#Photoshop portrait retouching action skin#
#Photoshop portrait retouching action professional#

Once you have made your initial evaluation of the image, you can begin the elimination process. This includes but is not limited to: dust, dirt, scratches, pimples, food in teeth, and anything else that doesn’t belong. So ask yourself, will it be eliminated or reduced? Step Two: Eliminate This difference is important for the next steps in the process. For instance, the stray hair and the dust on his jacket need to be removed, but the redness and wrinkles are only to be reduced, not eliminated completely. Once you identify the elements that need attention, decide if each will be removed altogether, or if it needs to be reduced. What is a distraction? What is a part of the purpose of the image? For instance, the scratches on the trumpet and the left side pocket sticking out could potentially be distractions, but maybe this client would like them to stay.

Make judgements on distracting elements: There are some parts of the image that could stay or be eliminated, it becomes your choice as the retoucher.

#Photoshop portrait retouching action skin#

Zoom in close: As with any image, zooming in close will allow us to see any skin imperfections, dirt, dust, or scratches that you will want to eliminate all together.All of these textures are different and will require various tools and techniques when the retouching process happens in those areas. Different textures: The subject is an older man wearing a suit and playing an instrument.Here are some additional elements to be aware of.

This is noticeable in the darker shadows around his right eye, and the highlights shining across the left side of his face.

However, its effect can be overpowering at times and cause distraction to the viewer. This was done intentionally to give a more characterized, artistic portrait for this musician. In this example, the direction of the light is causing more definition, creating harsh shadows across the subject. Identify where the light is coming from and how it is affecting the subject. Look at your image as if it’s not a photograph of a person, but instead consider that it is just shapes, colors, and light. This is the beginning of training your eye to seek out the details, and look at your image differently, than when you first took the shot. When you see the areas of the image that will need your attention ahead of time, you can quickly assess what you will want to accomplish with the retouching process. How is the lighting? How do the subjects look? What is going on in the background? Immediately analyze the image you are about to retouch. It also allows you to see the progression of your workflow in Photoshop. This way you are creating a back-up of each step for you to return to, if you notice that you are retouching too much on any particular step. We will use a studio image of a musician as the example throughout this article.Ī great tip to keep in mind during this entire process is that with each new step, or even sub-steps, it is best to duplicate your layer before beginning to use the next tool. Let’s look at each one of these steps in order. The goal is to spend less time in front of the computer and more time behind the lens (where the real magic takes place). This process has been designed as a routine that will eventually create habits in your mind, train your eyes to see the details more clearly, and create an overall efficient and effective retouching process. It is best to experiment with these concepts, and with practice, develop your own style of retouching. The specific tools and techniques discussed here are tried and tested with over 10 years of retouching experience. This is a simple recipe to give your subjects a naturally refreshed look, letting their genuine beauty shine, while keeping the integrity of their expressions, their features, and the clarity of the digital image itself.

#Photoshop portrait retouching action professional#

With the endless possibilities of Photoshop retouching techniques available, how do you know what tools to use when, and why? In this article, you will learn professional photoshop tricks that work for any portrait, any time.

The trick to post-processing is to make it look as if it hasn’t been retouched at all, or as I call it, “refreshed”.

Even with perfect lighting, and preparation work, a final image always receives some post-production attention. With the fast moving technology of today, extraordinary images are everywhere, every day. If photographers didn’t retouch their images, it would be like a painter presenting his sketches instead of the finished painting. Every image that you see published has been through its fair share of post-processing before it is seen by the public. In the world of photography, editing and retouching are just as important as the imagery itself.