How to Fix an Overexposed Face in a Picture Using Photoshop 9

Correct an overexposed image with some simple Photoshop tools.

Outdoor photography can often result in overexposed pictures, where too much light is directed toward particular areas of the subject. The overexposure results in unnatural looking white or washed-out sections of the image. You can correct an overexposed face by retouching the subject in Photoshop Elements 9 for a perfect looking skin tone, and an image that will look like it was never manipulated.

Instructions

1. • 1
     Open the Photoshop program and open the picture. Save the picture as a new file. This provides you with a new copy to work on, while saving a backup copy in case you need to revert to the original image.
   • 2
     Move the cursor to the “Create a New Layer” button on the right side of the page, click and label it “Layer 1”.
   • 3
     Move the cursor to the left side of the page and click on the eye dropper tool from the toolbar. Move the cursor over top of your picture. Find an area of the subject with natural looking skin and click here once. This is choosing a color to replace the overexposed skin.
   • 4
     Select the Brush tool from the toolbar on the left. Zoom in on the overexposed area and paint the area with the brush.
   • 5
     Click on the Burn tool from the same toolbar and adjust the settings in the option bar. Set the exposure to 10 percent, the brush hardness to zero and the range to Highlights.
   • 6
     Move over to the picture and paint over top of the overexposed area with the brush. This will create a smoother looking skin tone.
   • 7
     Click on the Blur tool and move it around the edges of the previously overexposed skin. This will make a smooth transition from the natural skin to the retouched skin.