Youthful Glowing Portraits: Quick Tutorial
Achieving the Supermodel Glow in Digital Images
The visually appealing, often idealized aesthetic frequently observed in magazines, on photography platforms, and within advertising campaigns – characterized by softened skin and a radiant complexion – can be replicated digitally. This technique aims to emulate the look of "glowing" portraits.
This effect is readily achievable in under a minute, offering a quick method to enhance image quality. It’s a popular choice for creating a polished and flattering appearance.
Best Image Types for the Effect
While applicable to a wide range of images, this technique yields the most noticeable improvements when used on portraits or photographs featuring individuals. The softening effect is particularly effective on skin tones.
Many individuals accumulate a substantial collection of portrait photography. Experimenting with this effect on existing images can demonstrate its simplicity and the professional-looking results it delivers.
Consider opening several of your existing portrait photos to quickly assess how easily this warm glow effect can be applied. The process is designed to be remarkably straightforward.
Achieving a Radiant Glow in Your Images
A soft, glowing effect can be added to virtually any image possessing sufficient contrast, detail, and well-defined highlights, particularly in facial regions, as demonstrated here. This tutorial utilizes Photoshop, however, the underlying principles are readily applicable within GIMP as well.
Step-by-Step Guide
Begin by selecting an image that would benefit from enhanced visual impact and a touch of dramatic flair, such as the example provided.
To initiate the process, create a duplicate of your original Background layer. This can be accomplished by right-clicking on the layer and choosing the "Duplicate Layer" option.
Next, adjust the levels of the duplicated layer. Access the levels tool by pressing the appropriate key combination, and then manipulate the sliders for the midtones and highlights.
The goal is to brighten the image and enhance the highlights without causing it to appear washed out. Confirm your adjustments by clicking "OK".
Following the levels adjustment, apply a Gaussian Blur filter. Navigate to Filter > Gaussian Blur and select a low to medium blur radius. This will soften details without completely obscuring the image's features.
Locate your Layers panel and modify the "Blending Mode" of the blurred layer to "Screen".
Final Touches
The resulting image will exhibit increased brightness, smoother skin textures, and a pleasing, warm glow. Further refinement can be undertaken to achieve an even more enriched aesthetic.
Enhancing Portrait Photography with a Professional Radiance
Employing an adjustment layer incorporating a levels effect, positioned above your existing layers, can contribute to softening the overall image and imparting a subtle, vintage aesthetic. We modified the output levels to render whites with a more gray tone and to brighten the midtones in this instance.
Within Photoshop, an adjustment layer is added by selecting the
However, GIMP lacks adjustment layer functionality, necessitating the merging of your layers prior to application.
The image now reflects the addition of our new levels adjustment. Selecting the
within the "Adjustments" panel allows you to add a "Photo Filter" and alter the quality of light present in the image. Comparable effects to the "Photo Filter" adjustment layer can be achieved in GIMP, though manual implementation is required.
A warming light effect can be readily applied to the image using a configuration such as this.
Conversely, a cooling effect, evoking a winter-like atmosphere, can be generated with this alternative setting.
More experienced users may even explore independently adjusting the levels of each color channel (Red, Green, and Blue) to achieve a distinctive vintage effect. If you are unfamiliar with this technique, our previous article detailing contrast adjustment in either Photoshop or GIMP can provide guidance.
Have you encountered any professional photo effects you'd like us to showcase? Do you possess unique techniques that you believe are superior? Share your insights with us in the comments section or via email at ericgoodnight@howtogeek.com.
Image Credits: Pretty Girl I Know by Phil Hilfiker, Creative Commons.