30 April 2009

Super Fast and Easy Facial Retouching

Mar 25th in Photo Effects by Kyle Pero

In this tutorial, I will show you how to repair some image noise from a low-quality shot, and I will show you an extremely quick and easy way to smooth out a person's face. The woman in this shot is not a model, and she has a lot of character so we don't want to overdo it with the smoothing. We will make it look real and natural.

PG

Author: Kyle Pero

Kyle Pero has worked in the creative fields for many years now. With a background in photography and graphic design he naturally became a Photoshop whiz. Now he works in advertising doing photographic retouching, but also does freelance design and illustration work.

The Image

You can get the image we're using in this tutorial from Free Range Stock here. The technique can be applied to a beauty shot as well, you would just have to adjust the settings on some of the steps to get a more extreme smoothing effect.

Step 1

If you look at the blue channel, you will notice that it doesn't look so good. There are a lot of JPG artifacts that you don't really see when looking at the RGB composite, but it's good to fix it for a variety of reasons. Importantly, it will reduce the color noise in the image and give us more flexibility when making corrections later down the line.

Duplicate the Background layer. On the new layer go to Filter > Blur > Gaussian Blur. Enter 10 for the radius. Hit OK. Set the layer's blending mode to color. Double-click on the layer to the right of the name to open the blending options. Under Advanced Blending, uncheck the R and the G. This makes the layer only affect the blue channel no matter what we do to it. Now go back and check out the blue channel. Looks better.

Step 2

Now I will use Curves to balance the color in the image. I suggest using Curves over Levels for everything. Curves just gives you much more control.

Download my curve preset to your hard drive.

Create a new Curves Adjustment layer at the top of the layers palette, then click the little button to the right of the Preset control, and select Load Preset and load the file.

Step 3

The technique that we are going to use to smooth out the face doesn't require very much cloning at all. I do want to use the Healing Brush Tool (J) on any major freckles or blemishes, in this case her four large freckles.

Create a new blank layer just above the background copy. Select the Healing Brush (J) and make sure that "Sample All Layers" is checked on the property bar. Paint over those spots to remove them.

A good rule of thumb is to never modify your source image in any way. That is why we used the healing brush on a new layer. You never know when you might need to go back to where you started.

Step 4

Select the three layers below the Curve layer. Drag them down to the New Layer button to duplicate them. Hit Command+E to merge the three duplicates.

Select the Polygonal Lasso Tool and click around her face until all the skin is selected. It doesnt need to be too neat. Now go back, and while holding Alt, click around and deselect anything that is not skin like the eyes, eyebrows, lips, and nostrils. Go back once more and deselect any areas of detail that need to remain, like the edge of the nose, her dimples, her collar bones, and the edge of her chin. This is what my selection looks like as a quick mask:

Hit Shift+Command+I to invert the selection and then Delete to delete those pixels. You won't actually notice a change because the layers below are the same as the layer we are working on.

Step 5

Go Filter > Blur > Gaussian Blur. Enter 20 for the Radius. Set the layer Opacity to 75%. Select and duplicate the same bottom three layers just like we did before. Hit Command+E to merge them. Put that layer just above the blurred layer. With the new layer selected, hit Command+Alt+G. This creates a clipping mask, which is indicated by the arrow pointing down on the layer. This means that the layer on top will use the bottom layer's transparency as a mask.

Step 6

With your new layer still selected, go to Filter > Other > High Pass. Enter 4 for the Radius.

Now you can really see how that clipping mask is working, but not for long. Set the blending mode of the layer to Linear Light and set the Opacity to 40%. Done!

Rollover the image below to see the before / after...

This will pretty much work on any portrait, but the goal isn't to make the person look like a model, it's just meant to smooth things out a bit yet still look natural. That is why it works well on everyday average people.

