Portrait Photography Retouching Workshop: Brightening Eyes and Teeth
Introduction:
In the world of portrait photography, the smallest details can make a significant difference in the overall impact of an image. The eyes and teeth are two critical areas that, when enhanced, can elevate a portrait to new heights. In this tutorial, we will explore advanced retouching techniques to brighten the eyes and whiten the teeth for a realistic yet captivating result using Adobe Photoshop.
Editing Steps:
1. Reduce the yellows:
Begin by addressing the yellow cast on the model’s teeth. Add a Hue/Saturation Adjustment layer and select the Yellow channel. Reduce the Saturation to decrease the yellow tones and then move the Lightness slider to the right to brighten the areas containing yellow.
2. Mask teeth:
After making the global adjustment, you’ll notice that the yellow reduction has affected the model’s skin tone as well. To correct this, use the Lasso Tool (L) or Quick Selection Tool (W) to create a precise selection around the teeth. Feather the selection slightly and fill it with white to isolate the adjustment to the teeth only.
3. Target adjustments:
To maintain natural color variation and avoid sharp gradations, refine the Color Adjustment range by using the sliders at the bottom of the Hue/Saturation dialogue. Focus on the strongest yellow tones without over-restricting the range.
4. Lift eye exposure:
Create a new Layer Group named Eyes and add a Curves Adjustment Layer within this group. Lift the curve at the top until it almost touches the top of the graph to increase the exposure of the eyes. Invert the Layer Mask (Ctrl/Cmd + I) and use a soft white brush to paint over the eyes, selectively applying the adjustment.
5. Sample eye colors:
With the Brush Tool (B) active, click on the Foreground Color and sample the dominant eye color. Move the sample point in the Color Picker up and to the left to select a lighter, more vibrant shade of the eye color. This will help you add depth and dimension to the eyes during the retouching process.
Conclusion:
By following these steps, you can enhance the eyes and teeth in your portrait photographs to create a more attractive and engaging image. Remember to always work with a light touch to maintain the natural look of the subject. The goal is to enhance the features without making the retouching noticeable, ensuring that the final image is both realistic and striking.
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