
01 Retouch spots
Open your portrait in Photoshop, go to the Layers panel (Window > Layers) and click the new layer icon. Get the Spot Healing Brush from the tools panel and check ‘Sample All Layers’ in the tool options. Use a brush to paint over spots, stray hairs and blemishes.
02 Soften lines
Make another new layer. This time go to the layer opacity slider in the Layers panel and set it to 50%. Use the Spot Healing brush to paint over lines, wrinkles and any other areas that stand out. This will soften, but not completely remove them.
03 Sample a color
Click Create Adjustment Layer, choose Curves. Click the Curve thumbnail in the Layers panel to deselect it then double-click the Curves black point eyedropper to get a color box. Pick a skin tone from the cheek. Hit OK, then click on the eye bag to fix darker tones.
04 Tone down eye bags
Go to the Layers panel and highlight the white mask thumbnail on the Curves layer, then press Cmd/Ctrl + I. Get the Brush tool, hit D to set color to white and 3 for 30% opacity, then paint over the eye bags to lift them. Do the same over other shadows on the skin.
05 Play the action
Double-click the retouching_actions.atn file, then go to the Actions panel (Window > Actions) select the ‘High Pass Texture’ action and play it. Follow the instructions, then grab the Brush tool and hit 3 for 30% opacity and paint the skin to reveal the effect.
06 Lift the skin
Press Cmd/Ctrl + Shift + Alt + E to merge a copy of the layers, go to Filter > Camera Raw Filter for tweaks. Grab the Targeted Adjustment tool, right-click and choose Luminance, then drag over the skin. Go to the Basic panel and boost contrast and saturation.
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