Photoshop Elements > Retouching >

Glare on the Face

Glare can be darkened easily.

Be sure to check off as you go along.

Preparation

1) Preserve your original file.

If you haven't already done so, go to Preserve Your Original File.

2) Create a Background copy layer.

If you haven't already done so, go to Create a Background Copy Layer.

There are two methods.

Method #1 - Clone Stamp Tool

You can also experiment with using the Clone Stamp tool.

In the options bar:

• Change the Mode from Normal to Darken.

• Change the Opacity to 25%, or thereabouts.

• Deselect Aligned.

Method #2 - Paint

1) Make sure the Background copy layer is active (highlighted).

2) Create a Threshold adjustment layer.

The Threshold window will open.

The many brightness levels of the photograph are divided into two shades, black and white.

3) Move the white slider in the middle of the Threshold window to the right until only the highlights are selected.

Here, the slider was moved from 128 to 220.

4) Select the Magic Wand tool.

Make sure Opacity is at 100%, and Anti-alias, Contiguous, and Sample All layers, are deselected, all in the options bar.

The tolerance can be set just about anywhere, as the image is high contrast (black or white).

Click a white area.

5) Delete the Threshold adjustment layer.

Click, hold, and drag it onto the trash can icon.

The selection made with the help of the discarded Threshold layer remains.

You can feather the selection slightly.

Go to Select > Feather.

6) Use the the Selection Brush tool as a "mop."

Remove the areas from the selection that don't need to be darkened, such as the eyes and teeth.

If you haven't already done so, go to Selection Brush Mop.

7) Select the Eyedropper tool.

Or, hold down Alt to change the current cursor to an eyedropper.

8) Position the Eyedropper tool cursor on an area with a lighter shade of skin tone, and click.

The foreground color is now the selected skin tone.

9) Select the Paint Bucket tool.

Make sure Opacity is at 100%, and Anti-alias, Contiguous, and Sample All Layers, are deselected, all in the options bar.

Use a tolerance that fills the entire selection with the skin tone.

75 was used here.

10) Click the selection.

11) Reduce the opacity greatly.

You still want a highlight, but not a glaring one.

25% was used here.

12) Compare by deselecting the eye icon of the Background copy layer.

13) Press d to restore foreground and background colors to their defaults, black and white.

If you haven't already, go to Foreground & Background Colors.

Original

Glare Retouched

Saving the Photograph

If you haven't already done so, go to Saving Files.