Can you change a subject’s eye direction in post-processing?
Asked 10/29/2011
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I have a portrait where the subject is looking straight at the camera, but I’d like the eyes to appear to look slightly up and to the right. In software like Photoshop, what’s the most practical way to do this, and how realistic can the result look?
Originally by Photography Stack Exchange contributor. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
Photography Stack Exchange contributor
15y ago
2 Answers
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I've done similar things when dealing with bad flash reflections on impromptu group shots. I grabbed the eyes of another family member and pasted them in place. When viewed at 100%, it looks a little odd.
This method really depends on how much of the image you're changing. If the eyes make up a significant part of the scene, it's going to look processed. If this is a full-length shot, then you may be able to get away with it.
A little noise added to the edit will help smooth out the "fake" look, too.
Originally by user5675. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
user5675
15y ago
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Yes, but it’s a retouching job rather than a one-click fix. A common approach is to isolate the iris/pupil area, rebuild the exposed white of the eye underneath with cloning/healing, then paste or move the iris/pupil to a new position. Another option is to borrow eyes or eye details from another similar shot and composite them in.
How convincing it looks depends on scale: if the eyes are small in the final image, you may get away with it; if the portrait is tight and the eyes are prominent, the edit can look artificial, especially at 100% view. Matching edges, tone, and texture is critical, and adding a little noise/grain can help the retouched area blend better.
So: it’s possible in Photoshop, but only for modest adjustments and with careful retouching. Large gaze changes in a close portrait are hard to make fully believable.
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