Controlled 16-Bit Frequency Separation
Separate fine pore texture from underlying color and tonal transitions with accurate blur-radius selection so skin never looks blurred or plastic.
Photography & Lighting
Program #007 · Photography
✓ Free Online Intro Included
Natural Skin & Commercial Portrait Retouching in Photoshop
Retouch executive headshots, beauty frames, and editorial portraits non-destructively in Photoshop while keeping real skin texture and consistent color.
One-click skin-smoothing filters flatten facial structure and blur pores into waxy plastic, immediately undermining high-end headshots and commercial campaigns. Professional portrait retouching separates texture from tone and color: starting with balanced 16-bit RAW preparation, isolating blemishes cleanly, evening patchy luminosity transitions with subtle Curves Dodge and Burn, unifying redness across face, ears, and neck, and exporting color-accurate files.
✓ Free Online Introductory Session
Start with a free online intro consultation for this course: we review the syllabus together, clarify how many sessions you need based on your goals and pace, and decide whether continuing Online ($69 CAD/hr) or In-Person ($99 CAD/hr) suits you best.
First Session
Free Online Intro
Session Rates
$69/hr Online · $99/hr In-Person
Course Structure
Tailored to Your Level & Pace
Instructor & Language
Iman Adlkhah · EN & Persian
Prefer just the written framework instead of live sessions? A standalone $39 CAD PDF guide option can also be requested for this course: select the PDF option below.
Need on-location photography for your team, brand, or listing in Toronto & GTA? Explore our Toronto Photography Services, configure a shoot on Book Online, or see recent shoots on @tehranto.plus on Instagram.
Course Learning Pillars
Core Capabilities Developed in This Course
Every learner starts from a different background. These are the core capabilities this course develops, paced to your goals across the sessions we plan together.
Non-Destructive Curves Dodge & Burn
Smooth uneven cheekbone shadows, under-eye fatigue, and nasal folds delicately using luminosity-masked Curves layers at low brush flow.
Face, Ear, Neck & Hand Color Unification
Neutralize localized magenta redness, yellow casts, or makeup mismatches so skin reads evenly from forehead to collar.
Grooming Details, Backdrop Polish & sRGB Accuracy
Clean stray flyaway hairs, lint, and studio paper backdrop creases without banding, and embed proper sRGB profiles for consistent screen display.
Course Syllabus
Core Concepts & Topics Covered
Below are the main concepts and topics covered in this course. In your Free Online Intro Session, we align the exact depth and number of sessions to your experience and goals.
Topic 01
RAW Conversion, Color Space Setup & Non-Destructive Layer Stack
Building a clean 16-bit foundation before touching a healing brush so your Photoshop file stays organized, editable, and color-true.
- Balancing base exposure, white balance, and soft contrast in Camera Raw / Lightroom
- Configuring 16-bit ProPhoto/Adobe RGB working spaces and disabling display warm-shift
- Healing blemishes and stray hairs on dedicated blank layers without smudging pores
Topic 02
16-Bit Frequency Separation Without Plastic Artifacts
Understanding when and how to use Frequency Separation responsibly, choosing the right pixel radius for each portrait's focal distance.
- Building an exact 16-bit Apply Image action separating Low tone from High texture
- Choosing blur radius based on head size in frame so pores stay strictly on High
- Cloning texture-only imperfections on High while evening blotchy patches gently on Low
Topic 03
Micro & Macro Dodge & Burn Plus Skin Color Harmony
Sculpting natural three-dimensional facial transitions and harmonizing uneven skin hues across every visible area.
- Setting up a black-and-white luminosity check group to reveal patchy shadow transitions
- Painting subtle 2% to 3% flow Curves adjustments to soften under-eye and jawline breaks
- Matching magenta, olive, or yellow shifts across cheeks, ears, neck, and hands
Topic 04
Eyes, Wardrobe, Studio Backdrop Cleanup & Delivery Profiles
Finishing the portrait with restrained detail work, clean studio paper gradients, and reliable sharpening and export settings.
- Refining catchlights, brows, and fabric wrinkles while respecting real facial character
- Rebuilding clean studio paper backdrop gradients free of 8-bit color banding
- Applying output-specific sharpening, realism opacity checks, and sRGB IEC61966-2.1 export
Course Reference Overview
Commercial Portrait Retouching Standards
Core practical benchmarks and standards covered as part of this course's curriculum.
| Retouching Layer | Over-Retouched Amateur Look | Studio Non-Destructive Method | Final Visual Standard |
|---|---|---|---|
| Skin Pore Texture | Heavy Gaussian blur or AI smoothing erasing skin structure | 16-bit separation + low-flow Dodge & Burn keeping pores intact | Believable texture even at 100% zoom |
| Under-Eye & Smile Lines | Cloning out natural anatomical folds completely so the face looks uncanny | Softening harsh shadow contrast by 30% to 50% via Curves Luminosity | Well-rested expression that still looks like them |
| Skin Color Consistency | Desaturating redness into grey patches or ignoring neck mismatch | Targeted Hue/Saturation and sampled color balance in Luminosity/Color modes | Unified, healthy skin tone from head to shoulder |
| Eyes, Teeth & Export | Blinding blue-white sclera/teeth and dull color shifts on mobile upload | Subtle natural brightening + embedded sRGB profile export | Editorial polish with reliable cross-device color |
Start With Your Free Intro Session
Book Program #007: Natural Skin & Commercial Portrait Retouching in Photoshop
Choose a time for your Free Online Intro Session to map out your course path, or book an Online ($69/hr) or In-Person ($99/hr) session directly, or request the $39 CAD PDF guide option.
1. Choose Option & Preferred Time (ET)
Standalone PDF Guide Option ($39 CAD)
If you prefer to study the written framework and reference checklists of this course on your own instead of live coaching sessions, enter your details on the form to request the $39 CAD PDF edition. We will coordinate and send your payment link and PDF guide via email or WhatsApp.
Program FAQ
Common Questions
Do I need a drawing tablet (such as Wacom) for this Photoshop course, or can I work with a mouse or trackpad?
You can start comfortably with a standard mouse or MacBook trackpad. We configure low brush-flow settings (2% to 3%) that build transitions gradually without needing pen-pressure hardware, and if you later decide to add a tablet for high-volume work, we show you how to set up pressure curves cleanly.
How does the Free Online Intro Session work, and how many sessions will I need?
Every course begins with a Free Online Introductory Session where we review the core syllabus together, evaluate your current background and goals, and map out how many sessions you actually need and whether continuing Online ($69 CAD/hr) or In-Person ($99 CAD/hr) suits you best. Session count is never a rigid one-size-fits-all number; it adapts to your own level and pace.
Do I have to commit to a multi-session package, or can I get just the PDF guide?
There is zero upfront package commitment: live sessions are booked flexibly session-by-session ($69 CAD/hr online or $99 CAD/hr in-person). If you prefer a self-paced written guide instead of live coaching, a standalone $39 CAD PDF option can also be requested for this topic.
Are courses taught in English, Persian (Farsi), or bilingual?
Your choice: every session with Iman Adlkhah can be conducted 100% in English, 100% in Persian (Farsi), or naturally bilingual with industry terminology.
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