#Retouch pro frequency separation skin

Here’s the magical thing about the High Frequency layer: you can clone texture from anywhere. In our example, the nose and eye arch need help. Make sure that any tool you use is set to sample only the current layer, to save wear and tear on the Undo keys. To fix texture problems, target the High Frequency layer and use our usual Clone and Healing tools. You won’t affect the hair detail, because it’s on a different layer all you’re cloning is tonal value and color. What about where the hair color is growing out? Switch to the Clone Stamp, set a low opacity value of, say, 30%, and be sure to change the Sample setting to “Current Layer.” This is one time you don’t want to sample all layers!Ĭlone color from other parts of the hair in Normal mode. Select the next area, feather, blur and keep going. Use Ctl-Alt-F/Cmd-Opt-F to bring up Gaussian Blur, adjust if you need to and apply. You can also set this value in the “Feather” field on the Control Panel, but don’t forget to change it back when you’re done. Rinse and Repeat: Select the next area (I picked the one between the near eyebrow and the hair), but this time choose Select > Feather Selection (Shift-F6) and enter the feather value from Step 1. Only the shading and color have been evened out.

#Retouch pro frequency separation skin

Notice that the fine texture of the skin is unaltered.

Step 2: Target the Low Frequency layer and apply a large Gaussian Blur to the selected area. Remember the number, because you’re going to use it shortly. Step 1: Use the Lasso tool to select the area, switch to Quick Mask mode (keyboard shortcut: Q) and apply enough Gaussian Blur to feather the selection so the changes you make will blend well. The same steps apply for any area where uneven tone and color are a problem. I’ll start by making that whole cheek area less mottled-looking. You’re now set up and ready to begin retouching.

You now have two layers which when combined look identical to the original image. Step 4: Change the Blend Mode to “Linear Light.” That gives you something that looks very much like, but isn’t, a High Pass filter result.

Offset: 128 (which sets the basic layer “color” to 50% grey).

Blending: “Subtract” (to subtract the blurred image from the original),.

Step 3: Show the High Frequency layer, select it, and choose “Apply Image…” from the Image menu. After you’ve experimented a bit, you’ll develop an eye for how much is too much.

Gaussian Blur, which I’ve used here, usually works best. How much blur depends on the size of your image and the kind of texture. Step 2: Blur the Low Frequency layer just enough to hide the fine details. Step 1: Copy the image layer twice, name the first copy “Low Frequency” (or “LF”, if you prefer) and the second “High Frequency” or “HF.” Then group these two and call the group “Frequency Separation” so that you can mask or modify the blending of both layers at once if you need to. ( Hot Tip: Record these steps as an Action, so you’ll be able to do them with one click every time.) We’re going to use Frequency Separation to make the work a lot faster, easier and more natural looking than you can achieve with those tools alone. In situations like this, you’d normally be in for a lot of meticulous cloning, copious use of the Spot Healing Brush, some dodging and burning, and probably a considerable number of layers, depending on how you normally work. (If you’re not thinking that, reread the last two paragraphs and come back.) Second things second: why should you care?Īs pretty as the model is, there’s an area in the hair where the color is growing out, and the lighting has exaggerated the imperfect skin texture in several places and created a nasty mottled appearance on her cheek and temple. If you’re thinking, “Hey, so you just blur the image to nuke the high frequency data,” you’re right. Separation means splitting the image so that the color and tone are on one layer and all the texture detail is on another. Low Frequency information is the broad sweep of color and tone (think sky, soft clouds, marshmallows). High Frequency information is the fine detail (think grass, hair, grains of sand, stone textures). First things first: what the heck are we talking about?įrequency is Image-Geek for the levels of detail in an image. The best thing is, it uses features that have been in Photoshop for years. In fact, it will make your retouching life a lot easier. Well, before you browse away in search of something less scary, this isn’t hard. “Dammit, Jim, I’m a designer, not a rocket scientist!” I hear you cry.