How can I edit portraits to create a darker, tanned skin look without making the skin look muddy?
Asked 11/12/2018
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2 answers
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I’m trying to understand the post-processing used in some portrait images where the model’s skin appears much darker or more tanned than in behind-the-scenes photos. I already understand that lighting and exposure play a big role, but I’m specifically asking about the editing side.
When I lower orange luminance, the result starts to look dirty or muddy rather than naturally tanned. What adjustments are typically used to create this look more cleanly? Is the key to treat highlights and shadows differently, and then do additional color grading afterward?
Originally by Photography Stack Exchange contributor. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
Photography Stack Exchange contributor
7y ago
2 Answers
2
Firstly, there is no easy and simple way to achieve a natural looking tan in Photoshop.
The method below is one that I have used previously, but it does require a lot of patience to build up the skill levels to be able to see and judge what is a natural looking Tan and what isn’t, and saying that, it still does not work for every kind of image.
The idea is to introduce the Tan in separately for the Shadows and Highlights. Otherwise, it can make the Shadows even darker and a bit “Dirty”.
Once the Tan has been applied evenly, then you need to selectively color grade the image.
There are 3 steps to the process
Step One – Highlights
- Create a solid fill adjustment layer – choose a natural looking orange of your choice (remember it can be fine-tuned later)
- Change the blending mode to Color Burn
- Next, click on “fx” to work on your Layer Style
- Ensure Color Burn is selected in Blend Mode
- At the bottom of the panel, ensure “Gray” is selected next to Blend If.
- Now, holding down the alt key, slide the right side of the Left pointer of the underlying layer from Left to Right
- This will now split the pointer and remove the blending effect from the Shadows and only effect the Highlights
- Now Click back on the Solid color and adjust the color to fine tune. (This requires patience to build the skill levels)
Step Two – Shadows
- Create a solid fill adjustment layer – choose a natural looking orange of your choice (remember it can be fine-tuned later)
- Change the Blending Mode to Multiply
- Click on “fx” to work on your Layer Style
- Ensure Multiply is selected in Blend Mode
- At the bottom of the panel, ensure “Gray” is selected next to Blend If.
- Now, holding down the alt key, slide the left side of the right pointer of the underlying layer from Right to the Left
- This will now split the pointer and remove the blending effect from the Highlights and only effect the shadows
- At this stage, you may also want to slide the second underlying Layer from Right to Left to fine tune
- Now Click back on the Solid color and adjust the color to match to fine tune
Step Three – Color Correction
Here you have to remember the Rule about Opposite colors
- Cyan is the opposite of Red
- Magenta is the Opposite of Green
- Yellow is the opposite of Blue
Once again, you will need to build your skill levels.
- From the Adjustment Layers – Choose, Selective Colors
- Starting with Red, work on the Cyan, Magenta and Yellow
- Move the sliders until you have reached your desired color effect
Remember, you can always go back to each Solid Color Layer and adjust the Hues as you wish. Same applies to the Selective Color adjustments.
Once you have achieved what you feel is the best you can do for now, Save it as an Action for future.
Hope this Helps
Originally by user34085. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
user34085
7y ago
0
Generated from our catalog & community — verify before relying on it.
A natural-looking “tan” effect is usually not done with one global slider. If you simply lower orange luminance, skin often turns muddy because shadows get too dense and dirty.
A better approach is to build the look in stages:
- Correct overall tonal range first — set proper black and white points with Levels.
- Add warmth selectively rather than globally. One community method is to use a solid orange fill/adjustment layer and blend it so it affects lighter skin tones more naturally.
- Treat highlights and shadows separately. This helps add warmth to skin without making the darker areas look clogged or dirty.
- Shape contrast with Curves. A darkening curve or S-curve can help create the richer editorial look.
- Reduce excess saturation afterward. Strong curve adjustments often make colors too intense, so selective desaturation is usually needed.
- Fine-tune with masks so the effect stays mostly on skin and not the whole image.
In short: normalize tones, add warmth selectively, use curves for contrast, then selectively desaturate/color grade. Patience and subtle masking matter more than any single setting.
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