the frequency separation technique

8/10/2019 The Frequency Separation Technique

1/19


2/19

12/10/2014 The Ultimate Guide To The Frequency Separation Technique | Fstoppers

https://fstoppers.com/post-production/ultimate- guide-frequency- separ ation- technique-8699 2/19

Chances are you have already learned what FrequencySeparation (FS) technique is, as it became mainstream in thepast few years. However, many FS technique users actuallyknow very little theory behind it, thus have little control over itsimplementation. I've set out to research and collect all theimportant and useful information about it, so we can together learn how to become better at it.

UPDATE (May 2014): check out my new article The Ultimate

Guide to the Dodge & Burn Technique - Part 1: TheFundamentals (http://fstoppers.com/the-ultimate-guide-to-the-dodge-burn-technique-part-1-the-fundamentals)

After we look at the slightly geeky results of my research ( my sources at the end of this article ), I would also like to share withyou a few practical ways of its smart implementation with the

help and advice from my friends: commercial photographer from Moscow, Aleksey Dovgulya (http://dovgulya.ru/) (you may remember Aleksey from my Shooting With Mixed Studio Lighting (http://fstoppers.com/author/julia) article ) and Toronto-based photographer & retoucher Michael Woloszynowicz (http://www.vibrantshot.com/blog/) .

Frequency Separation technique is virtually a process of decomposing of the image data into spatial frequencies, so

that we can edit image details in the different frequencies independently. There can be any number of frequencies ineach image, and each frequency will contain certain information (based on the size of the details). Typically, we breakdown the information data in our images into high and low frequencies.

Like in music any audio can be represented in sine waves (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sine_wave) , we can also break up animage into low and high frequency sine waves. High frequencies in an image will contain information about finedetails, such as skin pores, hair, fine lines, skin imperfections (acne, scars, fine lines, etc.).

Low frequencies are the image data that contains information about volume, tone and color transitions. In other words: shadows and light areas, colors and tones. If you look at only the low frequency information of an image, youmight be able to recognize the image, but it will not hold any precise detail.

You may have seen this optic illusion that exploits the frequency separation principle. If you look at this image from anormal distance from your computer while reading this article you will see Albert Einstein's photo. Now, get up andwalk away from your screen. Look again. Who do you see now?

B E T T E R T H A N A

G R A Y C A R D

expoimaging.com

ExpoDisc: the fast and accurate

original white balance filter.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sine_wavehttp://dovgulya.ru/http://fstoppers.com/author/juliahttp://www.vibrantshot.com/blog/http://fstoppers.com/the-ultimate-guide-to-the-dodge-burn-technique-part-1-the-fundamentals


3/19



Essentially, this image is a combination of photos of Marilyn Monroe in the low frequency layer and Einstein's in thehigh frequency layer. When you look at the image from a close distance you see the high spatial frequency image(Einstein), the fine details, the outlines of his facial features. Once you walk away, your eyes will adjust - the "low passfilter" of your vision will kick in - and you will see the low spatial frequency image (Marilyn Monroe).

Within the digital photography editing craft, the separation of spatial frequency data in images can be utilized for skin(and not only) retouching. While there are a number of ways to implement the Frequency Separation technique, thesteps you take to get to the final result will define the amount of time spent and the quality of the outcome.

Before we begin , I want to make a quick note regarding the use of the High Pass filter in the FS technique. When it isused to separate the image into high and low spatial frequencies, the results are inaccurate. In other words, after theseparation your image data is slightly skewed, so you compromise the quality of the outcome before you even beginretouching.

But! That inaccuracy is mainly affecting the pixels with extreme brightness, and when used smartly, it can actually bebeneficial to the outcome in some situations. I will talk about this later.

Let's first talk about this more accurate algorithm.

APPLY IMAGE SETUP1a. Duplicate your Background layer twice: the top layer is the base for the high frequency image data and the bottomduplicate is for the low frequency image data.

1b. Turn off the visibility of the High Frequency layer and select the Low Frequency layer.


4/19



2. With the Low Frequency layer selected, run the Gaussian Blur filter and choose Pixel Radius with which all the finedetails will be blurred. We turn off the visibility of the High Frequency layer, so that we can better see how our choice of Pixel Radius affects the entire image. After you've applied the Gaussian Blur filter, turn the High Frequency layer'svisibility back on.

