Even the best photographers need to 'touch up' their photographs - no magazine portrait photography is straight from the camera. Small adjustments can make a big difference to an image, and this tutorial will show you how to execute a few changes to make a big impact on the final result.
We will be using only Photoshop's built in tools such as quick mask mode, the pen tool and the spot healing brush tool.
Changes will be made to the hair color and eye color. The blur filter will be used to smooth the complexion and the whole image will be considerably brightened.
Let's Start
Before we start, below is the original image for this tutorial.
Step 1: Prepare the Image
Open the photograph in Photoshop
Duplicate the background layer
Turn off the visibility of the background layer
With the duplicate layer active
Image - Adjustments - Levels
Apply the following settings:
Step 2: Change Hair Color
Select the Brush Tool
Press Q to enter quick mask mode
Set foreground and background colors to default
In quick mask mode, with black as the foreground you can paint the mask, changing to white as the foreground you can erase the mask.
Mask the hair as shown below:
Press Q to exit quick mask mode. You will now have everything but the hair selected Select - Inverse.
Now you have just the hair selected:
Layer - New Fill Layer - Solid Color.
Apply the following settings:
You now have the color picker palette on the screen.
Apply the following settings:
Turn off the visibility of the background layer. Right click on either visible layer and click Merge Visible
Step 3: Smooth Complexion
Using the Pen Tool with the following settings:
Create a path around the face, ears and neck. Right click within the path and click Make Selection, as shown below:
Edit - Copy (Ctrl + C)
Edit - Paste (Ctrl + V)
Turn off the visibility of all other layers
Using the eraser tool, erase the eyes and mouth (including the lips)
Filter - Blur - Gaussian Blur - set to 5, click OK
Restore visibility to the photo layer
Turn off the visibility of the background layer if necessary
Right click on either visible layer and click Merge Visible
Image - Adjustments - Levels
Apply the following settings:
Step 4: Color the Lips
Press Q to enter quick mask mode
Select the Brush Tool
Select a soft, round brush
Paint the lips in the same way you masked the hair previously
Press Q to exit quick mask mode
Select - Inverse
Select - Feather - set to 2, click OK
Layer - New Fill Layer - Solid Color
Apply the following settings:
Set the fill color to red #BA0A0A
Reduce the layer opacity to 50%
Merge the 2 visible layers
Step 5: Eradicate Blemishes
Select the Spot Healing Brush Tool.
Apply the following settings:
Place the circle over the mole on the throat and click once
Reduce the brush size to 40px
Click once on the piercing hole on the ear
Step 6: Change Eye Color
Zoom into the eyes
Select the Elliptical Marquee Tool
Drag a selection round the pupil of one eye
Hold down the Shift Key and drag a selection around the other pupil
Image - Adjustments - Hue/Saturation.
Apply the following settings:
Ctrl + D to deselect.
Step 7: Finishing Touches
Now we can reduce the size of the photograph. Image - Image Size - apply the following settings:
Image - Adjustments - Levels - apply the following settings:
End Result
After going through all the steps, below is the final result.
Conclusion
These techniques can be adapted and used on just about any portrait photograph. As long as you duplicate the original image, you can play with all of Photoshop's filters, layer styles, blending options, etc., usually small adjustments make the biggest impact and keep the image looking realistic.
