Frequency separation with a low-pass/gaussian-blur filter
Frequency separation with Photoshop’s surface blur filter

Create the Low Frequency Layer

Select the Low Frequency Layer then go to Filter > Blur > Surface Blur. Adjust the settings but don’t spend too much time on it because we’ll be fine-tuning this later.

Adjust the High Frequency Layer

Right now we have an overly-sharp image. Reduce the opacity of the High Frequency layer until you get something that looks more natural. Generally setting this to around 50% is a good start.

Adjust the Low Frequency Layer

Now that we’re done with the High Frequency layer, we can go back into the Surface Blur filter and fine-tune the effect. In your Layers panel, doubleclick on the Surface Blur filter to edit it.

Start off by setting the Threshold setting to 255 levels. Adjust the Radius setting so that the skin tones look smooth but set it so high that your entire image becomes blurry.

Reduce the Threshold setting until the details start to reappear. You might need to go back and forth between the two settings to fine tune it.

Group the Layers

Select the two frequency layers then press Ctrl+G (Cmd+G on Macs) to group the layers. Rename the layer to “Frequency Separation”.

Add a Layer Group Mask

On the bottom of the layers panel, hold the Alt/Option key then click on the Add Layer Mask button. Holding the Alt/Option key will create an inverted layer mask.

Select the brush tool and paint over the skin to reveal the airbrushed look. Make sure that your foreground color is white and that your brush opacity is not 0%. You can check the brush opacity in the option bar located below the menus.

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Need to Use the Healing Brush?

Good thing we used nondestructive editing techniques! Because if you didn’t, you would have had to start again from scratch.

To make direct edits to the image, doubleclick on the Smart Object layer. Photoshop will open the layer in a new document. You can make the adjustments here. When you’re done, just save and close the document and your main document will be updated with the adjustments you just made. Also, your frequency layers will be updated too so you don’t need to redo everything.

Tip: If you need to use the Healing Brush tool, do it on a separate layer. Create the layer then select the Healing Brush tool. In the option bar located below the menus, enable the “Sample All Layers” option. Now you can use the Healing Brush on a separate layer.

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25 responses to “How to Airbrush Skin With Frequency Separation”

  1.  Avatar
    Anonymous

    Great Job

    1.  Avatar
      Anonymous

      nice

  2. Trevor Garratt Avatar
    Trevor Garratt

    I have never used frequency separation like this before. My eyes are opened wider every single day!

  3. Benjamin Avatar
    Benjamin

    I have been trying to get this right for so many years. Up close like this, the task looks daunting to me, but you tutorial is really a good one.

  4. Colin Avatar
    Colin

    so amazing!

  5. Lucas Campau Avatar
    Lucas Campau

    Huh, I have never heard of this technique before and I am wondering why. I would be using this all of the time on the photoshoots that I deal with on a regular basis.

  6. Ahmed Avatar
    Ahmed

    Very nice training videos. Very informative! Thanks for the share.

  7. Emi Avatar
    Emi

    Great post here. It’s amazing what can be done with Photoshop. And it’s fun to learn all the tricks of the trade. :)

  8. abhian khan Avatar
    abhian khan

    wow its amaizing

  9. Anthony Avatar
    Anthony

    Very informative!

  10. Ishvalan Avatar
    Ishvalan

    where the download link source image?
    May I ask the picture?

  11. Bree Garcia Avatar
    Bree Garcia

    Following so I can watch later

  12. Karen Carmona Avatar
    Karen Carmona

  13. Marketing Database Avatar
    Marketing Database

    Nice :p

  14. Phyu Chit Avatar
    Phyu Chit

    Thank a lot for teaching.

  15. Michael Avatar
    Michael

    Very informative! Thanks for the share.

  16. Optical Overlays Avatar
    Optical Overlays

    IMO anything about story telling is great , who agrees?

  17. Optical Overlays Avatar
    Optical Overlays

    absolutely correct

  18. tom syrstad Avatar
    tom syrstad

    hi! i downloaded file a couple of times and couldn’t open it with winzip. any suggestions on my next step? thanks

  19. Vickie Bishop Avatar
    Vickie Bishop

    link is broken

    1. Patricia A. Trudell Avatar
      Patricia A. Trudell

      try again…it works for me

  20. Vikas Khogre Avatar
    Vikas Khogre

    super

    1. Marketing Database Avatar
      Marketing Database

      Interesting :p :)

  21. Syed Ramish Avatar
    Syed Ramish

    Helpful, but I’m not sure how many newbies will be able to reach to the smart layers and frequency layers in the first place. A thorough tut with VO would’ve been great.

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