3. Now select the High Frequency layer and go Image > Apply Image and depending on what color depth you'reworking in your settings will be as follows (click to enlarge):

(https://d1w5usc88actyi.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/16-8-bit-color-depth.jpg)

Note that in the Layer dialog you will need to select the layer that contains your Low Frequency (blurred) image. In my example it is called just that "Low Frequency layer".

4. Now change the Blending Mode of the High Frequency layer to Linear Light and your overall image will lookexactly as before you started the separation.

You're set up. I usually also group these two layers, so my Layer stack is more organized.

From this point on, every retoucher and photographer chooses his or her preferred tools to work their magic. Basically,we aim to soften and even out color and tone transitions on the Low Frequency layer, without affecting skin texture,which was captured and preserved on the High Frequency layer.
https://d1w5usc88actyi.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/16-8-bit-color-depth.jpg


5/19



You will normally hear that the Clone Stamp tool or the Healing Brush tool with Current Layer Sampling setting andvery low Hardness are the tools to work on the Low Frequency layer; the same tools only with very high Hardnesssettings are your High Frequency layer tools.

Check out my old video where I only used the Healing Brush tool. I've changed my ways drastically since then, but we'lltalk about that later. The goal of this video was to show how fast this technique can be, so you will see a countdownclock at the top of my screen - 25 minutes, boom!

http://youtu.be/z8fQgDWUaRwNote: I named the High Frequency layer "High Pass - texture" in the video, which is incorrect, because I was actually using the Apply Image setup. Well, live and learn!

If that's all you've been doing so far, let me share a few more strategies that I've learned from my own experience andfrom my talented friends. We all love experimenting and coming up with new ways to use ordinary tools andtechniques, so here's what we've come up with so far.

HIGH PASS FILTER SETUPHigh Pass filter setup for the Frequency Separation technique isn't all that bad, and shouldn't be completelywritten off as an inaccurate way to separate spatial frequencies.

As I mentioned before, when High Pass filter is applied to the High Frequency layer in place of the Apply Imagefunction, it gives you an imprecise final image where the brightest pixels are usually grayed out. According to my friend

Aleksey, it actually plays out well when you are retouching skin with a bit of overexposed highlights on it. They gettoned down and the skin looks more matte as a result. Other parts of the photo where you wouldn't want the highlightsto be muted down (such as specular highlights on the lips, catchlights in the eyes, etc.) can be easily covered up with aLayer Mask.

Aleksey also insists that it's a very quick method, and should be used along with the Apply Image FS algorithm whenappropriate. He explains that using the High Pass filter gives you more control in deciding what information belongs onthe High Frequency layer and what should be blurred out on the Low Frequency layer. This way, after you'veperformed the separation, your further retouching should be much faster and precise.

Here's how Aleksey explains how he selects the correct High Pass radius.

For example, we've got this photo to retouch. There are some problems that should be taken care of on the LowFrequency layer such as shadows, larger areas of colors and tones that we need to soften or remove. On the other hand, there are also little blemishes on the skin texture, which should be handled on the High Frequency layer.


6/19



To separate spatial frequencies with the High Pass filter, we need to create two duplicate layers, just like in the ApplyImage approach. The top layer will contain our High Frequency image data and the bottom layer will be our LowFrequency layer.

We select the High Frequency layer, apply the High Pass filter to it (Filter > Other > High Pass) and slowly move theRadius slider from zero up.

At this point, we need to figure out how much fine details will be taken to the High Frequency layer, and what will besmoothed out on the Low Frequency layer. As soon as we start seeing excessive tonal transitions, bulky textures andvolumes we should stop - that will be the limit of what goes onto the High Frequency layer.


7/19



2px Radius isn't enough because it barely picks up any texture, and we're risking to leave important fine details out.


8/19



At 7.8px Radius we're starting to see what we don't want to go onto the High Frequency layer - excessive tonaltransitions and volumes - so we have to go back down.


9/19



And at 3.5px Radius we get the right amount of fine details, so this will be the number we select. Click OK, and thenchange the High Frequency layer's Blending Mode to Linear Light and Opacity to exactly 50% .

Now turn the visibility of the High Frequency layer off, and apply the Gaussian Blur filter to the bottom layer - LowFrequency - with the same Pixel Radius we have just selected in the High Pass filter dialog .

