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Tutorial For Sean Archer Portrait PS Actions CS6

Tutorial

INSTRUCTIONS:

Start by opening your image in Photoshop, then click Play in Sean Archer Portrait Action. If you haven't installed the Action you can go to this link for instructions on Installing LensLab Actions.

STEP 1.  RE-LIGHTING
    1. Select layer mask in Layer called “Re-light Darken”
    2. Use soft brush to paint back original light in and around face
    3. When done, click Play button in Action to continue

 

STEP 2.  ADD A NEW LIGHT SOURCE
    1. Select layer mask in “Re-light Darken” again
    2. Use a big, soft brush (approx. shoulder width) at 100% opacity
    3. Dab brush next to head on the opposite side of original light
    4. When done click Play to continue

STEP 3.  BRING UP HIGHLIGHTS IF NECESSARY
    1. Make the “Re-Light Lighten” layer visible
    2. Adjust Opacity to bring up highlights if necessary
    3. When done, click Play in Action to continue

 

STEP 4.  SELECT EYES

  1. Click into the layer mask of the “Select Eyes” layer
  2. Use Circlular Marquee Tool to make a selection just inside of each eyeball where the color is
  3. Fill selection in mask with white
  4. Use a brush to bring back in the tops of the eyes where the lids are
  5. When done, click Play in Action to continue

 

STEP 5.  ADJUST EYE COLOR (Optional)

  1. Click into main layer of “Select Eyes”
  2. Select “Image > Adjustments > Levels
  3. Don’t adjust in the RGB channel, instead select from the pulldown each color channel (Red, Green, Blue)
  4. Use the midtone slider of the Input Channel to adjust each color for the desired effect
  5. When done, click OK

STEP 6.  EYE COLOR INTENSITY

  1. Adjust layer opacity for amount of color intensity
  2. When done, click Play to continue

 

 

STEP 7.  ADD BACKGROUND TEXTURE LAYER

    1. Open included file called “Background Texture”
  1. Copy and paste it into this file as a new layer above all other layers
  2. Resize background texture to cover entire image
  3. When done, click Play again

  

STEP 8.  MASK SUBJECT FROM BACKGROUND

  1. Select layer mask in layer “Background Texture”
  2. Use a brush with 100% opacity to mask out subject from background texture 
  3. Click Play in Action to continue

 

STEP 9.  ADJUST BACKGROUND COLOR & OPACITY

  1. Your “Background Texture” layer is selected and you are in Image > Adjustments > Levels
  2. Don’t use RGB mode, instead select from pulldown each color to adjust (Red, Green, Blue)
  3. Adjust the midtone slider under the histogram for the desired effect
  4. Try to make the background compliment the colors of subject’s eyes, hair, face, etc.
  5. Adjust layer opacity for desired effect
  6. When done, click Play to continue 

 

STEP 10.  ADJUST CROSS PROCESSING INTENSITY

  1. Adjust Opacity of Layer Folder, “Cross Processing” to desired cross-processing intensity
  2. Click Continue

  

CONGRATS, YOU'RE DONE!

Remember every image is different so here’s some tips to get the most out of this Action:

  1. Try this action several times with slight variations to see what works best.
  2. Check your final cropping - the rule of thirds is often handy!
  3. Check into individual layers and make adjustments as necessary

  

 

Reference Images