# @phlearn on YouTube

- **Type:** Video
- **Original URL:** https://youtube.com/watch?v=t6GucvjmuUU
- **Gondola URL:** https://gondola.cc/posts/70334538-phlearn-youtube
- **Thumbnail:** https://img.gondola.cc/tr:w-,h-,fo-auto/postThumbnails/953c9fc4fe.jpg
- **Posted:** 2017-12-21T16:00:04.000+00:00
- **Account Owner:** PHLEARN (@phlearn) — https://gondola.cc/phlearn

## Caption

How to brighten portraits in Photoshop in under 2 minutes — without the flat, desaturated look that usually comes from just pushing exposure or brightness up. This stacks three quick techniques: recovering shadow detail, adding contrast back into the highlights, and correcting skin tone so it still looks natural.

CHAPTERS
00:00 Brightening a portrait in under 2 minutes
00:52 Recovering shadows with Shadows/Highlights
01:34 Adding contrast back with Curves
02:23 Boosting saturation and correcting skin tone

THE STEPS
1. Duplicate the background layer, then go to Image, then Adjustments, then Shadows/Highlights, and bring up the shadow amount, tone, and radius.
2. In "Show More Options," bring up the color slider too, so the brightened shadows don't lose their color.
3. Add a Curves adjustment layer, invert the mask, and paint white over just the highlights to add contrast where it counts.
4. Use Blend If (Alt/Option-drag the underlying-layer slider) so the curve only affects highlights, not the whole image.
5. Add a Hue/Saturation layer and bring saturation up slightly to counter the desaturation from brightening.
6. Add a Selective Color layer targeting reds, and dial back yellow while adding a touch of magenta and cyan to fix any yellow cast in the skin.

Download the sample image and follow along with this tutorial:
https://phlearn.com/tutorial/pure-white-bg-2/

PHLEARN PRO:
Every technique in this video is just the start. PHLEARN PRO gives you full multi-chapter courses on retouching, compositing, coloring, and visual effects — the deep version of what you just watched.

https://phlearn.com/pro

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What is PHLEARN PRO?

◦ 200+ In-Depth Courses & Masterclasses on Photoshop, Lightroom & Photography
◦ 1,000+ Downloadable PSDs, RAW Images & Project Assets
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◦ Cancel Anytime — 100% Money-Back Guarantee

Tap below, join PHLEARN PRO and SAVE 20% with Code PRO26

https://phlearn.com/subscribe/

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#Photoshop #PhotoRetouching #PhotoshopTutorial

## Stats

- **Views:** 842,580
- **Likes:** 15,772
- **Shares:** 0
- **Comments:** 321

## Credits

| Name | Username | Profile | Role |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Noel Forest (they/she) | @forest_noel | https://gondola.cc/forest_noel | Video Editor |

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