Turn the visibility of the High Frequency layer back on, and we're ready for retouching.

On the Low Frequency layer you can use either the Healing Brush (very soft, Sampling set to Current Layer), CloneStamp (very soft, lower Opacity, Sampling set to Current Layer) or Simple brush tool to even out colors and tones. Ipersonally have recently found that working with a simple Brush on lower Opacity works the best for me. I dosometimes still use the Healing Brush tool, but I never use the Clone Stamp tool on the Low Frequency layer.

On the High Frequency layer you can use all of the same tools, only your brushes and the Clone Stamp tool shouldhave higher Hardness settings and higher Opacity percentage. I personally prefer the Clone Stamp and hard HealingBrush tools for working on the High Frequency layer. Those tools help me to avoid smudging and softening skin

texture.

I highly recommend trying all of the mentioned above tools and figuring out in what situations what tools work best for you.

And here's the result of the quick skin retouch on Aleksey's photo through the High Pass setup:


10/19



According to my crafty friend, this skin retouch took him only a few minutes because the frequency spatial data of theimage was properly separated. All the texture remained intact on the top layer - High Frequency layer - and the colorsand tones were quickly evened out underneath it.

"The Apply Image and High Pass approaches of separating frequency spatial data of an image are the twomain ways of how I use the FS technique," says Aleksey, "Apply Image setup is more accurate, but the HighPass setup is quick and helps me to not only customize the separation of skin texture from underlyingcolors, but also tone down "hot" highlights on the skin. I always go for the High Pass setup when I need todo a quick retouch, especially when evening out skin. It is really helpful to be familiar with and practice bothapproaches."

MORE SMART WAYS & TIPS FOR THE FS TECHNIQUE USE


11/19



1. Aleksey uses an additional empty layer that he adds in between the High and Low Frequency layers.

There are two important reasons why using an additional empty layer between the High and Low Frequency layers isclever:

When you're working on a separate layer to correct the Low Frequency data, you're not messing up theexisting pixels on the Low Frequency layer. You can always either erase your mistakes or hide them with aLayer Mark and not rely on the History Panel states. This good habit may save you a lot of time in the longrun.

After you've evened out the shadow and color transitions, you can apply Gaussian blur to this working layer to soften your own brush strokes and make the colors blend with the rest of the image even better. This iswhat Aleksey does, and I have tried it a few times already - works like magic! Each image will require adifferent pixel Radius, so practice more to see what degree of blurring works in different retouchingsituations.

2. Removing skin blotchiness with the Surface Blur filter.

You can add an additional duplicate layer of the original image between the High and Low Frequency layers (in either setup). Then apply Surface Blur to it - Radius and Threshold numbers will always be different for different images. Ivenever had to use Surface Blur for anything in my work before, so Aleksey explained to me the correct way of selectingRadius and Threshold settings:

While the Threshold slider is at its minimum position, move the Radius slider to where you want it to be(depending on the amount of blurring that you need).

Now push the Threshold to its max position and start slowly moving it back to the left until you find thenumber at which colors dont smear into each other. Watch such areas as face and body outlines, or the linewhere the hair meets the face, etc.)


12/19


13/19



3. Don't try to retouch the entire face with just one round of Frequency Separation.

Set up High and Low Frequency layers as many times as you need to solve problems in your current retouch. Ipersonally do at least 2-3 rounds of Frequency Separation, and I also Dodge & Burn the problems that remain.


14/19



Aleksey suggests that the best results can be achieved when you create custom High and Low Frequency layers (justlike he showed us earlier) for each part of the face that needs doctoring. Your Radius settings for the High Pass andGaussian Blur filters most likely will be different for each part of the face. It is a little more elaborate approach, butcustom settings will help you achieve the best results for each part of the image.

4. Make sure to practice using different tools for different retouching problems.

Remember, than you can use the Clone Stamp, Healing Brush tools and a simple brush to fix skin problems on theLow Frequency layer, as well as on the High Frequency layer. Watch the Hardness and Opacity of the tools, and theSampling settings should always be under control as well.

Each of these tools will be helpful in some situations, so you shouldn't pick up just the one tool you prefer for everything. Try and practice working with each one of them and see where and when they give you the best results.

