PATCH
& FADE
By: Dave Stabley
I am not certain how much editing other
photographers do to their images in post, but for
me, that is a major part of the job. I can’t begin
to relate the number of clients (models included)
who have asked that I smooth out some of the
wrinkles and eliminate a blemish or two in their
final edits. Because of that, I thought in this issue
I would share a very simple, and easy method for
you to use to correct, or mediate age lines, bags
under the eyes, blemishes, or rough skin - using
Photoshop.
For those who are familiar with the power and
available options in Photoshop, you will quickly
recognize this is not the only way to address these
problems. It is just “another” way that you can add
to your skill set, in case the way you happen to try,
doesn’t work for some reason.
STEP 1
Open your headshot in Photoshop, then duplicate
the Background layer using CTRL+J on the PC,
or CMD + J on a Mac. (This step isn’t absolutely
necessary, but I prefer to work on a new layer, just
in case I totally go off course, and need to start
over again.)
STEP 2
Select the PATCH TOOL
(it’s located under the Spot
Healing Brush Tool). Now
using the Patch Tool, select
an area that needs some help,
then Click & Drag that area to
another area that contains a
similar skin tone, but without a
similar problem. For instance,
if it is a blemish we are trying
to eliminate, circle the blemish with the Patch Tool,
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NM CliQ Magazine | September 2015
then drag the selected area to an area of clear
skin and release the mouse. Try to drag it to an
area with similar skin texture - the texture around
the cheeks is different from the skin around the
forehead which is different from the skin around
the nose. Try for a close match.
In some cases, this may be all you need to do...the
blend may be exactly what you were looking for.
However, there are times when the Patch Tool can
leave a distinct edge around where you made the
selection, or the blend just isn’t perfect. In cases
like that, move on to STEP 3.
STEP 3
After you remove the selection (CTRL+D or
CMD+D), or Hide it (CTRL+H or CMD+H), if the
Patch Tool has left a