Professional skin retouching isn’t necessarily complicated. But, it requires patience and a heavy workload to deliver the best results. Ever wondered how professionals glam up the portraits on billboards and magazines? Well, this guide will narrate how these professionals gloss over their photographs. If you want to make your images a work of art, read on the secrets of pro editors!
Skin Retouching Tips from Pros:
1. Removing blemishes, but not wiping them:
To an uninitiated editor, it might seem logical to wipe off all the scars, freckles, or anything on the face. However, today editors consider the minute imperfections on the skin as a symbol of beauty and authenticity. So, it becomes a rule of thumb to preserve the natural appearance of your subject. If you are using Photoshop, it’s best to create a new layer and then apply the Healing Brush tool to remove the temporary blemishes and keep the natural beauty marks. You can also reduce your production time by switching to the Skin Retouch component from autoRetouch for gorgeous but natural skin.
2. Go easy on the Zoom:
Experts believe it’s best to use the macro approach while retouching skin in Photoshop or other software. Rather than diving into a 400% detail, stay put in the range of 100%-200%. This rule reduces the chances of making edits that are too jarring or stark against the skin.
3. Airbrushing:
It’s no secret all your portraits demand a bit of airbrushing to remove flaws and add highlights to the skin. Using the same concept as the traditional airbrushing, you can make your images immaculate using Photoshop. Just go to the Toolbox, and select Brush. From the Options Bar, tap on the airbrush mode and set the flow amount! And voila, you are all prepared to dazzle your portraits.
However, don’t stress about doing it yourself if you’ve got a quick turnaround or want to take the pain out of the repetitive task. Tools like autoRetouch apply high-profile Airbrushing to your images once you’ve clicked on the Skin Retouch component. The best part is that the AI-powered tool gives results in seconds and lets you control the intensity of the airbrushing with the built-in slider.
4. Moderate frequency separation:
Pictures retouched using frequency separation turn so smooth and perfect that the skin takes a freakish, plastic appearance. Therefore, professionals use the effect sparingly to keep the skin natural and radiant.
5. Clone Stamp in the eye:
Editing eyes is challenging for any editor as it can easily steal the persona from the photo. Removing the dark circles and reducing puffiness should be done with subtle hands. So, use the Clone Stamp tool to cut a skin texture sample from an unedited area. Then, go on painting the under-eye with a similar texture. Since going overboard with the software might have extreme effects on the portrait, it’s best to use a soft-edged brush at this stage.
6. Change the background:
What background has to do with skin retouching? Well, it’s basically everything. From highlighting your model to bringing out their skin color– backdrops are in charge of the entire photo. So, experts recommend experimenting with backdrop settings to find the most flattering shades for your models. If you don’t want to configure manually, try an AI-driven solution to remove and customize backgrounds in seconds.
Bonus Tips:
1. Skin retouching depends on the platform. A photograph captured for a magazine will have a different retouching level than social media platforms.
2. Use the Dodging and Burning techniques to get dewy and plump skin.
3. Fix the halos once you’ve retouched the images. Otherwise, the ambiance may look like something out of a horror film.
4. Make sure the subject looks natural.
There you have it! We understand skin retouching is a bit of work and requires consistent practice. On the bright side, once you’ve picked up the process, you’ll be well on producing stunning photos. And if you need an extra pair of hands, know that the AI-driven autoRetouch has your back!