5. Create or download an Action.

I personally use custom settings for the High Pass setup, so I don't need an Action for that. But in many situations,when the subject's face is not very close to the camera (the skin texture doesn't require a lot of doctoring) I use a

Frequency Separation Action that I recorded for myself. I mainly work in 8-bit color depth, so my action is for 8-bitimages. You can break it down and re-create one for 16-bit photos using the settings I've mentioned above.

You can download my Frequency Separation Action (http://www.retouchingebooks.com/blog/) along with a handful of usefulbeauty retouching Actions from my blog (in the sidebar).

6. Sharpening skin texture with the High Frequency Separation

Another trick that I came up with in my experiments is enhancing skin texture by duplicating the High Frequency layer.I usually first fix all the most visible blemishes on the original High Frequency layer, then duplicate it and cover with ablack Layer Mask. I then paint with a soft white brush (low Opacity) over the areas where I want the texture to be a littlemore pronounced.

You can control the intensity of the sharpening with this duplicate High Frequency layer by lowering the Opacity of your white brush as well as lowering the Opacity of the duplicate layer itself.

To make it even more fun, you can actually borrow parts of the High Frequency layer with the more pronouncedtexture and apply them to the areas where the texture is too soft or has been destroyed by your previousmanipulations, suggests my friend and fellow-photographer and retoucher Michael Woloszynowicz of VibrantShot.com(http://www.vibrantshot.com/) . He also mentions that he uses the Free Transform tool to re-shape those pieces when theskin texture direction or forms dont match those of the areas, which they are applied to.

7. I almost always mix and match the Frequency Separation technique with Dodging & Burning.

Theres no one right way as to what technique should be used first and how many rounds of each should be applied. Isometimes start with the FS technique and finish up evening out the skin with Dodging & Burning. Sometimes it makessense to soften large shadows with Dodging first and then only retouch skin texture on the High Frequency layer.

Its always different because every image is unique. But it will definitely help to know and practice both techniques, sothat you can easier determine which one will solve the problems you stumble upon better.

"I typically use the FS technique for color changes and Dodge & Burn for luminance changes. If you try tomake drastic luminance changes with FS, I find that it can reduce texture as your new tones will blend with
http://www.vibrantshot.com/http://www.retouchingebooks.com/blog/


15/19



Previous Article A Fas t and Efficient Workflow for the TravelingPhotographer

(/location/fast-and-efficient-workflow-traveling-photographer-869 7)

Next ArticleThis GoPro Video Of A Biker Going Down A Ridge Line

Will Leave Your Palms Sweaty(/video/gopro-video-biker-going-down-ridge-line-will-leave-your-palms-

sweaty-8700)

FOLLOW

Julia is a Los Angeles based internationally published Beauty &Fashion photographer, digital artist, retoucher and educator. AnInternational College of Professional Photography (Melbourne,

Australia) graduate. Retouching Academy founder and Editor-in-Chief.

retouchingebooks.com (http://www.retouchingebooks.com/)

More from Julia Kuzmenko McKim

Concepts of Beauty, Biology and AestheticsFor Beauty, Fashion and PortraitRetouching (/education/concepts-beauty-biology-and-aesthetics-beauty-fashion-and-portrait-retouching-45306)

Common Frequency Separation MistakesWhich Will Ruin Your Retouching Results(/fashion/common-frequency-separation-mistakes-which-will-ruin-your-retouching-results-30913)

The Ultimate Guide to the Dodge & BurnTechnique Part 3: Curves Setup & More(/post-production/ultimate-guide-dodge-burn-technique-part-3-curves-setup-more-9281)

the light or dark tone of the High Frequency layer. Dodging & Burning, on the other hand, will darken or lighten both the high and low frequency data, thus avoid this issue," says Michael Woloszynowicz.

That's all for today. I am sure there are many more additional tricks that can be used with the Frequency Separationtechnique, so if you know any - please share with us in the comments!

Some sources I have come across in my research:

A Model Mayhem post (http://www.modelmayhem.com/po.php?thread_id=439098) by Sean Baker (http://www.modelmayhem.com/684173) . A Model Mayhem post (http://www.modelmayhem.com/po.php?thread_id=439098&page=4#post9688969) by grahamsz(http://www.modelmayhem.com/1157022) .

