In photo processing, freckles are noise on an adjustment layer.
Freckles on a picture are used for more than just angel kisses across the nose of a redhead. Freckles, or noise, are used to create a rain or snow effect or to give a photo the grainy look of old-fashioned film. The steps for creating freckles are the same for either application, with the exception of motion blur, which is not used for a freckle or film-grain effect.
Instructions
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Load your photograph into your photo-processing program and save a copy. To do this in most programs, click the "File" menu and choose "Save As." Give the copy another name and save it to the desired location on your computer.
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Click on the photo layer in the layer window. Under the layer menu select "Duplicate Layer." Add a blank layer by clicking on the layer drop-down box and selecting "New" and choosing "Layer." You now have three layers in the layer window.
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Click on the background color square in your color window. Using the color picker, select "white," or set all RGB values to 255 or all CMYK values to 0. Click on the foreground color square in your color window and set the value to black. RGB values are all zero for black. CMYK values are 75, 68, 67 and 90, respectively. For freckles on a face, use a shade of brown instead of white for the background color.
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Select the blank layer. It will turn blue when you click on it. Click on the fill tool in the tools window. Move the cursor over the photograph and click. The layer will turn black.
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Select the "Filter" menu and choose "Noise." Click "Add Noise." Click on "Monochromatic" and use the slider bar to adjust the noise as desired. To make freckles, use a high number, up to the maximum of 400 percent. For rain, snow or grain, adjust according to your desired outcome. If this step does not have the desired look the first time, you can delete the layer, make a new layer and do this step over.
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Select the "Filter" menu, choose "Blur," and click on "Gaussian Blur." Use the slider box to set the radius value to the desired effect.
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Create an adjustment layer by clicking on the "Filter" menu and selecting "New Adjustment Layer" from the drop-down box. Click on "Levels" and put a check in the box beside "Use Previous Layer to Create Clipping Mask." In the adjustment window there are three slider bars under the histogram, which looks like a haystack or mountain. Click and drag on these bars until the freckles are as dense or sparse as desired.
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Click on your adjustment layer. Hold down the "Shift" key to select both layers. From the "Layers" menu, choose "Merge Layers." Add motion blur if you are creating rain or snow. Do this by clicking the "Filter" menu, selecting "Blur" and choosing "Motion Blur." Turn the dial in the direction clock to set the angle of the motion. Adjust the values in the Distance Pixels box for fine rain or clumpy snow, depending upon the values given. Be sure "Preview" is checked for live preview of the effects. Click "OK" to exit the dialog box.
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Remove the black from this layer by clicking on the drop-down menu in the layers window. The default value is "Normal." Choose "Screen." Your photo now has freckles or rain, snow or grain. Darken or lighten the freckles in the adjustment layer by moving the sliders until the desired effect is achieved.
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Merge all layers into one by selecting the "Layers" menu and choosing "Flatten Image." Choose "File" and select "Save."
