Examples of simple photo retouching techniques in Photoshop. A few words about photo retouching

In this tutorial, you will learn how to create fashion retouching of a model in Adobe Photoshop. You will see the process of creating a wonderful natural skin effect without the use of expensive plugins and filters.

Final result

Lesson details:

Program: Adobe Photoshop CS2+
Difficulty: For beginners
Run time: 10-15 minutes

This photograph of the model was chosen as the work.

Step 1. Open the downloaded model image. Remember that not all images of girls are suitable for retouching. You must select an image in high resolution, the skin of the model should not be too smooth or blurry, pores should stand out on it. For an example of what should be the image of the model, the author has given the following below.

Create a new layer on top of the model layer, Ctrl+Shift+N, select a tool Spot Healing Brush Tool (J)(Spot Healing Brush Tool) and turn on "Sample All Layers" option("Sample from all layers") on the tool options panel. Thanks to this, we will affect only those parts of the image that we need, in extreme cases, everything can be returned back. Set up the tool as shown below.

Click on one click of the mouse in those places where you need to get rid of skin defects. Change the brush size of the tool, depending on the size of the spot. Remember that not all defects can be fixed with this tool, so you can also use others, such as Clone Stamp Tool (S)(Stamp Tool), Patch Tool (J)(Tool "Patch") and others for retouching in the future. For a model whose skin does not have a large number defects, like the one used by the author, a tool is quite suitable Spot Healing Brush Tool (J)(Spot Healing Brush Tool). Do not try to make the skin perfect, just remove the excess a little. In the image below you can see the result of the work of the author.

Step 2 Press at the same time Ctrl+Shift+Alt+E, to merge the layers into one that will appear on top of all layers. Choose a filter Filter - Sharpen - Smart Sharpen(Filter - Sharpen - "Smart" sharpness).

Adjust the filter as follows: Effect 30% , Radius 1.0 pix.

Result.

This step is optional and depends on the sharpness of the model image. If it looks very rough, you can soften it up before moving on to the next step.

Step 3 Merge all layers again, as you did at the beginning of the second step. Before starting, check all areas of the skin again for defects, otherwise the effect will be terrible after applying the next filter. Choose a filter Filter-Other-Custom(Filter - Others - Custom)

If your image needs some brightness adjustment, you can do so by filling in the field "offset"("Shift"), or leave it blank.

Result.

If the result does not satisfy you, you can reduce the effect with the command Edit - Fade: Custom(Editing - Relax: Custom).

In the Layers Palette, at the bottom, click on the command "Add Layer Mask", to create a layer mask. Then, with a black, soft brush, remove the excess sharpness in the hair, eyes and eyebrows, lips and teeth.

Step 4 Next, we will create adjustment layers. Select the next adjustment layer Layer - New Adjustment Layer - Selective Color(Layer - New Adjustment Layer - Selective Color), adjust it according to the example in the image below.

The result of creating an adjustment layer.

Step 5 Create the following adjustment layer: Layer - New Adjustment Layer - Photo Filter(Layer - New Adjustment Layer - Photo Filter).

The result of adding an adjustment layer.

Step 6 Create two adjustment layers Layer - New Adjustment Layer - Color Balance(Layer - New Adjustment Layer - Color Balance), see the settings for each below.

The result of creating two "Color Balance" adjustment layers.

Step 7 If you chose the image of another model, then you can still work with adjustment layers to achieve the desired result. Now we will lighten the dark area of ​​the model's neck a little. Create a new layer on top of all layers, select the tool Brush Tool (B)(Brush Tool) use a white, soft brush and paint a little over the area indicated in the image below.

Change the blend mode of the new layer, in the Layers Palette, to soft light 100%.

Step 8 In this step, we will lighten the face. Create a new layer on top of all, select the tool Brush Tool (B)(Brush tool), brush white, soft, and brush it on the forehead, with the opacity of the brush 40% , between the eyebrows, under the left eye and under the lips with opacity 100% , under the right eye with opacity 30% , above lips with brush opacity 70% .

soft light(Soft Light), Opacity 60% .