And of course, thanks again to my photographer-friends Aleksey Dovgulya (http://dovgulya.ru/) and Michael Woloszynowicz(https://www.facebook.com/vibrantshot) for sharing their methods and tips with us! Aleksey is coming to Los Angeles inJanuary 2014, so we can finish our Beauty & Fashion Photography: Go Pro (http://www.retouchingebooks.com/shop/beauty-fashion-photography-go-pro/) digital book - check it out and sign up for our newsletter to get notified when it's ready!

RELATED ARTICLES

(https://fstoppers.com/profile/juliakuzmenko)

(/post-production/how-fix-common-skin-and-hair-

issues-using-texture-grafting-12303)

How to Fix Common Skin andHair Issues Using Texture Grafting(/post-production/how-fix-common-skin-and-hair-

issues-using-texture-grafting-12303)(/gear/sigma-unveils-latest-compact-camera-

dp3-merrill-4076)

Sigma Unveils Latest CompactCamera in the DP3 Merrill(/gear/sigma-unveils-latest-compact-camera-dp3-

merrill-4076)(/video/retouching-skin-utilizing-frequency-

separation-4448)

Retouching Skin UtilizingFrequency Separation(/video/retouching-skin-utilizing-frequency-

separation-4448)
https://fstoppers.com/post-production/how-fix-common-skin-and-hair-issues-using-texture-grafting-12303http://www.retouchingebooks.com/shop/beauty-fashion-photography-go-pro/https://www.facebook.com/JuliaKuzmenkoPhotographyhttp://instagram.com/juliakuzmenkohttp://www.modelmayhem.com/po.php?thread_id=439098&page=4#post9688969http://www.modelmayhem.com/po.php?thread_id=439098http://www.modelmayhem.com/1157022http://twitter.com/julia_kuzmenkohttps://fstoppers.com/video/retouching-skin-utilizing-frequency-separation-4448https://plus.google.com/u/0/+JuliaKuzmenkoMcKimhttps://fstoppers.com/gear/sigma-unveils-latest-compact-camera-dp3-merrill-4076http://dovgulya.ru/https://www.facebook.com/vibrantshothttps://fstoppers.com/education/concepts-beauty-biology-and-aesthetics-beauty-fashion-and-portrait-retouching-45306https://fstoppers.com/video/retouching-skin-utilizing-frequency-separation-4448http://500px.com/JuliaKuzmenkohttps://fstoppers.com/location/fast-and-efficient-workflow-traveling-photographer-8697https://fstoppers.com/profile/juliakuzmenkohttp://www.retouchingebooks.com/https://fstoppers.com/gear/sigma-unveils-latest-compact-camera-dp3-merrill-4076https://youtube.com/user/ReArV1eWmiRRorhttps://fstoppers.com/post-production/ultimate-guide-dodge-burn-technique-part-3-curves-setup-more-9281https://fstoppers.com/post-production/how-fix-common-skin-and-hair-issues-using-texture-grafting-12303http://www.modelmayhem.com/684173https://fstoppers.com/video/gopro-video-biker-going-down-ridge-line-will-leave-your-palms-sweaty-8700https://fstoppers.com/fashion/common-frequency-separation-mistakes-which-will-ruin-your-retouching-results-30913


16/19



57 Comments

Log in (https://fstoppers.com/user/login?destination=node/8699%23comment-form) or register (https://fstoppers.com/user/register?destination=node/8699%23comment-form) to

post comments

(https://fstoppers.com/profile/yamaha83)

Jason Vinson (https://fstoppers.com/profile/yamaha83) - October 23, 2013hands down the best articles on Fstoppers are from Julia!!


(/authors)

Julia Kuzmenko McKim (https://fstoppers.com/profile/juliakuzmenko) - October 24, 2013 Jason VinsonThank you :)

(https://fstoppers.com/profile/18323)

Tobias Solem (https://fstoppers.com/profile/18323) - October 24, 2013 Jason Vinson

She is without doubt the most important figure on Fstoppers for quality content right now. The skill level andexperience she shares is worth money and she does this for free. Kudos Julia.

Carlos Alvarado - October 23, 2013What a great help this is!!! thank you!!

RickyThao - October 23, 2013Just recently discovered this technique... still trying to get a feel for it and this article helps a ton. Thanks!!!


