How to Use Frequency Separation in Photoshop

Photoshop has many powerful features for retouching photos, with one of the most impressive being frequency separation. However, this technique requires a very careful touch to achieve proper results. This great video will show you everything need to know to use it for retouching photos.

Coming to you from Aaron Nace with Phlearn, this helpful video will show you how to use frequency separation for retouching images in Photoshop. Frequency separation has a bit of a controversial reputation, as when it is carried too far, it can make people look like mannequins, and because of its power, it is extremely easy to overdo, something that led to an influx of artificial-looking photos for a while. The technique works by separating the texture and fine details of an image from broader data like color, allowing you to do things like work on evening out your subject's skin tone or smoothing out transitions between highlights and shadows (useful for correcting things like hot spots) without affecting their pores. When used properly, it can be a highly efficient and powerful technique; just be sure to use it sparingly. Check out the video above for the full rundown from Nace. 

Alex Cooke's picture

Alex Cooke is a Cleveland-based portrait, events, and landscape photographer. He holds an M.S. in Applied Mathematics and a doctorate in Music Composition. He is also an avid equestrian.

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Sometimes it feels like some photographers/editors over do it on the skin and make it too much of the focal point. Seeing every single detail and bump and white head. Its the opposite problem of over smoothing.