Step 9 Create a new layer using the tool Brush Tool (B)(Brush tool), soft brush, color #c6828d, brown the cheeks of our model. Then, change the layer's blend mode to soft light(Soft Light), Opacity 100% .

Step 10 Let's add shadows on the face. Create a new layer. Choose light grey colour #c7bdb9 and swipe the tool Brush Tool (B)(Brush tool) along the edges of the model's face, as shown in the image below.

Change the layer's blend mode to Multiply(Multiply), Opacity 30% .

Step 11 To highlight the beautiful lips create a new layer, choose a color #b45f6d, brush across the lips as shown in the image below.

Change the layer's blend mode to soft light(Soft Light), Opacity 50% .

Step 12 To lighten the teeth, follow the old scheme, create a new layer and draw a soft white brush over the teeth.

Change the layer blend mode to soft light(Soft Light), Layer Opacity 30% .

Step 13 Create a new layer. Again use a soft brush, color #b37c76. Swipe the brush around the eyelid area as shown in the image below.

Change the layer's blend mode to Linear Burn(Linear Dimmer), Opacity 30% .

Step 14 In the final step, create a new layer, click Ctrl+Shift+N, Mode select "Overlap", Opacity 100% , select Fill with Neutral Overlay Color (50% Gray).

With the following tools Burn Tool (O)(Dimmer Tool) and Dodge Tool (O)(Dodge Tool), with the following settings, Range midtones, Exposure 40-50% , we will emphasize the facial features of the model. Choosing a tool Dodge Tool (O)(Tool "Clarifier") draw a brush to increase the brightness on the following areas of the face: bridge of the nose, chin, forehead, skin above and below the eyes, area under the nose, white shell of the eyes (if there is significant redness).

Tool Burn Tool (O)(The "Dimmer" tool) is useful for darkening some areas, such as: the sides of the nose, the iris of the eyes, the eyelids, the eyelashes, especially their tips. Keep in mind that all darkening and brightening depend on the original image of the model, on how the light and shadow falls on the face. You can see the result obtained by the author in the image below.

Final result

When increasing individual sections

BeforeAndafter

We hope you enjoyed the tutorial on creating natural facial skin. If you have something to say, ask a question, do not hesitate - write to us in the comments! We are also waiting for your work.

Hello dear site users
In this wonderful lesson, we will return youth to this girl in just a few minutes. You can download this photo (registration required).

I want to warn you right away that each image needs individual settings.

Step 1. So let's get started. If we look at the blue channel in our image, we can see that it doesn't look very good. There are many so-called JPG artifacts that are not visible to us in RGB mode. Now we will try to improve the Blue channel a little.

Copy the background layer. Apply to it Filter > Blur > Gaussian Blur(Filter > Blur > Gaussian Blur). Radius install 10 pixels. Click OK. Blend Mode change to Chroma(Color). Double click on the layer thumbnail. In the window that appears, uncheck the boxes next to R and G. This will apply all changes only to the Blue channel. Click OK. Look at the blue channel now. Does it really look better?

Step 2 Now use Curves to adjust the colors in the image. I suggest you use Curves rather than Levels because they give us more control over the color.

You can download the settings I used to your computer from here.
Create a New Adjustment Layer Curves, then, if you use my settings, click on the arrow on the top right and in the menu that appears, select loadpreset and select the desired file.

Step 3 Now a tool Healing brush(Healing Brush Tool) (J) get rid of the main skin defects, in this case we have 4 freckles.

Create a new layer above the background. Choosing a tool Healing brush(Healing Brush) (J) and make sure "Sample All Layers" is in the toolbar.

There is one great rule - when retouching, never edit the original layer, you never know when you have to go back. That is why now we have created a new layer and edited it.

