How can you retouch portraits with a lot of texture or detail?

Portraits with a lot of texture or detail can be challenging to retouch, especially if you want to preserve the natural look and feel of the skin. However, with some careful adjustments and techniques, you can enhance your portraits without losing the character and realism of your subjects. In this article, you will learn how to use Photoshop to retouch portraits with a lot of texture or detail, using tools such as frequency separation, dodge and burn, and healing brush.

1 Frequency separation

Frequency separation is a technique that allows you to separate the texture and color of the skin into two different layers, so you can work on them independently. This way, you can smooth out the color without affecting the texture, or vice versa. To use frequency separation, you need to duplicate your background layer twice, and name them low frequency and high frequency. Then, apply a Gaussian blur to the low frequency layer, with a radius that blurs out the texture but not the color. Next, select the high frequency layer, and change its blending mode to linear light. Then, go to Image > Apply Image, and choose the low frequency layer as the source, with subtract as the blending mode, and 2 as the scale and 128 as the offset. This will create a gray layer that contains only the texture information. Now, you can use a soft brush with a low opacity to paint over the low frequency layer, and even out the skin tone. You can also use a clone stamp or healing brush with a low opacity to fix any blemishes or imperfections on the high frequency layer.

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Luz do Deserto fotografia

Na Luz do Deserto, propomo-nos a transcender o ensino das meras técnicas mecânicas e eletrónicas da fotografia
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Ao retocar retratos com rica textura, utilize técnicas subtis. Aplique ferramentas de suavização, preservando detalhes essenciais. Explore a semântica visual, enfatizando expressões e estrutura facial. Adote uma abordagem simbólica, destacando elementos que acentuam a personalidade. O processo deve ser meticuloso, garantindo uma representação fiel e esteticamente refinada.

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2 Dodge and burn

Dodge and burn is a technique that allows you to lighten or darken specific areas of the skin, to create more contrast and depth. This can help you to accentuate the features and contours of the face, and make the portrait more dynamic and expressive. To use dodge and burn, you need to create a new layer above your frequency separation layers, and fill it with 50% gray. Then, change its blending mode to soft light. This will make the layer invisible, but it will still affect the underlying layers. Now, you can use a dodge tool or a white brush with a low opacity to lighten the areas that you want to highlight, such as the cheekbones, the nose, the forehead, and the chin. You can also use a burn tool or a black brush with a low opacity to darken the areas that you want to shadow, such as the eye sockets, the nostrils, the jawline, and the neck. You can adjust the exposure and the range of the dodge and burn tools according to your preference. You can also use a layer mask to refine your dodging and burning effects.

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Insa Azmat
(edited)
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These are my favorite tools and I personally use non destructive editing with these tools that allow me to make changes without overwriting the original image data.

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Kinga Szabo

Creative Director at Noyk
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It's important to note that dodge and burn might result in color changes in the image. After the dodge and burn process is done, add a layer with color blending mode on top and correct the color changes with a brush tool.

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3 Healing brush

Healing brush is a tool that allows you to remove unwanted elements from the skin, such as wrinkles, scars, spots, or hairs. It works by sampling a source area that matches the texture and color of the target area, and blending them together. To use healing brush, you need to create a new layer above your dodge and burn layer, and name it healing. Then, select the healing brush tool, and choose a soft and round brush with a size that matches the element that you want to remove. You can also adjust the hardness and the spacing of the brush according to your needs. Next, hold down the alt key and click on a source area that is close to the target area, and has a similar texture and color. Then, release the alt key and click on the target area that you want to heal. You can repeat this process until you have removed all the unwanted elements from the skin. You can also use a layer mask to erase any mistakes or excess healing.

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4 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?

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Agustín Amate Bonachera (Ph.D.)

Lecturer & Researcher | Ad Photographer | Creativity, Branding & Visual Marketing Consultant | Author | Speaker | International PhD in Audiovisual Communication & Advertising | AI Innovator | Let's Collaborate
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Consider using selective sharpening to enhance specific details without affecting the entire image. This can be done by sharpening only the eyes or hair, for example. Layer masks can be used to apply edits non-destructively, allowing for more control and flexibility. Additionally, using adjustment layers for color correction can help maintain skin tones and textures more naturally. Experiment with blending modes to subtly integrate your edits. It's also important to maintain a balance between retouching and preserving natural features to avoid an overly processed look. Finally, consider the overall mood and style of the portrait, ensuring your retouching choices align with these artistic decisions.

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How can you retouch portraits with a lot of texture or detail?

1

2

3

4

1 Frequency separation

2 Dodge and burn

3 Healing brush

4 Here’s what else to consider

Photography

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How can you retouch portraits with a lot of texture or detail?

1

2

3

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1 Frequency separation

2 Dodge and burn

3 Healing brush

4 Here’s what else to consider

Photography

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