This is a quick technique to even out blemishes in a model’s skin. I came across this by accident but I think it’s a really good way to instantly make people pictures look more eye-catching and professional. It also has the effect of brightening and adding contrast.
Very simple. Get the layer you want to work on with the less-than-perfect skin (if it is your locked background layer double-click on it to unlock it). Make a copy of this layer (Cmd/Cntl-J). Set the top layer to Screen blending mode in the layers palette.
You will notice immediately the picture has become brighter and the contrast has increased – maybe too much. If you want to decrease this effect then decrease the opacity of the top layer a little.
Next, with the top (Screen) layer selected, go Filter > Blur > Gaussian Blur… I blurred this image by about 9 pixels, I’d go for 25 if it were a high resolution. The more you blur this layer the more the skin smooths out and the more of a “glow” is created. The effects of the glow can be masked off around the face if desired.
I stumbled upon this trick whilst designing some packaging for a music software company.
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Thanks for the nice tutorial. I am new to photoshop and this can be helpful for me.
I’ve been using Photoshop for over 15 years and I’ve just discovered it!
Are you sure the middle Luminosity layer is doing anything?
Whoopse! You’re absolutely right, Geoff. Thank you. I had a Luminosity layer there as the Normal layer beneath had an Opacity as there was a colour layer beneath that oringinally!
Hello Rob. Not a bad way of doing things, certainly quick. I’ve found that using the median blend, setting the layer to soft light (adjusting opacity for preference) and then deleting all but the skin areas works even better.
Thanks, Steve, I’ll give it a go next time!
That is a nice trick, but the one thing is that the eyes blur out as well. I prefer focused eyes.
Since you are not changing your lower layer, you can simply use the eraser tool to erase the blurred eyes in the upper layer (and lips too if you like) and then you have smoothed skin and sharp eyes. I like it a bit better.
You’re right, G.S., any areas that don’t need to be smoothed should be masked out to keep the sharpness of the image.
enjoy
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