Web Design » Photoshop » How Do You Edit a Portrait in Photoshop for Beginners?

How Do You Edit a Portrait in Photoshop for Beginners?

Last updated on January 26, 2023 @ 5:20 am

Portrait editing is a critical skill for any photographer, amateur or professional. Whether you’re shooting a friend’s headshot or a family portrait, you want to make sure your subjects look their best. Luckily, Photoshop makes it easy to edit portraits with a few simple steps.

1. Open your image in Photoshop. The first step is to open your image in Photoshop. You can do this by clicking File > Open, or by dragging and dropping the image into the Photoshop workspace.

2. Select the Quick Selection Tool. Once your image is open, select the Quick Selection Tool from the toolbar on the left side of the screen. This tool will allow you to quickly and easily select the areas of the image you want to edit.

3. Make a selection around your subject’s face. With the Quick Selection Tool selected, click and drag around your subject’s face to make a selection. Try to be as precise as possible, but don’t worry if you’re not perfect – you can always adjust your selection later.

4. Refine your selection. Once you have a basic selection made, you can refine it by clicking Select > Refine Edge.

This will bring up a new window with options for refining your selection. Use the tools here to fine-tune your selection until you’re happy with it.

5. Make adjustments to your image. With your selection refined, you can now start making adjustments to your image.

You might want to brighten up your subject’s face, smooth out their skin, or remove any blemishes. To do this, simply select the tool you want from the toolbar on the left and start making changes.

6. Save your image. When you’re happy with your edits, click File > Save As to save a copy of your edited image. Be sure to choose a file format that supports layers (like .PSD or .TIFF), so you can go back and make changes later if needed.

Editing portraits in Photoshop is easy with these simple steps!

PRO TIP: This article is a beginner’s guide to editing portraits in Photoshop. While it provides some basic tips, it is not a comprehensive guide to portrait editing. Use this article at your own risk, and be sure to consult a more experienced Photoshop user before attempting to edit a portrait.
Morgan Bash

Morgan Bash

Technology enthusiast and Co-Founder of Women Coders SF.