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**lithedreamer** · 01-16-2018, 01:37 PM

Hey all, long time no see (sorry, life has been... busy).

Photo in question: Imgur: The magic of the Internet

I shot with a model on Saturday, and she wasn't happy with the size of her pores on her cheeks in the photos. I've tried frequency separation (I end up smudging so much it looks just like the 'beauty filter' photo she sent me), and an inverted high-pass filter (I'm not sure it does enough), and the healing brush tool (which just makes her cheeks look weird).

I've scoured my postprocessing books, skimmed Amazon's options, looked on YouTube and Lynda, and I haven't found an answer three days in to this endeavour, help? I want to share about half a dozen of these shots, so I really need to learn how to do this.

Raw photo if you'd like to take a crack at it: Dropbox - Headshot.dng

**Kerrowdown** · 01-16-2018, 02:27 PM

Originally posted by lithedreamer

Tips on portrait retouching?

Just basic skin softening technique, localised brush, reduce clarity and increase both sharpness and noise.

I think as you point out, with all retouching work the trick is not to over do it. So here the texture is left in but is not rendered as so prominent. I just did this quickly from the jpeg image, as the dropbox link didn't work for me.

So this is just quick and dirty version to give you the idea, what do you think. I'm sure with more time and a raw file the overall effect could be made to look much better.

Na Horuk · 01-16-2018, 02:30 PM

Originally posted by Kerrowdown

Just basic skin softening technique, localised brush, reduce clarity and increase both sharpness and noise.

I'm not sure I get this. You mean you reduce Clarity and increase Noise Reduction on the part you want softened. But why increase sharpness? Wouldn't that make blemishes, pores stand out more?
Good work, though. Seems you did some desaturation on her cheeks as well

Sometimes its good to use a lens with lower sharpness and contrast to begin with. I can't really help with portrait PP, but Id like to learn as well

btnapa · 01-16-2018, 02:30 PM - **1 Like**

Originally posted by lithedreamer

so I really need to learn how to do this.

Here is a technique I used for a while

You Tube

I eventually ended up getting Perfectly Clear to make the retouching faster and to have more control.

**microlight** · 01-16-2018, 02:30 PM

Kerrowdown just beat me to it! Same technique; local adjustment brush in Camera Raw taking down the clarity. This is rough and ready with the DNG file, I'm sure that you could do better with a little more time.

**lithedreamer** · 01-16-2018, 02:37 PM

We ended up agreeing on a high-pass filter + making the eyes pop more with some selective adjustments, we're both really happy with the result:

Imgur: The magic of the Internet

---------- Post added 01-16-18 at 02:00 PM ----------

Thanks y'all for all the input!

**Kerrowdown** · 01-16-2018, 03:02 PM - **1 Like**

Originally posted by Na Horuk

You mean you reduce Clarity and increase Noise Reduction on the part you want softened

Yep.

Originally posted by Na Horuk

But why increase sharpness? Wouldn't that make blemishes, pores stand out more?

It offsets the clarity reduction slightly.

Originally posted by Na Horuk

Seems you did some desaturation on her cheeks as well

No, the combination of this technique tends to do that, dependant on the flow and density of your application of the brush.

Na Horuk · 01-16-2018, 03:12 PM

Thanks for the details, Kerrowdown!

Originally posted by lithedreamer

We ended up agreeing on a high-pass filter + making the eyes pop

If you are using PS you can easily do some blemish removal with the Healing Brush. Lightroom has this function, as well. You just click on every scar, blemish, pimple, whatever and usually it is automatically fixed. Sometimes you have to fiddle a bit more with opacity or choosing a different source. You should really zoom in when doing this work. This takes some time to do for everything, but it goes a long way!

**Kerrowdown** · 01-16-2018, 03:16 PM

Originally posted by Na Horuk

Thanks for the details, Kerrowdown!

Yw.

fizzio · 01-16-2018, 03:32 PM

Brought down the highlights generally to reduce the harshness on the face and cheeks globally then local brush with a tad reduced sharpness and reduced clarity, then spot removal to remove any residual pores and blemishes. JPEG on here but link below to DNG on Dropbox

Dropbox - Headshot.dng

**Tas** · 01-16-2018, 08:35 PM

Glad to hear your model was happy with your solution.

I'm not a portrait person myself, but wanted to offer a version that focuses on evening out the skin tones overall so the bags are less obvious as well as the pores.

I also reset the black/white points and reduced the exposure on the hair and neck, finishing with some sharpening of the eyes and lips.

