Beginner Guide To Skin Retouching and Color grading In Photoshop | Frequency Separation Tutorial

Introduction

This tutorial is designed to guide you through the process of skin retouching and color grading in Photoshop using frequency separation techniques. Whether you're a beginner or looking to refine your skills, this step-by-step guide will help you enhance your images by removing blemishes, adjusting skin tones, and achieving a polished look.

Step 1: Preparing Your Image

• Open your raw image in Photoshop.
• Create a duplicate of your original layer to preserve the original file.
• Rename the duplicated layer for easy identification, such as "Retouch Layer."

Step 2: Frequency Separation Technique

Frequency separation allows you to work on the texture and color information of the image separately.

1. Duplicate the "Retouch Layer" twice.
2. Rename the first duplicate to "High Frequency" and the second to "Low Frequency."
3. Apply a Gaussian Blur to the "Low Frequency" layer:
   • Select the "Low Frequency" layer.
   • Go to Filter > Blur > Gaussian Blur.
   • Adjust the radius until skin details are blurred but colors remain visible.
4. Apply a High Pass filter to the "High Frequency" layer:
   • Select the "High Frequency" layer.
   • Go to Filter > Other > High Pass.
   • Set the radius until you see the skin textures clearly.

Step 3: Blemish Removal

• Select the "High Frequency" layer.
• Use the Healing Brush or Clone Stamp tool to remove blemishes:
  • Hold Alt (Option on Mac) to sample a clean area of skin.
  • Carefully paint over blemishes to blend them with surrounding texture.

Step 4: Dodge and Burn

This technique helps to enhance highlights and shadows, adding depth to the image.

1. Create a new layer and set it to "Soft Light."
2. Fill this layer with 50% gray:
   • Edit > Fill > 50% Gray.
3. Use the Brush tool (B) with a soft brush:
   • Set the foreground color to white to lighten areas (dodge).
   • Set the foreground color to black to darken areas (burn).
4. Adjust the opacity of the layer as needed to achieve a natural look.

Step 5: Eye and Teeth Whitening

• Create a new layer and zoom into the eyes and teeth.
• Use the Brush tool with a soft white brush:
  • Set the brush opacity low (around 10-20%).
  • Lightly paint over the whites of the eyes and teeth.
• Use the Eraser tool to refine areas if necessary.

Step 6: Color Grading in Camera Raw

1. Convert your image to a smart object (Right-click the layer and select “Convert to Smart Object”).
2. Go to Filter > Camera Raw Filter.
3. Use the Basic and Color Grading panels to adjust exposure, contrast, highlights, shadows, and color balance.
4. Experiment with different settings until you achieve the desired look.

Step 7: Final Adjustments in Photoshop

• Use additional adjustment layers (e.g., Levels, Curves, Hue/Saturation) to fine-tune your image.
• Consider adding a vignette effect to focus attention on the subject.

Step 8: Exporting Your Image

To ensure no color changes occur during export:

• Go to File > Export > Export As.
• Choose your desired file format (JPEG, PNG, etc.).
• Make sure to select the correct color profile (sRGB for web, Adobe RGB for print).
• Check the quality settings to maintain image fidelity.

Conclusion

By following these steps, you should be able to effectively retouch skin and color grade your images in Photoshop. Practice each technique to develop your skills further, and don't hesitate to experiment with different styles and effects. As a next step, consider exploring advanced retouching techniques or incorporating LUTs and presets into your workflow for even more creative possibilities.