Skin retouching help 1

One issue

After I paint the mask, if I want to paint again, it removes paint mask. I didnt even use black but white and yet it still removes my masking.

Using black doesnt even remove or reverse the masking. Only white does. How come?

Hi

Another vote for high frequency retouching here.

I think it is always worth learning the manual steps first bfore using actions.

So:

1.Make 2 new duplicate layers (Ctl+J)

2. Name the lower layer - Low frequency

    Name the upper layer - High frequency

3. Select the "Low Frequency Layer" and use Filter Gaussian Blur (approx 6.0)
4. Select the "High Frequency layer"
    Go to Image - Apply Image
    Set Layer as Low Frequency
    Set blending to Subtract
    Set Scale 2
    Set Offset 128
    Click OK

5. Change the Blending mode of the high frequency layer to Linear Light.

Now you can clone out sharp blemishes on the High frequency layer and deal with darkening /lightening and softer areas on the low frequency layer

Note the above applies to 8 bit images. For 16 bit images step 4 changes slightly to :

4. Select the "High Frequency layer"

    Go to Image - Apply Image

    Set Layer as Low Frequency

    Tick Invert

    Set blending to Add

    Set Scale 2

    Set Offset 0

    Click OK

Dave

1. Duplicate the layer

2. Filter > Blur > Gausian blur 56.0 (for this particular image)

3. In the History panel move the History Brush symbol down to the Gaussian Blur step

4. Still in the History panel, click on the step before the Gaussian Blur step. It will deblur the view

5. In the Tools panel choose the History Brush. Options bar: Soft brush, Mode: Lighten

6. Paint strokes across blemished areas to smooth skin but maintain modeling.

Camera RAW  > negative Clarity is an easy way to improve skin texture.   I'm  told  that a lot of wedding photographers use this trick nowadays.  Making the layer a Smart Object is a good way to go.  Negative Clarity is 'reasonably' good at ignoring the bits you don't want to  loose detail from, but it is best to paint out the effect in the SO mask.

[EDIT]  I should have said...  I  used a value of -90 for  the above example.

One option would be frequency separation, a Smart Object, desaturated and with High Pass applied, set to Blend Mode »Linear Light« on a blurred version or even a Layer with Brush-painting.