Tas

Billk · 01-16-2018, 11:54 PM - **1 Like**

Soften pores by dodging with the dodge tool on 1% flow for both shadows and mid-tones.

Do that on a new layer and constantly compare the new layer to the original one so you don't overdo it. Unless you can still see pores, the image won't look real.

DonnaFernando · 08-08-2021, 02:43 PM

Originally posted by lithedreamer

Hey all, long time no see (sorry, life has been... busy).

Photo in question: Imgur: The magic of the Internet

I shot with a model on Saturday, and she wasn't happy with the size of her pores on her cheeks in the photos. I've tried frequency separation (I end up smudging so much it looks just like the 'beauty filter' photo she sent me), and an inverted high-pass filter (I'm not sure it does enough), and the healing brush tool (which just makes her cheeks look weird).

I've scoured my postprocessing books, skimmed Amazon's options, looked on YouTube and Lynda, and I haven't found an answer three days in to this endeavour, help? I want to share about half a dozen of these shots, so I really need to learn how to do this.

Raw photo if you'd like to take a crack at it: Dropbox - Headshot.dng

Is there anyone else here alive? I recently discovered Photoshop, but I don't know where to start. Can you give me any tips?

MarkJerling · 08-08-2021, 02:53 PM

Hi Donna and welcome.
If you're hoping to get some specific advice, then best would be to start a thread with a question.
I have found for both Photoshop and Lightroom that one of the best places to start is Youtube. There are many people who post very helpful tutorial on Youtube.
Kind regards,
Mark

jessicaKM · 08-08-2021, 05:51 PM

Originally posted by DonnaFernando

Is there anyone else here alive? I recently discovered Photoshop, but I don't know where to start. Can you give me any tips?

Wow, hi, how did you stumble across such an old thread? Photoshop is such a cool thing, now you can "play" with details as much as you like. The main thing is not to go overboard, and there are a lot of tips on how to use some tools not for their intended purpose, but get a great result. And nowadays there are a lot of services that do it, so it doesn't take you too much time. I use retouching services sometimes if i have lazy vibes, haha. I love photography, but it's hard to find the strength to become a pro at retouching. It takes talent and savvy.

01-16-2018, 01:37 PM	#1
lithedreamer Site Supporter Join Date: Sep 2013 Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 1,799	Tips on portrait retouching? Hey all, long time no see (sorry, life has been... busy). Photo in question: Imgur: The magic of the Internet I shot with a model on Saturday, and she wasn't happy with the size of her pores on her cheeks in the photos. I've tried frequency separation (I end up smudging so much it looks just like the 'beauty filter' photo she sent me), and an inverted high-pass filter (I'm not sure it does enough), and the healing brush tool (which just makes her cheeks look weird). I've scoured my postprocessing books, skimmed Amazon's options, looked on YouTube and Lynda, and I haven't found an answer three days in to this endeavour, help? I want to share about half a dozen of these shots, so I really need to learn how to do this. Raw photo if you'd like to take a crack at it: Dropbox - Headshot.dng

01-16-2018, 03:32 PM	#10
fizzio Junior Member Join Date: Mar 2016 Location: Doncaster, South Yorkshire Photos: Gallery Posts: 27	Retouching Brought down the highlights generally to reduce the harshness on the face and cheeks globally then local brush with a tad reduced sharpness and reduced clarity, then spot removal to remove any residual pores and blemishes. JPEG on here but link below to DNG on Dropbox Dropbox - Headshot.dng Attached Images

01-16-2018, 11:54 PM - 1 Like	#12
Billk Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: Melbourne, Victoria Posts: 349	Soften pores by dodging with the dodge tool on 1% flow for both shadows and mid-tones. Do that on a new layer and constantly compare the new layer to the original one so you don't overdo it. Unless you can still see pores, the image won't look real. Attached Images

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01-16-2018, 02:30 PM	#3
Na Horuk Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Slovenia, probably Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 11,186	Originally posted by Kerrowdown Just basic skin softening technique, localised brush, reduce clarity and increase both sharpness and noise. I'm not sure I get this. You mean you reduce Clarity and increase Noise Reduction on the part you want softened. But why increase sharpness? Wouldn't that make blemishes, pores stand out more? Good work, though. Seems you did some desaturation on her cheeks as well Sometimes its good to use a lens with lower sharpness and contrast to begin with. I can't really help with portrait PP, but Id like to learn as well

01-16-2018, 02:30 PM	#5
microlight Site Supporter Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: Hampshire, UK Posts: 2,129	Kerrowdown just beat me to it! Same technique; local adjustment brush in Camera Raw taking down the clarity. This is rough and ready with the DNG file, I'm sure that you could do better with a little more time.

