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Face Painting Effect in Photoshop

How to Paint a Face in Photoshop?

Today we will Paint a Face in Photoshop. You will learn a quick and easy way to create a Face Painting Effect in Photoshop. With the help of this Photoshop Tutorial, you can paint any graphics on a face.

Face Painting Effect in Photoshop

We will require two images for this tutorial; a model face image and a graphic image. You can download these images from different stock image websites.

Now follow the below-mentioned step-by-step process to create a Face Painting Effect in Photoshop.

Step 1

Open the Model image and the Graphic image in Photoshop as two different documents.

Model Image
Graphic Image
Step 2

Now select the model image document and convert the layer to Smart Object.

Layer > Smart Objects > Convert to Smart Object

Convert to Smart Object

Go to Layer > Duplicate Layer. Under Destination, set Document to New and Name the document as Displacement.

Select Duplicate Layer
Duplicate Layer Dialogue Box

Click OK and the duplicate layer will open in New Document named Displacement.

Face Painting Effect in Photoshop
Step 3

In the Displacement document, go to Filter > Blur > Gaussian Blur.

Select Gaussian Blur
Apply Gaussian Blur

Click OK to apply Gaussian Blur.

Step 4

Go to Layer > New Adjustment Layer > Black & White.

Black & White Adjustment Layer
Create Black & White Adjustment Layer

Go to File > Save As. Save the Displacement Document in PSD format.

Save the File
Step 5

Now switch to the Model image document and select the Quick Selection Tool. With the help of the tool, select the face of the model except for the ears, hair, and neck.

Make Selection

Go to Layer > Layer Mask > Reveal Selection.

Select Reveal Selection
Add Layer Mask
Step 6

Go to Layer > New Adjustment Layer > Black & White. The Black & White Adjustment Layer will get created in the Layers Panel.

Face Painting Effect in Photoshop
Black and White Adjustment Layer
Step 7

Select the Layer Mask Thumbnail in Layer 0. Then with the left click, drag the layer mask and place it on the Black and White 1 Layer Mask Thumbnail. A dialogue will appear asking you whether you want to Replace the Layer Mask. Click on Yes in the dialogue box.

Face Painting Effect
Face Painting Effect in Photoshop

Now we will select the Layer Mask Thumbnail and then the Brush Tool. Set the Foreground color as black and remove the Layer Mask from the eyes. (See the Image Below)

Face Painting Effect in Photoshop
Step 8

Switch to the Graphic document and convert the graphic to Smart Object. Then select the Move Tool to drag and place the graphic in the Model Image document.

Face Painting

If required, you can transform the Graphic Image by pressing Ctrl + T. You can resize the image with the help of the Transform Tool.

Reduce the opacity of the Graphic Image to see the Model Image beneath it. Change the Blending Mode to Linear Burn.

Reduce Opacity and Change Blending Mode
Step 9

Go to Filter > Distort > Displace. In the Displace Dialogue Box, click OK and then Browse the Displacement File saved in PSD Format. (Step 4)

Select Displace

Select the Layer Mask thumbnail of the Black & White 1 Layer. Press and hold the Alt key and drag the Layer Mask in the above layer (Layer 1).

Replace the Layer Mask
Paint the Face in Photoshop
Step 10

Go to Layer > New Adjustment Layer > Vibrance.

Select Vibrance
Vibrance Adjustment Layer

Replace the Layer Mask in the Vibrance Adjustment Layer using the Alt Key and change the Blending Mode.

This is how you can Paint a Face in Photo with Photoshop.

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About Vivi Designing
Vivi Designing is a Designing resource for people who are in love with design and are eager to learn for creativity and inspiration. We provide free design resources, articles, tutorials, techniques, and the latest trends in Adobe Illustration and Adobe Photoshop.

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