(/authors)

Julia Kuzmenko McKim (https://fstoppers.com/profile/juliakuzmenko) - October 24, 2013 RickyThaoSure! Yes, it does take time and practice. But not terribly difficult, which is awesome :)


(/authors)

Matt Kennedy (https://fstoppers.com/profile/320) - October 23, 2013 Amazing Article Julia!! Thanks for all the time you put in to this! So valuable!


(/authors)

Julia Kuzmenko McKim (https://fstoppers.com/profile/juliakuzmenko) - October 24, 2013 Matt KennedyIt's my pleasure, Matt! We all benefit from sharing our knowledge with each other. I myself learned a lot fromresearching for this article.. and made a few new friends along the way :)

Shan Lu - October 23, 2013excellent post! thx for sharing!

Simon - October 23, 2013Best article on Fstoppers!! Thank You, seriously! Toasting an Elysian IPA to you as I write this! ++ Ya Russkiy!
https://fstoppers.com/authorshttps://fstoppers.com/authorshttps://fstoppers.com/profile/juliakuzmenkohttps://fstoppers.com/profile/320https://fstoppers.com/profile/juliakuzmenkohttps://fstoppers.com/profile/320https://fstoppers.com/profile/yamaha83https://fstoppers.com/profile/18323https://fstoppers.com/profile/yamaha83https://fstoppers.com/authorshttps://fstoppers.com/user/register?destination=node/8699%23comment-formhttps://fstoppers.com/profile/18323https://fstoppers.com/profile/juliakuzmenkohttps://fstoppers.com/profile/juliakuzmenkohttps://fstoppers.com/profile/juliakuzmenkohttps://fstoppers.com/authorshttps://fstoppers.com/profile/juliakuzmenkohttps://fstoppers.com/user/login?destination=node/8699%23comment-form


17/19




(/authors)

Julia Kuzmenko McKim (https://fstoppers.com/profile/juliakuzmenko) - October 24, 2013 SimonThank you Simon!

EderNovacki - October 23, 2013What I love about Julia's articles (as well as her ebook) is how she manages to stuff so much information in her textsthat you gotta read at over and over again to absorb it all hahahaha THanks Julia!


(/authors)

Julia Kuzmenko McKim (https://fstoppers.com/profile/juliakuzmenko) - October 24, 2013 EderNovackiThank you! :) I just always get derailed and add more and more stuff into one piece, lol

Bert McLendon - October 23, 2013 Awesome article, well written and easy to follow even for ADHD'ers like myself! Nice job!

(https://fstoppers.com/profile/bobbell)

Bob Bell (https://fstoppers.com/profile/bobbell) - October 23, 2013Nice one for this! Bookmarked :)

JoshGaede - October 23, 2013ulia thank you very much for this.


Joe Gunawan (https://fstoppers.com/profile/14517) - October 24, 2013Hi Julia. I have read that using different blurring techniques can produce more accurate frequency separation results.Two alternate that I know of is Surface Blur (takes way too long to render) and Dust and Scratches (the method that Iuse).

What are your thoughts?

Also, I'm trying to to wrap my head on a variant to FS called asymmetric frequency separation, which results in acompletely gray-scale high-frequency separation. My issue with this seems to be that certain color shift getsintroduced when healing/clonging. Have you heard of this, too? I read it on RetouchPro.com

http://www.retouchpro.com/forums/photo-retouching/34786-asymmetric-frequ... (http://www.retouchpro.com/forums/photo-retouching/34786-asymmetric-frequency-separation.html)


(/authors)

Julia Kuzmenko McKim (https://fstoppers.com/profile/juliakuzmenko) - October 24, 2013 Joe GunawanHi Joe, thank you for sharing this!I've never heard of the variations you've mentioned, but I am intrigued and will definitely check them out.My goal is always to simplify and speed up my workflow, so whatever is more time-consuming or complex toimplement (considering the degree of improvement of the outcome) never sticks. But I am always eager tocheck new things out, so really thanks for the link and suggestions!