01-16-2018, 02:37 PM	#6
lithedreamer Site Supporter Join Date: Sep 2013 Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 1,799 Original Poster	We ended up agreeing on a high-pass filter + making the eyes pop more with some selective adjustments, we're both really happy with the result: Imgur: The magic of the Internet ---------- Post added 01-16-18 at 02:00 PM ---------- Thanks y'all for all the input!

01-16-2018, 03:02 PM - 1 Like	#7
Kerrowdown PEG Moderator Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Highlands of Scotland... "Hold Infinity in the palm of your hand" - William Blake Photos: Gallery Posts: 57,867	Originally posted by Na Horuk You mean you reduce Clarity and increase Noise Reduction on the part you want softened Yep. Originally posted by Na Horuk But why increase sharpness? Wouldn't that make blemishes, pores stand out more? It offsets the clarity reduction slightly. Originally posted by Na Horuk Seems you did some desaturation on her cheeks as well No, the combination of this technique tends to do that, dependant on the flow and density of your application of the brush.

01-16-2018, 03:12 PM	#8
Na Horuk Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Slovenia, probably Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 11,186	Thanks for the details, Kerrowdown! Originally posted by lithedreamer We ended up agreeing on a high-pass filter + making the eyes pop If you are using PS you can easily do some blemish removal with the Healing Brush. Lightroom has this function, as well. You just click on every scar, blemish, pimple, whatever and usually it is automatically fixed. Sometimes you have to fiddle a bit more with opacity or choosing a different source. You should really zoom in when doing this work. This takes some time to do for everything, but it goes a long way!

01-16-2018, 03:16 PM	#9
Kerrowdown PEG Moderator Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Highlands of Scotland... "Hold Infinity in the palm of your hand" - William Blake Photos: Gallery Posts: 57,867	Originally posted by Na Horuk Thanks for the details, Kerrowdown! Yw.

01-16-2018, 08:35 PM	#11
Tas Site Supporter Join Date: Aug 2013 Location: Brisbane, QLD Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 2,202	Glad to hear your model was happy with your solution. I'm not a portrait person myself, but wanted to offer a version that focuses on evening out the skin tones overall so the bags are less obvious as well as the pores. I also reset the black/white points and reduced the exposure on the hair and neck, finishing with some sharpening of the eyes and lips. Tas

08-08-2021, 02:43 PM	#13
DonnaFernando New Member Join Date: Aug 2021 Posts: 1	Originally posted by lithedreamer Hey all, long time no see (sorry, life has been... busy). Photo in question: Imgur: The magic of the Internet I shot with a model on Saturday, and she wasn't happy with the size of her pores on her cheeks in the photos. I've tried frequency separation (I end up smudging so much it looks just like the 'beauty filter' photo she sent me), and an inverted high-pass filter (I'm not sure it does enough), and the healing brush tool (which just makes her cheeks look weird). I've scoured my postprocessing books, skimmed Amazon's options, looked on YouTube and Lynda, and I haven't found an answer three days in to this endeavour, help? I want to share about half a dozen of these shots, so I really need to learn how to do this. Raw photo if you'd like to take a crack at it: Dropbox - Headshot.dng Is there anyone else here alive? I recently discovered Photoshop, but I don't know where to start. Can you give me any tips?

08-08-2021, 02:53 PM	#14
MarkJerling Moderator Site Supporter Join Date: May 2012 Location: Wairarapa, New Zealand Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 20,423	Hi Donna and welcome. If you're hoping to get some specific advice, then best would be to start a thread with a question. I have found for both Photoshop and Lightroom that one of the best places to start is Youtube. There are many people who post very helpful tutorial on Youtube. Kind regards, Mark

08-08-2021, 05:51 PM	#15
jessicaKM New Member Join Date: Aug 2021 Posts: 1	Originally posted by DonnaFernando Is there anyone else here alive? I recently discovered Photoshop, but I don't know where to start. Can you give me any tips? Wow, hi, how did you stumble across such an old thread? Photoshop is such a cool thing, now you can "play" with details as much as you like. The main thing is not to go overboard, and there are a lot of tips on how to use some tools not for their intended purpose, but get a great result. And nowadays there are a lot of services that do it, so it doesn't take you too much time. I use retouching services sometimes if i have lazy vibes, haha. I love photography, but it's hard to find the strength to become a pro at retouching. It takes talent and savvy.