CoffeeShop "Portrait Mini" Photoshop/PSE Retouching Action!

One of the strengths of Photoshop and PSE is that you can retouch images quickly without making "Plastic People" (unlike most apps out there).

The photographer Amanda Hunter ( Facebook) contacted me the other day and asked if I could make a mini-version of my huge CoffeeShop Portrait Toolbox 2.0 action. She wanted it distilled down to a simple six layer version and I loved her suggestion. So today I am sharing my newest portrait retouching action called CoffeeShop "Portrait Mini".

This action adjusts contrast, brightens your image, smooths skin, enhances eyes, and whitens teeth. It works in both Photoshop and Photoshop Elements. I posted a little tutorial below how to use it, and you can download the free action on the bottom of this post.

I really appreciate when readers make suggestions for my blog, so thank you Amanda!




CoffeeShop "Portrait Mini" Photoshop/PSE Action Tutorial:

Open up your image and start the action. 

Adjust the Curves to taste. I pulled up the middle a bit to slightly lighten the image.

After the action finishes running you will see 6 new layers but your image won't look much different other than slightly brighter. 

Adjust the opacity of the top three layers and paint on the layer masks on the bottom three. 

Define: This layer adds definition to the shadows in your image, so it really looks great on most hair/brows/lashes. Adjust the opacity of this layer to taste.

Brighten Everything: Adds brightness to your image. Adjust the opacity to taste. 

Brightens Whites: This layer adds a nice contrast to the lighter parts of your image. Adjust the opacity to taste.

Whiten Teeth: Click on to select the black layer mask on this layer and then use a hard white brush to paint on the teeth. If you want to see where you are painting as seen above, click the "\" key. The background will turn red and you will see where you are adding the layer effects. Click the "\" key again to remove the red.

Skin Smoothing: Click on the black layer mask of this layer and then use a semi-soft white brush to paint softness on the skin. Avoid the lips, eyes, brows, tip of nose, etc. Then adjust the opacity of that layer to taste.

Eye Pop: Click on the black layer mask of this layer and use a hard white brush to paint on the iris to make the eyes really pop.

This retouching is quite subtle but really enhances the image! And no plastic person, it just looks like good lighting.

Download the CoffeeShop "Portrait Mini" Photoshop/PSE Action.

 
Do you want to download thousands of professional CoffeeShop PSE/Photoshop actions (including exclusive ones not found anywhere for free), textures/overlays, scrapbooking papers, clip art/design elements, photo storyboards and frames, and Lightroom presets from this site in one convenient zipped file AND help support this one-woman blog?

Just click here for my CoffeeShop Mega Download Pack!

CoffeeShop "Sweet Enchantment" Photoshop/PSE Action!

I had a few months where I was in an editing/action-designing slump. Probably the rainy weather. But lately I have been on a roll and I have a new Photoshop/PSE free action called "Sweet Enchantment" to share with you today!

This action runs in Photoshop/PSE and is fully adjustable. I especially love using it on florals and portraits (especially babies), but it can be used on any image. I have a full step-by-step tutorial on using it posted below. 

Download this free action on the bottom of this post. And check out my CoffeeShop Action/Preset Pack! It is on special right now and includes 100's of my favorite actions and presets, including the one I am posting today. Purchase of this pack support this blog, so I thank you! And you get free updates up to two years after your purchase as a perk. :-)

(original image)

(original image by Charlotte Coneybeer)

CoffeeShop "Sweet Enchantment" Action Tutorial:

Run CoffeeShop "Sweet Enchantment".

Adjust the contrast under the curve and the right side of the Output Levels to taste. You can also adjust this after the action finishes running. It is preset to give a soft "Matte" effect.

Apply a soft blur.

This is the image after the action finishes running, no adjustments.

I turned on the "Soft Glow" layer.

I also turned on the "Sweet Enchantment Deluxe" layer, adjusted its opacity to 40%, and then used a soft black brush to paint it off the greens on the right side of the image.

Run CoffeeShop "Sweet Enchantment".

This is the image after the action finishes running, no adjustments.

