Retouch skin with four softening tricks
James Paterson brings you four simple yet effective techniques for beautifully smooth skin
Retouching can be fairly monotonous, so anything that helps speed things up in the editing department is very welcome. In some genres of photography, you can get away with minimal edits, but most portrait photographers strive to achieve beautiful skin in their images. This can take some time, but the key is not to overdo it – aim for a result that’s realistic, that retains the natural skin texture of your willing model.
Getting the balance right is tricky but achievable. In this tutorial you’ll learn four slightly different approaches for softening skin tones and textures. We’ll go from a down-and-dirty simple technique in Adobe Camera Raw to something that’s a bit more advanced using several layers in Photoshop proper.
The success of the final edit does depend on your starting image. Flattering lighting and well-applied makeup make the foundation for beautiful skin.
Although our portrait already benefitted from fairly even lighting conditions, there were still a few more tweaks we were able to make to really give it a polished look. You might be surprised at how quickly you can transform your portrait tones in just a few clicks of the mouse. Why not start with the first speedy method, which is an ideal quick fix if you’re preparing a slide show or working on a large shoot. The professional way is perfect when you’re feeling more confident or have time to spare. When you’ve mastered skin retouching, you’re ready to move onto the eyes, teeth or the trickiest element of all… hair!