Skin Retouching
Retouching for Different Skin Types and Tones
Most retouching tutorials assume a narrow range of skin types — usually fair to medium-toned, smooth skin. But real clients come with every possible combination of skin tone, texture, and type. Your retouching approach needs to adapt. Here’s what I’ve learned from retouching portraits across a wide range of skin types. Darker Skin Tones Darker skin has unique characteristics that affect how you retouch. Specular highlights are more visible. Darker skin reflects light differently, creating stronger, more distinct highlights especially on the forehead, nose, and cheekbones.