I turned on the "Soft Glow" layer.

I used a soft white brush on the "Remove Red" layer to paint that layer on the skin, making sure to avoid the lips. Then I lowered the opacity to 75%.

I would love to see your own edits using this action on my Facebook page!

Download the CoffeeShop "Sweet Enchantment" Photoshop/PSE Action!

Do you want to download thousands of professional CoffeeShop PSE/Photoshop actions (including exclusive ones not found anywhere for free), textures/overlays, scrapbooking papers, clip art/design elements, photo storyboards and frames, and Lightroom presets from this site in one convenient zipped file AND help support this one-woman blog?

Just click here for my CoffeeShop Mega Download Pack!

CoffeeShop "Sweet Pastel Baby" Photoshop/PSE Retouching Action!

I am so excited to release my newest baby portrait Photoshop/PSE action called "Sweet Pastel Baby"! This action removes and smooths blotchy skin, removes red/yellow tints, enhances eyes, adds rosy cheeks/lips, adjusts contrast, and adds a soft beautiful tint. This action is also fully adjustable.

This action is for intermediate Photoshop/PSE users and I would suggest reading the tutorial posted below before running the action. You have to know how to paint on layer masks to use this action (tutorial).

I used two gorgeous baby images (baby 1, baby with hat) from Pixabay on this post tutorial.

CoffeeShop "Sweet Pastel Baby" Photoshop/PSE Tutorial:

(original image)

Adjust Contrast: Run the "Sweet Pastel Baby" action on your image. When the Levels adjustment layer settings pop up, adjust the contrast sliders under the curve to taste. I usually brighten the midtones by moving the middle gray slider to the left.

Auto-Skin Smoothing: When the "Replace Color" layer settings pop up, click to select the baby's skin with the eyedropper. Click on the dropper with the plus (+) sign to add skin to the selection and adjust the Fuzziness slider to fine-tune the selection.  Then press "OK".

NOTE: If your background is a similar color to baby's skin as seen in this image, don't worry. You can paint off any softening effect after the action finishes running.

Adjust the Radius and Threshold sliders to soften baby's skin. It is better to over-soften at this point as you can reduce it after the action finishes running.

This is what the image looks like after the action finishes. Now I will go and adjust all of the layers.

Enhance Eyes: If you want to enhance eyes and really make them "pop", click on the black layer mask of the "Eye Pop" layer and paint on the iris of the eye with a semi-hard white brush and adjust the layer's opacity to taste. Don't overdo it, you don't want scary alien eyes!

You can adjust the layers in any order you want, but I am going to walk you through my edit of this baby image.

Remove Reds: I turned on the "Remove Reds" layer and adjusted the opacity to 28%. Then I used a soft black brush at 100% opacity on the lips to add the color back.

Remove Yellows: I turned on this layer to remove the slight yellow tint to the white blanket.

Soft Pastel Extreme: I turned on this layer and put the opacity at 10%. I also like using Soft Light or Overlay blending mode on this layer.

Soft Pastel: I turned the opacity of this layer down to 17%.

Feel free to adjust both of the "Soft Pastel" layers to taste on you own images. You can change the opacity, paint on the layer masks, or change the color/blending mode.

Skin Smoothing: This is what the automatic skin-smoothing layer mask looks like without adjustments. As you can see the light background and blanket are selected as well as the skin.

NOTE: You can see your B&W layer mask as seen above by holding "option" or "alt"down while clicking on it. Repeat to remove the effect.

I used a soft 100% black brush and painted off the skin smoothing layer on the background and blanket. I also removed it around her hair. 

You can also adjust the opacity of the "Skin Smooth" layer.

Rosy Blush/Lips: Select the black layer mask of "Paint on Blush/Lips" and then grab a soft white brush and paint on the baby's cheeks and lips. You can adjust the opacity to taste and even change the color of this layer.

This is my final edit and I love how soft and sweet it turned out! This enhancement is very subtle and best run on baby images with good lighting like this one. 

I hope you enjoy using my newest free action!!! I would love to see your own before/afters on my Facebook page. And please don't hesitate to ask any questions in the comments on this post. 

