Photoshop Elements 2020 Smile Tool: A Guide to Perfecting Smiles
The Smile tool in Photoshop Elements 2020 is a feature within the Face Refine tool that allows you to adjust the shape and intensity of smiles in your photos. It's a quick and easy way to enhance portraits by making subjects appear happier and more approachable.
What it is:
* A specialized tool: Designed specifically for refining smiles in portraits.
* Part of Face Refine: Found within the larger Face Refine feature, which allows you to adjust other facial features like eyes, nose, and cheeks.
* Slider-based adjustment: Controlled by a simple slider, making it easy to fine-tune the smile enhancement.
* Non-destructive: Makes changes to a copy of your image, preserving the original.
How to Use the Smile Tool in Photoshop Elements 2020:
Here's a step-by-step guide:
1. Open your Image:
* Launch Photoshop Elements 2020.
* Go to `File > Open` and select the photo you want to edit.
2. Enter Expert Mode:
* Make sure you are in Expert mode. (Located at the top of the application window)
* This mode provides access to all the editing tools, including Face Refine.
3. Access the Face Refine Tool:
* In the Enhance menu, click on "Adjust Facial Features."
* Alternatively, you can type "Adjust Facial Features" in the Quick window in the Expert mode.
4. Face Detection:
* Photoshop Elements will automatically attempt to detect faces in the image.
* If it doesn't detect the face correctly, you may need to manually adjust the face recognition using the handles that appear around the face. Make sure the eyes are correctly positioned within the oval.
5. Adjust the Smile:
* Once the face is detected, you'll see the "Adjust Facial Features" options appear on the right side of the screen.
* Locate the "Smile" slider.
* Drag the slider to the right to enhance the smile.
* Drag the slider to the left to reduce the smile (useful if the smile is too broad or unnatural).
* Experiment: Observe the effect on the face in the preview window as you move the slider. Start with small adjustments to avoid an unnatural look.
6. Fine-Tune Other Features (Optional):
* While you're in the Face Refine tool, you can also adjust other facial features like:
* Eyes: Adjust size, height, width
* Nose: Adjust width
* Face: Adjust height or thin face
* These adjustments can complement the smile enhancement and improve the overall portrait.
7. Compare and Confirm:
* Use the "Before/After" checkbox at the bottom of the panel to compare the original image with your edited version. This helps you assess the improvements you've made.
8. Click "OK"
* Once you're satisfied with the adjustments, click "OK" to apply the changes. This creates a new, edited copy of your image.
9. Save your Edited Image:
* Go to `File > Save As`.
* Choose a new file name and format (e.g., JPEG, PNG).
* Make sure to save the edited image to a different file name than the original to avoid overwriting it.
Tips for Best Results:
* Subtlety is key: Avoid overdoing the smile enhancement. A slightly adjusted, natural smile is more appealing than an exaggerated one.
* Consider the original expression: The tool works best when there's already a hint of a smile in the original photo. It's harder to create a believable smile from a completely neutral expression.
* Use high-resolution photos: Higher resolution images will produce better results and minimize artifacts.
* Zoom in for details: Zooming in can help you make more precise adjustments.
* Adjust lighting first: Make sure your image has good lighting before using the Smile tool. Well-lit photos will generally look better after editing.
* Complementary edits: Use other tools in Photoshop Elements to improve the overall image quality, such as adjusting brightness, contrast, and color balance.
* Practice: Experiment with different photos and settings to get a feel for how the Smile tool works and how to achieve the best results.
Troubleshooting:
* Face not detected: Ensure the face is clearly visible and well-lit. Try manually adjusting the face recognition markers.
* Unnatural results: Reduce the intensity of the smile adjustment. Also, check for other facial feature distortions and make adjustments as needed.
* Poor image quality after editing: Save the image at a high quality setting (e.g., maximum quality for JPEG).
The Smile tool in Photoshop Elements 2020 is a powerful and easy-to-use feature for enhancing portraits and creating more appealing images. By understanding how the tool works and following these tips, you can achieve natural-looking and professional-quality results. Remember to use it with subtlety and to always save your edited image as a new file to preserve the original.