Have you ever wondered why ACR and Lightroom are so good with skin tone selections, but the native tools in Photoshop are antiquated? I have. It baffles me that masking is so easy to do in a program that just recently received masking. Yet Photoshop, which has had masking since 1994, has horrible options for selecting skin tones easily.
In this video, I will show you four methods for selecting skin tones. Two of them are poor, but we have to talk about them, and two of them will make incredible skin tone selections. One of them actually uses ACR as a filter to create the mask in Photoshop.
Yes, the impossible IS possible!
f.64 Academy and f.64 Elite are the brainchildren of Blake Rudis. While he is a landscape photographer, he is most passionate about post-processing images in Photoshop and mentoring others.
For Blake, it's all about the art and process synergy. He dives deep into complex topics and makes them easy to understand through his outside-the-box thinking so that you can use these tricks in your workflow today!
For Blake, it's all about the art and process synergy. He dives deep into complex topics and makes them easy to understand through his outside-the-box thinking so that you can use these tricks in your workflow today!
You never cease to amaze me, Blake. Thank you for this very useful technique! I am getting a tremendous return on my coffee money investment on you–it’s priceless!
🙂 You’re the best, Juan!
Next job, Blake: how to use Photoshop selections inside Lightroom…
I appreciate the suggestion, but I see no need for that 🙂 You could make a selection in Photoshop and then use ACR as a filter, which would give you access to the develop tools you’d find in Lightroom.
More features in Photoshop are beneficial to masks, like blend if, blend modes, opacity, fill, etc. Lightroom doesn’t have that. So I wouldn’t need to bring a selection from Ps into Lightroom (or ACR) because I would lose access to the things that make PS so powerful. But in contrast, ACR and LR have easier-to-use selection and masking tools so there is a need (for some people) to get those masks out of there to use in Ps.
Blake, you are a genius. I hadn’t thought of doing that. Lr/ACR handles colours much more easily than Ps; I’ll be trying it. (PS I kind of had tongue in cheek anyhow…!)
!
Thanks a lot, Blake! I love your tips and tricks!
Blake
You rock. Everytime you put out something it seems that is exactly what I was having a problem with. So thank you. I was able to fix a buffalo.
Blake, your understanding of under the hood in PS amazes me. I usually use ACR as a filter but your method allows the use of other adjustments found only in PS like blend if you are able to attain the same exact selection that ACR affords. Is my understanding correct? Thanx
Yep, perfect understanding 🙂
Fantastic! Thanks, Blake.
PS: Love your little pup.
Fantastic Blake. Amazing. Many more adjectives.
You’re a Photoshop genius Blake. Although I don’t often photograph people I really enjoyed seeing this technique and who knows how and where I can use it, right? Everything you can learn is making you better.
That..is a very cool technique Blake. Kudos!!
Great video! Great way to address a question we’ve all had. Thank you so much.
You are a genius !
Great Blake! Great. You and your creativity.
Thank you,