Download the CoffeeShop "Sweet Pastel Baby" Photoshop/PSE action!

Do you want to download my favorite CoffeeShop PSE/Photoshop Actions and Lightroom Presets or Design Elements in one convenient zipped file AND help support this blog? Just click here for my action pack or here for a download of some of my most popular design elements, storyboards, and textures.

For complete info on installing all of my actions, click here.

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CoffeeShop "Sanibel Beach Dreams" Photoshop/PSE Editing Tutorial: Part 2!!!

I am so excited about my newest beach portrait editing tutorial I call "Sanibel Beach Dreams". This editing technique is very dreamy  and colorful, reminiscent of a Skagen beach painting.

Today is Part 2 of my "Sanibel Beach Dreams" Photoshop/PSE editing tutorial. In Part 1 I walked you through the portrait retouching. Please go read that post first. Today in Part 2 I will show you how I add gorgeous pastel color to the sand, water, and sky. You can grab the  "Beach Dreams Water & Sky" Photoshop/PSE action if you want to automate the process.

You can grab the full version deluxe "Sanibel Beach Dreams" action in my CoffeeShop Action Download pack.

In Part 3 I will show you how I add a gorgeous sky overlay to a boring beach sky and I include some custom  CoffeeShop sky overlays.

CoffeeShop "Sanibel Beach Dreams" Photoshop/PSE Editing Tutorial PART 2: Pretty Sand, Water and Sky

Today we will go from the "before" on the left to the "after" on the right. The gorgeous original image is by Jessica Edwards Photography.

Here is where we were when I left you yesterday in Part 1 of the tutorial. The retouching is finished and we are ready to add gorgeous colors!

1. Beautiful Sand: To add a beautiful glowing color to the sand, I start with a brownish Color Fill adjustment layer (#b3a298) and I fill its layer mask with black to hide the effect. 

You can play around with the brown color for your own images to get the perfect final tint.

I used a semi-soft white brush on the layer mask to paint in the beautiful color on the sand and on her hat. To see where I have added the brown "Sand" layer (white paint) I clicked on the layer mask while holding the alt/option key down. Click again to remove.

If you are new to layer masks please go read this layer mask tutorial.

I put the "Sand" layer in Overlay blending mode, 100%. You can also try Soft Light or Multiply. 

I think this is lovely.

2. Pretty Water and Sky: The next step is to add beautiful color to the sky and water. 

If you have a flat sky with no clouds you can add a sky overlay before doing this step. I show you how I do this in Part 3 (and I include some new beach overlays) I have some for free download here and here.  I will also post a new one on my next post. Pretty Actions has some beautiful sky overlays you could also purchase or you can find gorgeous ones you can edit at Pixabay.

In this image the sky is perfect so I will just add some beautiful color. I added a Color Fill Adjustment layer (#117a81) and filled the layer mask with black. You can adjust this blue color for your own image.

I used a 50% semi-soft white brush to  paint the color into the ocean and a 100% soft brush to add it to the sky. You can play with the brush opacities and also adjust the final opacity of that layer to taste. You could also make two layers, one for the sky and one for the water.

I put the "Pretty Water and Sky" layer in Overlay blending mode, 100%. You could also try Soft Light or Multiply.

At this point of the edit I will fine-tune the Sand and Water colors where they meet by painting on their layer masks so it looks more realistic. You don't want the blue water color on the sand.

At this point I am loving this edit! I could stop here, but I want to add gorgeous pink/ivory colors to the sky and water next in Part 4 of my "Sanibel Beach Dreams" tutorial.  If you want to add a dramatic sky to your portrait, be sure to go read Part 3 of my tutorial (includes new sky overlays.)


Do you want to download thousands of professional CoffeeShop PSE/Photoshop actions (including exclusive ones not found anywhere for free), textures/overlays, scrapbooking papers, clip art/design elements, photo storyboards and frames, and Lightroom presets from this site in one convenient zipped file AND help support this one-woman blog?

Just click here for my CoffeeShop Mega Download Pack!