The power to create amazing beauty is the most famous - or infamous - facet of Photoshop.
Step 1:
This photo is a little under-exposed, but it's a beautiful photo of a beautiful lady:
Step 2:
To begin with, I lighten the photo overall:
Step 3:
The top half is still a little dark for my liking, so I lighten it up a little more:
Step 4:
A little more lightening in a few areas. Now I'm satisfied that I have a good base image to work on:
Step 5:
I select the skin, and balance the colour a little. Any areas that were too pink or too yellow are now "under control":
Step 6:
I duplicate the skin, and create a "perfect" skin layer. This looks ridiculous at this stage:
Step 7:
By reducing the opacity of the "perfect" layer, I allow some of the realistic skin texture to come through. The aim is to create a flattering appearance, without looking "plastic":
Step 8:
Finally, some small cosmetic adjustments, and some sharpening.
Roll mouse over to compare original to final:
If you have a question about this method, or any Photoshop question, please visit me at my "Ask Damien" Facebook page.
All content © Damien Symonds 2012