Ask any question about Photography here... and get an instant response.

When should you apply frequency separation during portrait retouching?

Asked on Nov 13, 2025

Answer

Frequency separation is a powerful technique used in portrait retouching to separate the texture from the color and tone of an image, allowing for precise editing of each element. This method is typically applied when you need to smooth skin textures while preserving fine details like pores and hair.

Open your portrait image in Photoshop and duplicate the background layer twice.
On the first duplicate layer, apply a Gaussian Blur to remove fine details, focusing on color and tone.
On the second duplicate layer, use the "Apply Image" function to subtract the blurred layer, isolating the texture.
Set the texture layer to "Linear Light" blending mode and use tools like the Healing Brush to retouch textures without affecting color.

Additional Comment:

Frequency separation is best used for subtle skin smoothing and should be applied with care to avoid unnatural results.
Always work on a duplicate layer to preserve the original image and allow for non-destructive editing.
Adjust the blur radius based on the resolution of your image to ensure optimal separation between texture and color.

✅ Answered with Photography best practices.

Ask any question about Photography here... and get an instant response.

When should you apply frequency separation during portrait retouching?

Asked on Nov 13, 2025

Answer

The Q&A Network