What is Frequency Separation?
Frequency Separation (FS) is a professional Photoshop retouching technique that separates an image into two layers:
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High Frequency (Texture & Details – pores, wrinkles, hair)
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Low Frequency (Color & Tone – skin smoothness, shadows, highlights)
This allows photo retouchers to edit texture and color independently, creating natural-looking, flawless skin without losing realism.
How to Do Frequency Separation in Photoshop
Step 1: Prepare the Image
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Open your portrait in Photoshop.
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Duplicate the background layer twice (Ctrl+J / Cmd+J).
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Rename one “Low Frequency” (color/tone)
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Rename the other “High Frequency” (texture/details)
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Step 2: Create the Low Frequency Layer (Smooth Tone)
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Select the Low Frequency layer.
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Go to Filter → Blur → Gaussian Blur (Radius: 5-15px, adjust based on image resolution).
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The blur should soften skin tones but keep major shadows/highlights.
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Step 3: Create the High Frequency Layer (Texture)
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Select the High Frequency layer.
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Go to Image → Apply Image.
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In the dialog box:
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Layer: Low Frequency
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Blending: Subtract
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Scale: 2
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Offset: 128
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Change the High Frequency layer’s blend mode to Linear Light.
Now you have separated texture (High Freq) from tone (Low Freq)!
Retouching with Frequency Separation
1. Fixing Skin Tone (Low Frequency Layer)
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Use the Healing Brush or Clone Stamp (Opacity: 20-30%) to:
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Even out blotchy skin
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Soften harsh shadows
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Fix discoloration
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2. Refining Skin Texture (High Frequency Layer)
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Use the Clone Stamp (Sample: Current Layer) to:
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Reduce visible pores
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Smooth wrinkles (without over-blurring)
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Remove blemishes while keeping natural skin texture
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3. Final Polish
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Add a Curves adjustment layer for contrast.
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Use Dodge & Burn to enhance facial contours.
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Apply slight Sharpening if needed.
Pro Tips for Best Results
✔ Avoid over-blurring → Keeps skin looking natural.
✔ Work on a duplicate layer → Non-destructive editing.
✔ Zoom in (100%) → Ensures precision.
✔ Use a Wacom tablet → Better control than a mouse.
Frequency Separation vs. Other Skin Retouching Methods
| Method | Best For | Pros | Cons |
|---|---|---|---|
| Frequency Separation | High-end beauty, fashion | Natural texture, precise control | Steeper learning curve |
| Dodge & Burn | Portrait retouching | Great for shaping light | Time-consuming |
| AI Skin Smoothing | Quick edits | Fast results | Often looks fake |
| Surface Blur | Basic retouching | Easy to apply | Loses detail |
When Should You Use Frequency Separation?
- Beauty & Fashion Photography (Magazine-level retouching)
- Professional Portraits (Weddings, modeling portfolios)
- Product Photography (Skin-perfecting for cosmetics ads)
- Not ideal for photojournalism or documentary work (ethics).
Take Your Retouching to the Next Level
Mastering Frequency Separation will make your photo retouching faster, more precise, and more professional. Practice on different skin types to perfect your technique!
