How to Achieve Perfect Skin Tones in Photoshop Every Time

Achieving perfect skin tones in Photoshop can be a daunting task for photographers, often requiring intricate knowledge of color grading and editing techniques. This challenge is particularly pronounced due to the wide range of skin colors and the various lighting conditions under which photos can be taken. This helpful video tutorial will show you everything you need to know to nail those skin tones every time.

Coming to you from Unmesh Dinda with PiXimperfect, this practical video unveils a straightforward method for consistently obtaining good skin tones in Photoshop, regardless of the subject's skin color or the initial quality of the photo. Dinda introduces a "cheat code" that simplifies the process into manageable steps, including duplicating layers for averaging skin tones, using reference skin tone samples for matching, and adjusting with curves layers. The approach is designed to be user-friendly, making it accessible for both novices and seasoned Photoshop users. 

The significance of this video lies not just in the technical know-how it imparts but also in its emphasis on creating a universal solution for a common problem faced by photographers. By breaking down the process into clear, actionable steps, Dinda demystifies color correction in post-processing, which is important for an editing process that many photographers traditionally struggle with. This tutorial underscores the importance of having good references and shows how simple adjustments in Photoshop can lead to significant improvements. Moreover, it highlights the necessity of customizing the editing process based on the specific needs of each photo, whether that involves adjusting midtones, highlights, or shadows. Check out the video above for the full rundown from Dinda.

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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3 Comments

Only 815 steps. Incredible.

I wish there was a tag saying "don't bother reading this, it's not an article, just advertisement for, YouTube".

Incredible.