Sports Photo Retouching 2024 | Photoshop Tutorial | Cal So Scoped

Introduction

This tutorial will guide you through a comprehensive sports photo retouching process using Adobe Photoshop, as demonstrated in the video by Cal So Scoped. You'll learn techniques for enhancing your images, ensuring your subjects stand out, and applying various adjustments for a polished final product.

Step 1: Mask Setup and Organization

• Start by creating a new layer for your adjustments.
• Use the Quick Selection Tool or Pen Tool to select the subject of your photo.
• Once selected, create a mask by clicking the mask icon in the layers panel.
• Organize your layers by renaming them for clarity (e.g., "Subject Mask", "Adjustments").

Step 2: Apply Camera Raw Filter

• Navigate to Filter > Camera Raw Filter.
• Adjust the Exposure, Contrast, and Highlights to improve the overall image quality.
• Use the Clarity slider to add midtone contrast and enhance detail.
• Make sure to apply changes and click OK to return to your main canvas.

Step 3: Desaturate Black Areas on Jersey

• Select the layer with the subject.
• Go to Image > Adjustments > Hue/Saturation.
• In the dialog box, use the drop-down menu to select Blacks.
• Decrease the saturation to desaturate the black areas of the jersey, making it less overpowering in the image.

Step 4: Selective Color Adjustment

• Open Image > Adjustments > Selective Color.
• Choose the color you want to adjust (e.g., Reds, Blues).
• Modify the sliders for Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, and Black to enhance specific colors in your image.

Step 5: Color Range Target for Highlights and Shadows

• Select Select > Color Range.
• Use the eyedropper tool to click on the highlights or shadows in the image.
• Adjust the Fuzziness slider to refine your selection.
• Create a mask from this selection for targeted adjustments.

Step 6: Dodge and Burn Techniques

• Create a new layer and fill it with 50% gray (Edit > Fill > 50% Gray).
• Set this layer to Overlay blending mode.
• Use the Brush Tool with a soft round brush to dodge (lighten) or burn (darken) areas of the photo.
• Focus on enhancing depth and dimension, especially on muscles and contours.

Step 7: Enhance Eye Reflections

• Zoom in on the subject's eyes.
• Create a new layer specifically for eye adjustments.
• Use the Brush Tool to add a small white dot or two on the iris to simulate reflections.
• Adjust the opacity of the layer to make the reflections look natural.

Step 8: Curves Adjustment for Final Tweaks

• Go to Image > Adjustments > Curves.
• Adjust the curve to increase contrast by creating an S-curve.
• Fine-tune the highlights and shadows for a balanced look.

Conclusion

By following these steps, you can effectively retouch sports photos in Photoshop. Each technique enhances the details and colors, ensuring your subjects pop in your designs. For further improvement, consider experimenting with different settings and additional filters to suit your personal style. Happy editing!