What is an easy way to re-touch photos?

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Question from Marina: ” I also need to figure out an easier way to work with retouching, I have Lightroom and spent three hours on one photo trying to smooth out skin and not make it look blotchy. Is there an easier way?”

Denise:  photoshop has a smart blur feature. you wouldn’t believe the time it saves

Shatera: Portraiture!!

Lindsay: There are actions for photoshop that help with these “issues”.

Neil: Professional Portrait software is incredible!

Romuald: Check out “Portrait Professional”. It works as a standalone software or as a plug in for photoshop (upgraded version). It’s the best.

Mandy: Wow that seems very elaborate. First of all bump up your luma ce for a glowing finish that smooths the skin. For more minor things use your brush and bump up exposure a bit and sharpness down and clarity down. Run it over the face and poof you are done

Mandy:  Also for LR 4 you can buy brushes with smooth skin to e etc. go check out pretty presets.

Madison: Mandy, what do you mean by luma ce?

Belinda: buy or make your own brushes for lightroom. YouTube has tutorials on how to make your own. Or pretty presents has awesome ones for a decent price

Mollie:  I’m not sure how Lightroom compares to Photoshop, but maybe you need to change over? Photoshop is specifically for these kind of altering.

Kim: Photoshop and buying some actions will definitely make it easy for you

Jerilyn: There are some awesome presets made for Lightroom if you aren’t satisfied with using clarity and/or reducing noise

Katherine: I honestly can’t stand the heal/clone tool in LR; if I have an image that needs major dust/particle removal (ie pictures of mucky dusty rescue kitties!), I head on over to PSE after basic edits in LR.

Christy: Portrait Professional!

Michele: Actions work for me! I also use Photoshop where I can use the spot remover tool so it’s one click on a blemish and it’s gone!

Lisa: If you have Photoshop, the healing brush is amazing!

Simon: If you can’t afford Photoshop I’d buy Portrait Professional it’s very good

Mandy:  I meant luminance. On the right hand side under all the settings. About 3/4 of the way down there is sharpness and luminance. It will soften the picture quite a bit. I edit mostly in LR

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