Step 4 Select all layers except the layer with curves (Hold Shift and click on the layer thumbnails in the layers palette). Drag them to the button to create a new layer to copy. Click ctrl+e to combine them.
Choosing a tool Rectilinear lasso(Polygonal Lasso Tool) and select the woman. This may not be done very carefully. Hold down the key alt, and remove from the selection everything that does not apply to the skin - eyes, eyebrows, nostrils. We also exclude all kinds of depressions from the selection. This is how my selection looks in quick mask mode:

Click Shift+ ctrl+ I, to invert the selection and press the key Delete, to remove selected pixels. In appearance, everything will remain unchanged.

Step 5 Let's move on Filter > Blur > Gaussian Blur(Filter > Blur > Gaussian Blur). Radius install 20 pixels. Downgrading Opacity(Opacity) to 75% . Select the three main layers again and copy them. Click ctrl+ E, to merge layers. Move the resulting layer above the erased one. Click ctrl+ alt+ G. This will create a clipping mask, which is indicated by the downward arrow next to the layer's thumbnail. It means that upper layer will use the transparent pixels of the bottom layer as a mask.

Step 6 Let's move on Filter > Others > Color Contrast(Filter > Other > High Pass). Set the radius to 4 .

Change the blend mode to Linear light(Linear Light) and lower Opacity(Opacity) to 40% . ready!

The purpose of this lesson was to get rid of the main defects and smooth the skin, but not to make the person look like a model. This technique is ideal for everyday use.
Good luck and success.

Hello, dear readers of the Start-Luck blog. There is a lot to retouch portraits, but if you want to achieve an amazing effect, then you have no choice, you have to use Photoshop. It will allow you to create such a result that you can even hang it on the wall, even use it in a glossy magazine. All friends and acquaintances will envy your photo, and most importantly, no particularly complex manipulations.

Today I will tell you how to retouch a face in Photoshop professionally. The work is easy, but painstaking. It may take you at least an hour. But the result will exceed all expectations. It was exactly like that with me.

I will not hide it, I took one of the first videos on YouTube and tried to repeat it and did not even particularly hope for a high-quality result, but it turned out to be perfect. You can read the text with step-by-step pictures, or you can immediately go to the end of the article and try to do everything exactly the same as in the video. For beginners, I would recommend the first option, but it's up to you.

To do this, drag the topmost slider slightly towards blue, and the bottom one towards blue.

I open "Tone" - "Shadows" and do the same.

Don't be afraid, the photo won't be that blue. Hold Alt + Del, everything will return as if in its place.

Now select a white brush and stroke the pupils on the portrait. You may have already worked with . Now you are doing just that.

Lower the opacity of the layer to make the picture look more natural.

Add another adjustment layer - hue/saturation.

We make the picture less saturated.

Now Curves.

Align the colors to your liking.

face on this moment looks not quite natural, it is too pale. Go to the red channel. And try to revive it a little.

The same can be done with blue and green.

The opacity of this layer is also better to make a little less. For naturalness.

Again merge all previous layers into a heap.

Select the filter - sharpening and add contour sharpening to the portrait.

Set the effect to 50 and the radius to 1.

Once again go to the Unsharp Mask filter, but this time set the effect to 100 and the radius from 1 to 2.

OK it's all over Now. This is how our photo looked originally.

And also upon completion of all work.

Video instruction

I believe that the text and video mode will help you understand all the intricacies and add an excellent result. If you don’t understand something in the text, you can always go to the video and vice versa. For example, I could not understand initially how to reduce all layers into one. But then I figured it out.

Well, if you want to learn how to masterfully, thoroughly, professionally and thoughtfully retouch any photos, I can advise you on the course « Photoshop for photographer » in it you will find a detailed analysis of each tool and learn how to apply them, pursuing a specific goal and knowing what you are doing and why. You will be able to learn how to use the professional program masterfully.

OK it's all over Now. See you soon and don't forget to subscribe to the newsletter.

This article is for beginners to explain what photo retouching is, how to do photo processing correctly and gives recommendations on working in Photoshop