Dani

Diamonds Retouching Notes

CAMERA RAW
(P) Preview Button YOUR BEST FRIEND, but only works in current tab (basic, HSL, etc.)
White Balance:
Test both sliders (temperature/tint) to extremes, slide back and forth until you hit the
sweet spot
Find the Sweet Spot, using skin as the primary focus for best white balance results

Do NOT use EXPOSURE SLIDER UNIVERSALLY LAST RESORT Slider

Whites:
First-check slider to extreme to see what it's affecting
Use this to pop the skin and give it some life

Shadow:
Use with caution as it tends to flatten and take away contrast, use blacks in conjunction
with shadows to bring out skin if it's very dark
Clarity:
PERFECT use for contrast, pop, and especially freckles and hair (5-15)
Warning: Misuse could result in blotchy skin
Highlights:
Use for necessity only if image appears flat or needs contrast after all above have been
used. This can also be used for recovering any blown areas of the image.
HSL (hue/saturation/luminosity) *** Key Class Secret
(T) Target Tool shortcut, ideal for dragging on skin to auto adjust sliders
Hues
o Red Skin fix in hues by moving slider to right to create brown/orange skin which
is more pleasing. Keep your eye on lips as a guide from going too far
Luminance (Lighting)
o Brightens or darkens skin (red & orange slider)


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Straighten/Align:
(A) Image then open in Photoshop
PHOTOSHOP
*****Prior to Playing Action****

Clean blemishes/stray hairs (NOTE: only for small dots, blemishes, pimples, make-up, etc.)
Spot Healing / Patch Tool (J) Short Cut

IMPORTANT: Prior to running action,
o Flatten image
o Ensure background layer is locked
*****Play Photoshop Action****
5 25 pixels blur of the Dust & Scratches prompt (keeping in mind the sharp outlines of
the lips when viewing and) NO OIL PAINTING LOOK
o Frequency Separation (Orange Action Layer)
Method #1: This method is faster but less precise. Used for evening tones
and lighting on skin.
(L) Use Lasso Tool feathered to 10 pixels to select both skin you do and do
not like. Blur via Filters > Blur > Gaussian Blur and use same value used with
previous Dust & Scratches
Use Control/Command F to repeat Gaussian Blur as you make selections
Longer/Precise Method #2: Brush 3% Flow 100% Opacity
Sample Brush color surrounding areas of color by (Alt/Option)
o Dodge & Burn (Blue Action Layer)
Guide: Google "Contour Makeup Diagram" and select images
Brush 5% Opacity / 100% Flow
(D) Shortcut to set default swatch colors to B/W
(X) Swaps from black to white
White is Dodge/Black is Burn
o Eyes (Green Action Layer) with settings indicated on layer
Eye Brighten #1 Layer
Eye Brighten #2 (If Needed) Layer (100% Opacity/10% Flow Brush, painting
Black to Burn, White to Dodge)
Teeth & Eyes Paint on Layer Masks 100% opacity/flow
Eye sharpening Paint on mask 70% opacity. In-focus skin/hair/lips 30%.
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