Achieve HDR Style Effects Using Photoshop and the Lucis Art Filter

Hey everybody! In this tutorial, I'll show you some great techniques to achieve HDR effects. There are a lot of different techniques out there, but I prefer to use this specific filter called LucisArt. Soon there will be a new and better release called Lucis Pro. Till then we'll use this one. You can buy it from their website or take the 30 days trial to test and see if you like it. Also, the filter is only available for Windows. The new Lucis Pro will also be available for MAC though.

PG

Author: Constantin Potorac

I am a freelance designer living in Romania. I discovered the beauty of design a few years ago. Since then I have dedicated my time to becoming a great designer (work in progress)!

Part I - Applying HDR Styling to a Portrait Image

This tutorial has three parts. We'll review adding HDR styling to multiple types of images using the LucisArtfilter. In this first part, we'll work on adding more interest with HDR styling to a portrait photo.

Final Image Preview for Part I

Before we get started with Part I, let's take a look at the image we'll be creating. Click the screenshot below to view the full-size image. As always, the layered Photoshop file is available via our PSDTUTS Plus membership.

Step 1

Open up your image in Photoshop. I'll start with a portrait image I shot.

Step 2

First thing you need to do is to duplicate the layer (J). Then go to Filter > Lucis > LucisArt. Here you will need to select the Sculpture option and set it to something like 30.

Step 3

Create a Layer Mask for this layer and fill it with black. This will hide all the effect. Then, take the brush (set to white) and draw over the man and the products he was selling. Leave the trees untouched.

Step 4

Next I will add a new adjustment layer. Select the curves from the drop-down menu.

Step 5

Now using a black brush, simply draw over the eyes. But do this into the mask that was automatically created. In a portrait it is important that the eyes are not covered by the shadow. They need to be visible.

Step 6

Next press Command + A to make a selection, go to Edit > Copy Merged, and again go to Edit > Paste. Then go to Filter > Lucis > LucisArt and this time select Exposure and set it to 60. Then set the Opacity to 50%.

Step 7

Press Command + A to make a selection over the entire image. Then again go to Edit > Copy Merged and Edit > Paste.

Step 8

Now that you have all the layers copied go to Image > Adjustments > Black And White and play with the settings there.

Step 9

Set the layer to Multiply and the Opacity to 40%.

Step 10

Now make a Layer Mask for this layer and erase some of this effect from the eyes using the Brush Tool (B), just as we did in Step 5.

Step 11

Next you need to press Command + A to make a selection. Then go to Edit > Copy Merged and Edit > Paste. Then go to Filter > Lucis > LucisArt and this time use Sculpture set to 20.

Step 12

Mask the layer and fill it with black. Now using a white brush, you'll need to make visible only a few parts of the image. You'll also need to decrease the opacity of the brush to create the effect gradually. I will try not to draw with the brush over the old man's skin.

Step 13

Next I want to make the image more detailed. Select the Levels setting from the Create New Fill Or Adjustment Layer and set the right slider to left at 192.

Step 14

Fill the mask that was created automatically with black. Then with a small white brush set to a lower Opacity, draw over the beard, clothes, and some parts of the wood to lighten them up.

Conclusion of Part I

For this particular image you can maybe use some filters that help you smooth the skin, but I personally like it as it is. The final image is below and you can view the larger image here.

Part II - Applying HDR Styling to a Close-Up Image

Next we'll do another personal photograph that I actually love very much. This is macro photography. The image isn't perfect because I shot it very fast, as the ladybug was flying away.

Final Image Preview for Part II

Before we get started with Part II, let's take a look at the image we'll be creating. Click the screenshot below to view the full-size image. As always, the layered Photoshop file is available via our PSDTUTS Plus membership.

Step 1

Open up the image.

Step 2

We'll use similar techniques that I showed you in Part I, but we'll use different settings. Also, we'll place the lights in different places. Start by duplicating the image and go to Filter > Lucis > LucisArt and select Sculpture set to 25.

