How To Smooth Skin In Lightroom (and Photoshop)
If you like this tutorial, you might like my art. (NSFW)
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Adobe Lightroom does some things great, and some things badly. Adobe Photoshop basically fills the gaps left by Lightroom, and vice-versa.
Because each application has its strengths and weaknesses, I prefer to use both Photoshop and Lightroom on each photo. I simply pass the photo back and forth to get the benefits of each app.
For this process, while easy, it’s to be considered “quick and dirty”. There are better methods out there for professional retouching, but if you don’t like to spend too much time editing, or just want an entry level technique, this is it.
If you prefer to watch (instead of read), I made a video below:
Lightroom’s Texture Slider
Adobe added a slider called texture into Lightroom.
It’s great for softening skin texture, but it’s not content-aware enough to do it just on skin. This slider tends to soften hair and other details.
Some of you might think this looks fine and doesn’t need anymore work. Or, some of you might be fine adding sharpening like the Unsharp Mask.
For me, though, I want some of the original sharpness produced by my camera. I don’t want to destroy any of the original structure where I don’t have to. That’s where my process is terrific.
Step 1. Make all your basic corrections
In my process, get the picture of your model color corrected and practically finished. Make skin softening your last step. Do not play with texture in Lightroom.
Step 2. Send your original image to Photoshop
Make sure Photoshop is open. In your top navigation, go to Photo > Edit In > Edit In Photoshop.
It may take a minute, but your photo will appear in Photoshop.
Step 3. Turn down the texture, then send to Photoshop
With your original image already sent to Photoshop, it’s time to send the “smooth skin” version. Slide down the texture bar as far as you’d like. Yes, the hair, eyes, and other detail will become soft. But for this, just focus on the skin tone.
When you have smooth skin (ignore everything else), go to Photo > Edit In > Edit In Photoshop.
It may take a minute again, but your second photo will appear in Photoshop.
Step 4. Drag the soft image onto your sharp image
You’ll have two photos on Photoshop as separate files. Yours may look something like this:
Next, click the move tool and drag your right (soft) image onto your left (sharp) image.
You will now have a layered project. Make sure they are identically placed. Photoshop should try to snap the dragged photo into place.
At this point you can delete the non-layered project. That is, you can close the original soft image.
Step 5. Paint away the sharp details with a layer mask
This is the fun part. Add a layer mask. By clicking this button, you’ll create this white mask.
This is a layer mask. If it’s white, paint on it with your paint brush. Make sure to use black paint.
As you paint, you’re essentially using the paint brush like an eraser. You can change the opacity or flow if you’d like finer strokes.
Paint over areas like eyes, nose outlines, lips, hair, tattoos, and body details and creases you want to keep.
If you make a mistake and over-paint, just change your color to white and paint the mistake. It’ll vanish. Change your color back to black, and continue your fine touching.
The end result is a beautiful, blended image where the correct parts are sharp, and the skin tone is smooth.
In time, this be very quick and simple.
