Portrait Photography Toolkit – Free Tutorial

Welcome to PSKiss Portrait Photography Toolkit step-by-step free tutorial

After you installed and opened the panel in Photoshop, you are ready to start working on your portraits

Working in “Button Mode”

All you need to do once the panel is visible, is to click on buttons. It’s truly that simple.

Each button in the panel launches a filter that allows you to manipulate your photo, quickly and easily. In this tutorial you will learn what each and every filter does.

The work with the panel is progressive – Each filter starts with the results of the previous one. Note that each filter creates a separate layer of it’s own, so the original image stays untouched. This layer has a unique name given by the filter. Please do not change this name, it is used by the very useful Merge All button.

At the bottom of the panel are 4 workflow assistance buttons.
These are explained at the end of this tutorial.

Download the Free Demo – Here

1. Density

This filter adds density to skin tone and hair:

Use the Density Amount slider to add more density
Use the Restore Reds slider to decrease influence on lips and other red objects in the image
Use the Contrast Control slider to increase or decrease the contrast of the image

2. Expose

This filter controls the exposure of the image:

Drag the slider to the right to brighten the exposure
Drag the slider to the left to darken the exposure
Increments are 0.1 EV in each direction

3. Pop-Out

This filter enhances contrast selectively, while protecting skin tone and aims directly to the eyes. Darkening shadows and highlights can be used to emphasize the effect:

Use the Global Amount slider to enhance selective contrast
Use the Plug Shadows slider to darken shadows
Use the Restore Highlights slider to darken highlights

4. Punch

This filter emphasizes contrast and color combined, giving the image a “punchy” look with “softness” control:

Use the Level slider to increase the effect
Use the Softness slider to slightly blur the effect

5. Black & White

This filter converts the image to black and white using a smart channel mixing script, result is a contrasty and detail rich image :

Use the Density slider to lighten (to the right) or to darken (to the left) the B&W layer
Use the Details slider to increase detail

6. Clarté

This filter increases or decreases local-contrast:

Drag the slider to the right to increase local-contrast and deepen details
Drag the slider to the left to decrease local-contrast and soften the image

7. Face Sharp

This filter sharpens the image using smart auto-mask that protects skin tone:

Drag the Amount slider set the sharpness intensity
Drag the radius slider to set the edge width

8. Look Factory

By all means, the heart & soul of the Portrait Toolkit. This filter allows you to apply a unique and creative look to your portrait. We chose to demonstrate it by itself, although it can be used before or after any other filter in the panel:

First, choose one the 6 presets. The intensity is set automatically to 50
Choose the desired cast – Red/Cyan or Blue/Yellow (can be removed with No Cast button)
Choose the lighting type – Warmth, Blast or Darkness (can be removed with Reset Light button)
Use the Global Control sliders to control Saturation and Vibrance
The Manual Adjustments sliders are set automatically by the preset you chose in step 1. You can manually adjust each one until you reach the desired look:
Magic – Controls the brightness of Reds
Passion – Controls the brightness of Yellows
Stardust – Controls the brightness of Greens
Desire – Controls the brightness of Cyans
Mystery – Controls the brightness of Blues
Secrets – Controls the brightness of Magentas