Step 3

Next go to Create New Fill Or Adjustment Layer and select Curves, and drag the line down a bit.

Step 4

Now using the Gradient Tool (G) set to black, lighten the ladybug, as she is our focal point here. Do this in the Layer Mask thumbnail.

Step 5

Next press Command + A to select everything, go to Edit > Copy Merged, and then go to Edit > Paste. Next, go to to Image > Adjustments > Black and White and use my settings below, or maybe play with them as you see fit.

Step 6

Next go to Image > Adjustments > Levels and set it at: 46, 1.79, and 225. Then press OK.

Step 7

Set the layer to Multiply.

Step 8

Make a mask for this layer. Then using the black Gradient Tool (G) set to Radial, lighten the ladybug, as I did below.

Step 9

Next press Command + A to select everything, go to Edit > Copy Merged, and then Edit > Paste. Next go to Filter > Lucis > LucisArt and set the Exposure to 80.

Step 10

Mask the layer and fill the mask with black. Next using a white brush you'll need to draw over the ladybug again to bring some more light on her.

Step 11

Press Command + A to select everything again, go to Edit > Copy Merged, and then Edit > Paste. Next go to Filter > Lucis > LucisArt and set Sculpture at 10.

Step 12

Mask it and using a black brush, cover the background behind the hand.

Step 13

Last step is to go to Create New Fill Or Adjustment Layer and select Levels. For the Levels use 0, 1.00, 197 and then press OK.

Step 14

Mask the layer and fill it with black. Then with a small white low Opacity brush, simply draw over the ladybug to make her more detailed. Try not to draw all over her, just a few parts to make them pop out.

Conclusion of Part II

This effect is something I personally use. You can experiment with the filter and get a lot of different effects. The final image is below and you can view the larger image here.

Part III - Applying HDR Styling to a Scenic Nature Image

This is going to be the last image that we're going to work on in this multi-part tutorial. It's a natural scenic photograph being given an HDR style.

Final Image Preview for Part III

Before we get started with Part III, let's take a look at the image we'll be creating. Click the screenshot below to view the full-size image. As always, the layered Photoshop file is available via our PSDTUTS Plus membership.

Step 1

Open up your scenic nature photograph.

Step 2

Duplicate the layer. Then go to Filter > Lucis > LucisArt, and set the Sculpture to 30.

Step 3

Now mask the layer and fill it with black. Then with a white brush draw over the clouds. As you can see my clouds get some really ugly pixels so I used the Clone Tool (S) to cover them up.

Step 4

Next you need to go to Create New Fill or Adjustment Layer and select Curves. Drag the line a little down and press OK. By doing this you will darken the image a little.

Step 5

Next use a black Radial Gradient (G) and lighten the gazebo. Do this into the mask of the curves layer.

Step 6

Next press Command + A to make a selection, go to Edit > Copy Merged, and then Edit> Paste. Next go to Filter > Lucis > LucisArt and select Exposure and set it to 70.

Step 7

Next press Command + A to make a selection, go to Edit > Copy Merged, and then Edit > Paste. Next go to Image > Adjustments > Black and White and play with the settings.

Step 8

Set it to Multiply and Opacity 50%. Next mask it and using a black brush draw over the lower side.

Step 9

Next press Command + A to make a selection, go to Edit > Copy Merged, and then Edit > Paste. Next go to Filter > Lucis > LucisArt and set Sculpture to 20.

Step 10

Mask the layer and fill it with black. Then using a white brush, paint over the clouds.

Step 11

Go to Create New Fill or Adjustments Layer and select Levels. Bring the right slider to the left at 185.

Step 12

Fill the mask with black. Then using a small white Brush with a low Opacity, draw over the gazebo and grass.

Conclusion of Part III

In the end, you can add a vintage effect as well. I've added one of my favorites vintage actions with the rest of the tutorial PSD files in the download for PLUS members. The final image is below and you can view the larger image here.