(https://fstoppers.com/profile/bobbell)

Bob Bell (https://fstoppers.com/profile/bobbell) - October 27, 2013 Joe GunawanHey Joe, just to let you know that sometimes, changing your image to 8 bit can speed up the render withSurface Blur. Image>Mode>8 bit in the top menu bar.
https://fstoppers.com/profile/juliakuzmenkohttps://fstoppers.com/profile/juliakuzmenkohttps://fstoppers.com/profile/juliakuzmenkohttps://fstoppers.com/profile/bobbellhttps://fstoppers.com/profile/14517https://fstoppers.com/profile/14517https://fstoppers.com/profile/juliakuzmenkohttp://www.retouchpro.com/forums/photo-retouching/34786-asymmetric-frequency-separation.htmlhttps://fstoppers.com/authorshttps://fstoppers.com/profile/bobbellhttps://fstoppers.com/profile/juliakuzmenkohttps://fstoppers.com/authorshttps://fstoppers.com/profile/bobbellhttps://fstoppers.com/profile/bobbellhttps://fstoppers.com/profile/juliakuzmenkohttps://fstoppers.com/authors


18/19



Bjrn Lubetzki - October 24, 2013Bookmarked and shared!! Thanks very much! Hands down the best guide I ever read about FS.

Stephan Meier - October 24, 2013Interesting.

You even use samples from Natalia Taffarels Workshops and dont mention her name???


(/authors)

Julia Kuzmenko McKim (https://fstoppers.com/profile/juliakuzmenko) - October 25, 2013 Stephan Meier I am not sure what exactly you mean, Stephan, all my sources are mentioned at the end of the article, and thescreenshots are taken by me and Aleksey Dovgulya. Perhaps, you could share a link to what samples you arereferring to.

Just FYI, if I used anything from Natalia Taffarel's workshops, I would make sure to mention it. I am an artistand respect copyright laws and work of other artists.

Louis - May 20, 2014 Stephan Meier And Stephan chickened out.. . Where is the evidence, Meier?


Luis Roldan (https://fstoppers.com/profile/15342) - July 26, 2014 Stephan Meier I think he's referring to the Einstein/Monroe illusion which he thinks she created for a workshop.

A video is found here and the image appears around the 3 minute mark.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3UexOFMJ2_8 (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3UexOFMJ2_8)

Hank - October 24, 2013I think we are all in agreement that this is one hell of a great write up. Thanks Julia.

Nick Fancher - October 24, 2013Thank you for this. This article is like a Swiss army knife with it's thorough usefulness.


(/authors)

Julia Kuzmenko McKim (https://fstoppers.com/profile/juliakuzmenko) - October 25, 2013 Nick Fancher Haha, cool analogy! Thank you Nick!

RaienDrops - October 24, 2013 Awesome info! I gotta try this out.

(https://fstoppers.com/profile/jranalli)

Jason Ranalli (https://fstoppers.com/profile/jranalli) - October 24, 2013Simply a fantastic article....loved it.

I've been picking these points up on my own as I go along but it wasn't until reading this that all my suspicions about
https://fstoppers.com/authorshttps://fstoppers.com/authorshttps://fstoppers.com/profile/juliakuzmenkohttps://fstoppers.com/profile/jranallihttps://fstoppers.com/profile/jranallihttps://fstoppers.com/profile/juliakuzmenkohttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3UexOFMJ2_8https://fstoppers.com/profile/15342https://fstoppers.com/profile/juliakuzmenkohttps://fstoppers.com/profile/15342https://fstoppers.com/profile/juliakuzmenko


19/19


MORE COMMENTS (#)

the different methods were true. Phlearn had a frequency separation demo the other day that did the apply-imagetechnique and I actually inquired why that way over high-pass(which I was using previously)...this answered thatclearly.

I also think points 3 and 4 are very relevant for the perfectionists out there. You can't retouch a face just one way or one tool. Well you can but if you really want it all very clean and tight you'll want to go through the trouble of differentFS rounds for forehead vs checks vs neck, etc. Every image is different and every part of that image is different sodifferent radii(sp) are used across the board.


(/authors)

Julia Kuzmenko McKim (https://fstoppers.com/profile/juliakuzmenko) - October 25, 2013 Jason RanalliVery true! I say it all the time - every image is unique, and being a problem solver with many tools under your sleeve is very beneficial. One tool, one way, one technique is a dead end approach in both photography andretouching!
https://fstoppers.com/authorshttps://fstoppers.com/profile/juliakuzmenkohttps://fstoppers.com/profile/juliakuzmenko

the frequency separation technique

Documents