The Quick & Dirty Method (Less Accurate, but FAST):
1. Select the Red Area: Use the Quick Selection Tool (W) or the Lasso Tool (L) to roughly select the areas with excessive redness. Don't worry about being perfect, just get the general area.
2. Create a Hue/Saturation Adjustment Layer: Go to Layer > New Adjustment Layer > Hue/Saturation.
3. Target the Reds: In the Hue/Saturation panel, click on the dropdown menu that likely says "Master" and select "Reds."
4. Reduce Saturation: Lower the Saturation slider. Watch the red areas in your selection. Reduce the saturation until the redness is less noticeable, but not completely washed out. A small reduction, often between -10 and -30, is often enough.
5. Optional: Adjust Lightness: If the area looks too dark after desaturation, slightly increase the Lightness slider.
Tips for Better Results (Worth the Extra Few Seconds):
* Refine the Selection: After the initial selection, use Select > Modify > Feather (around 5-15 pixels) to soften the edges of the selection. This will create a smoother transition and avoid harsh lines.
* Target Specific Red Hues: In the Hue/Saturation panel, you'll see a color range bar at the bottom. You can adjust the handles on this bar to target only the specific shades of red causing the problem. This gives you more precise control.
* Layer Mask: The Hue/Saturation adjustment layer comes with a layer mask (the white rectangle next to the adjustment layer). You can use a Brush Tool (B) with black to paint on the mask and hide the adjustment where it's not needed (e.g., lips, cheeks if you want some natural flush). Use white to bring the adjustment back. Remember to use a soft brush (low hardness) for smoother transitions.
* Use Blend Modes: Experiment with the Hue/Saturation layer's blend mode. Sometimes Color blend mode can give more natural-looking results.
* Subtle Adjustments: The key is to be subtle. Overdoing the desaturation will make the skin look unnatural. Less is often more.
Important Considerations:
* Cause of Redness: Consider *why* the skin is red. Is it blemishes, irritation, sunburn, or just normal complexion variation? Different causes might benefit from different techniques. Blemishes might benefit from spot healing. Sunburn may need targeted color correction.
* High-Quality Images: These techniques work best on high-quality images with good lighting.
* Non-Destructive Editing: By using adjustment layers and layer masks, you're working non-destructively. You can always go back and tweak the settings without altering the original image data.
That's it! A quick way to reduce red skin in Photoshop. Remember to experiment and adjust the settings to get the best results for your specific image. Good luck!