Black and White Adjustment Layer

First, add a Black and White adjustment layer and stick with the default settings. This will get rid of all the colors from the image and keep only the tonal values in the form of shades of gray.

Black and white adjustment
Our image with a black and white adjustment layer

Curves Adjustment Layer

Next, add a Curves adjustment layer and either set it to a blend mode of Multiply or bring the curve down to darken the image. This will at the same time help bring out all the details in the image that would otherwise be to bright to notice or where the colors would create a visual diversion.

Curves adjustment in Photoshop
The curves adjustment really brings out the details

Do Your Normal Skin Retouching / Tonal Adjustments / Dodging & Burning

Now, under those 2 adjustments layers, you can proceed with your favorite skin retouching techniques (e.g.: frequency separation). Those two extra layers are especially great to help you see where color tones need to be evened out, or where local dodging and burning should be applied.

Doing normal skin retouching

Once you’re done retouching the skin, just get rid of those 2 extra adjustments layers, they were just utilities to make your retouching life easier.


I’ve first learned about this technique from photographer Jake Hicks, and I’ve seen a version of the technique used by multiple other photographers since. I hope this post was helpful!