TOOL SCHOOL BOOST AND SOFTEN DETAILS
Use the Texture tool with the Adjustment Brush to fine-tune details in images
01 BRUSH OVERLAY
When we paint texture with the Adjustment Brush, we can toggle (press Y) a mask overlay that shows where we’ve painted. Use the colour box in the settings on the right to choose an overlay colour. (Green is good for portraits, as it contrasts with skin tones.) The mask overlay is useful when adjusting the Range Mask controls, as it shows exactly which areas are targeted.
02 THE TEXTURE SLIDER
The Texture slider is available in Lightroom, as well as within the Adobe Camera Raw workspace in Photoshop. You’ll find the slider both in the Basic Panel and also within the settings for the three local adjustment tools (the Adjustment Brush, Radial Filter and Graduated Filter). It works by targeting the high-frequency details in your scene.
03 ADJUSTMENT BRUSH
The Texture effect rarely works when applied universally over an image. It’s much more effective applied locally, using the Adjustment Brush. This way, we can paint the texture into areas that need it and leave everything else untouched. Simply grab the brush, load it with positive or negative texture, then start painting. Hold Alt and paint to subtract areas.
04 NEGATIVE TEXTURE ON FACES
A negative texture setting can be fantastic for skin tones. In fact, using negative texture is often more useful than positive texture. Not only is it good for applying a swift skin-softening effect, it’s also handy for softening overly sharp details or rough, patchy tones. Simply paint over the area with the Adjustment Brush, then lower the Texture slider to a negative value to soften the details.
05 CLARITY VS TEXTURE
Clarity is similar to Texture in that it can also be used to enhance or soften details. But Clarity has more of an effect on smooth details, whereas Texture leaves smooth areas alone and works more on the fine details. As such, Clarity is often a better choice for selectively boosting surfaces like rocks or trees. Texture, on the other hand, is better for pulling detail out of finer surfaces, like the fur hood.
06 RANGE MASKING FOR SKIN
Range Masking is one of Adobe’s best selective editing tools. It works by targeting areas based on colour or luminosity. Here it means we can paint loosely and quickly over the skin with the Adjustment Brush, then turn on the Range Masking colour setting and sample the colours in the skin. Everything apart from the sampled colours will be excluded, giving us a precise local adjustment.