ACR (Adobe Camera Raw) Spells Abracadabra Retouching

[F, Calla & Luca]

For some time the gurus have been talking about doing just about anything in Camera Raw Editing. I caught a few minutes of this but not specifically on retouching portraits. But there are videos on the web. I am sorely tempted to but a big class (Jack Davis) on this. But before I did that I fiddled around. I don't know if those of you who have the Camera Raw plug in for PSE have the same tools, or even if I with CS6 have all the tootls of CC. I know, for instance, I don't have all the tools in Liquefy, that folks with CC have : (

I took a portrait of Sarah last weekend. It was OK because Sarah is beautiful. But it was cold which affected skin tones etc. So only using tools in ACR, I selectively reduced clarity, which smooths the skin, and reduces wrinkles. I also brightened eyes, whitened teeth  and put a little color in cheeks and lips. I still see little areas I might redo but I wasn't aiming for a phony PSed look. 

Voila' 

Before

After

[Carol and Banjo]

Oh my, what a wonderful portrait you've created.    I love how natural this looks.    I've been out of the loop....know zippo about Camera Raw.   I've just started shooting in RAW and am finally learning to use Lightroom.   A slow process, but I'm making some progress.   I'm going to have to do some research and see if CR works in Lightroom.    I do have PSE but have doing most of my editing right in LR.

Terrific job F!!!!!

[F, Calla & Luca]

Thank you Carol. I really was pleased. I don't know Lightroom though it sits on my computer. But to use ACR you don't need to shoot in RAW although that doesn't mean you shouldn't. But you can even open jpegs in ACR.

[Carol and Banjo]

I'm definitely going to check it out.   Thanks F.

[Jarka, Monty & Auggie]

I have been playing in ACR for a few weeks as well. It's amazing.

How did you brightened the eyes, whitened teeth and put in cheeks and lips? I thought I can only do overall fixes to the whole picture since there are no layers in ACR.

[F, Calla & Luca]

Ah, there are masks. There is a brush, I forget  the name that allows you to do masking,  and then you can make targeted changes. I will add videos as I come across them. There are things that allow you to feather the brush, etc.

[F, Calla & Luca]

The brush is the Adjustment Brush : )

[Tom Ferguson]

nice job
I use both LR and PS all the time. You did a nice job .... it is important to not over do it

Tom

[F, Calla & Luca]

Thanks.

[DJ & Chance]

Wow--you did a GREAT job with this portrait!

[F, Calla & Luca]

Thank you DJ.

[Cheryl and Finnegan]

Great job F! I use the various tools in PSE's Perfect Portrait but this looks so natural.  Very nice.

[F, Calla & Luca]

Thanks, I'm enjoying learning more about Camera Raw.