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Perfect your portraits in Photoshop
After you've shot your portrait some editing may still be required, head to Photoshop to make the finishing touches
Even if you've found the perfect composition, relaxed your subject and taken a spot on exposure, you'll probably need to do some editing on your portrait shots. Photoshop provides a convenient array of tools to enhance your people pictures, giving you a chance to get as close as possible to that perfect portrait that everyone's after.
1. Adjust skin tones
Open the image named masterclass_start.jpg from the download files. Using Camera Raw, start making adjustments to the skin tones. The image is a little red, so drag the Temperature slider to the left to create a more natural-looking skin tone.
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2. Correct the composition
Use the Crop tool to realign the borders and remove the small button from the bottom left of the shot. This may be a small detail, but it does create a distraction. When you're done, click OK and your portrait will open in the normal Photoshop window.
Use the Crop tool to realign the borders and remove the small button from the bottom left of the shot. This may be a small detail, but it does create a distraction. When you're done, click OK and your portrait will open in the normal Photoshop window.
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3. Remove blemishes
You can now start the retouching process. Use the Healing Brush tool to remove any obvious blemishes, such as an unwanted pimple or a stray hair. Select it from the Tools palette and choose a brush size and edge that's appropriate for the problem area.
You can now start the retouching process. Use the Healing Brush tool to remove any obvious blemishes, such as an unwanted pimple or a stray hair. Select it from the Tools palette and choose a brush size and edge that's appropriate for the problem area.
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4. Soften the lines
Now you can tackle the lines around the eyes, but don't get carried away. You're looking to soften lines rather than remove them completely, because this would look unnatural. You'll need to work on a separate layer, so select Layer>Duplicate Layer and rename the new layer 'Eyes'.
Now you can tackle the lines around the eyes, but don't get carried away. You're looking to soften lines rather than remove them completely, because this would look unnatural. You'll need to work on a separate layer, so select Layer>Duplicate Layer and rename the new layer 'Eyes'.
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5. Lighten up
On the new layer, use the Healing Brush tool to soften the lines around the eyes, sampling from an area of smooth skin close to the region you're retouching. Select Lighten from the drop-down Mode menu to change the Healing Brush so it only lightens areas darker than the sampled area.
On the new layer, use the Healing Brush tool to soften the lines around the eyes, sampling from an area of smooth skin close to the region you're retouching. Select Lighten from the drop-down Mode menu to change the Healing Brush so it only lightens areas darker than the sampled area.
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6. Alter the opacity
This step is crucial. Select the Opacity slider and drag it to the left. This will reduce the opacity of the Eyes layer and reveal the original image below. This has the effect of softening the lines rather than removing them entirely, which makes for a much more realistic retouch. Next, flatten the two layers by selecting Layer>FlattenImage.
This step is crucial. Select the Opacity slider and drag it to the left. This will reduce the opacity of the Eyes layer and reveal the original image below. This has the effect of softening the lines rather than removing them entirely, which makes for a much more realistic retouch. Next, flatten the two layers by selecting Layer>FlattenImage.
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7. Focus on the eyes
Using the Lasso tool, make a selection around the eyes. Select one eye, hold down the Shift key and then select the other. This enables you to select both eyes simultaneously. Go to Select> Modify>Feather to soften the edges of your selection and reduce any hard edges after the adjustment.
Using the Lasso tool, make a selection around the eyes. Select one eye, hold down the Shift key and then select the other. This enables you to select both eyes simultaneously. Go to Select> Modify>Feather to soften the edges of your selection and reduce any hard edges after the adjustment.
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8. Improve catch light in the eyes
You can now increase the brightness within this selection, emphasising the eye 'catch light' and enhancing the portrait. Go to Image>Adjustments> Levels to tweak the light and increase the contrast. You could also alter their colour by choosing Image> Adjustments>ColourBalance. Now repeat the process, but this time work on enhancing the teeth.
You can now increase the brightness within this selection, emphasising the eye 'catch light' and enhancing the portrait. Go to Image>Adjustments> Levels to tweak the light and increase the contrast. You could also alter their colour by choosing Image> Adjustments>ColourBalance. Now repeat the process, but this time work on enhancing the teeth.
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9. Increase depth
Make a selection around the model and tweak the contrast. Then reverse the selection (Select> Inverse) to edit the background. This gives the portrait a little extra punch - emphasising a separation from the background and creating a sense of depth.
Make a selection around the model and tweak the contrast. Then reverse the selection (Select> Inverse) to edit the background. This gives the portrait a little extra punch - emphasising a separation from the background and creating a sense of depth.
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10. Improve the focus
Finally, use the Sponge tool to make the lips more vibrant and the Dodge and Burn tools to subtly darken the edges of the image and improve the focus. If you like the soft focus effect (see page 50), you could use this to further smooth out imperfections in the skin and add to the overall effect.
Finally, use the Sponge tool to make the lips more vibrant and the Dodge and Burn tools to subtly darken the edges of the image and improve the focus. If you like the soft focus effect (see page 50), you could use this to further smooth out imperfections in the skin and add to the overall effect.
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