Photoshop Elements > Retouching >

Smooth Skin: Yet Another Method

Here's yet another way to make smooth skin.

The method is similar to Smooth Skin.

Also, have a look at Smooth Skin, Quickly.

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.

Three Background Copies

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

4) Create another copy of the Background copy layer.

Right click on the Background copy layer, and select Duplicate Layer.

Or, drag the layer onto the Create a new layer icon.

Or, press Ctrl + j.

5) You now have the following layers in the Layers panel (Layers palette).

Background copy 2

Background copy

Background

6) Change the name of Background copy 2 to Screen.

Screen

Background copy

Background

7) Change the blending mode of the Screen layer to Screen.

Blending Mode?

At the top of the layers stack, look for the unlabeled Blending Mode box.

It's to the left of the Opacity box.

Blending Mode Box

8) Make sure the Screen layer is active (highlighted).

9) Go to Filter > Blur > Gaussian Blur.

Set the Radius to a value far higher than you would normally.

Here, the Radius was set to 10.

10) Reduce the opacity of the Screen layer to 60%.

11) Create another copy of the Screen layer.

Right click on the Screen layer, and select Duplicate Layer.

Or, drag the layer onto the Create a new layer icon.

Or, press Ctrl + j.

12) Rename this layer as Multiply.

Multiply

Screen

Background copy

Background

13) Merge the Multiply and Screen layers.

Do the following.

a) Press Ctrl, hold, and click the two layers.

b) Press Ctrl + e.

c) Rename the new layer as Erase.

Erase

Background copy

Background

14) For more realism, erase the smooth skin effect from the eyes, nose (maybe), and mouth, on the Erase layer.

Where you erase the Erase layer, the in-focus Background layer will become visible.

Go to Erase Portions of the Erase Layer.