Photoshop Tutorial: Photo Retouching With The Layer Mask

---

Posted: May 17th, 2007 | Author: Jennifer

---

Earlier in the week I posted a tutorial showing you how to use a layer mask to create a pretty cool special effect with gradients. Today’s tutorial again features the layer mask but this time we’re looking at a technique often used by photographers to give subtle sharpening to a portait.

In this case what we’ll do is duplicate an image, sharpen up the copied layer, then add a black layer mask to the sharpened layer and finally paint back in the sharpness where it is required, usually the eyes and the lips.

1. Open a portrait style image.

2. Duplicate the background layer by pressing Ctrl + J (Windows) or Cmd + J (Mac).

3. Make sure the duplicated layer is selected in the layers palette and then choose Filter > Sharpen > Unsharp Mask. Use the Amount and Radius sliders to increase the sharpening on the image. Overall, the image may look too sharp, but that’s ok because we are going to hide most of it with a mask. (For the purposes of demonstration I’ve COMPLETELY oversharpened here.)

4. Alt-click (Windows) or Option-click (Mac) the Layer Mask button at the bottom of the layers palette to add a black layer mask, which hides the entire layer. You will now paint with white to add the image back—to work additively you bring the image back into view.

This is because the black layer mask is hiding the contents of the layer. You’ll now paint in the eyes and lips using white.

5. Make sure the foreground colour is set to white. Then select a soft round tip and use the paintbrush to paint over the eyes and lips. Notice the black mask thumbnail shows exactly where the white paint has been used and the areas where the mask is see-through. The eyes and lips on the image should now look nice and sharp.

Related posts:

1. Photoshop Tutorial: Using a clipping mask & blending mode to create new clothes texture
2. Photoshop Tutorial : Creating a haunted gritty look
3. Photoshop Tutorial: Using A Gradient With A Layer Mask
4. Photoshop Tutorial: How To Create A Vignette or Soft Fade Edges in a Photo
5. Photoshop Tutorial : Make a Text Clipping Mask

---

Filed under: All | Tags: digital photography, Photoshop Tutorials | 3 Comments »

Related Posts:

Photoshop Tutorial: Adding a motion blur and using a layer mask In today's short video tutorial, I'm going to run through...

Photoshop Tutorial: Using a clipping mask & blending mode to create new clothes texture In this short tutorial, I’m going to take a look...

Photoshop Tutorial: How To Create A Vignette or Soft Fade Edges in a Photo A vignette is a photograph or illustration in which...