Visual content has never been as crucial as it is today. However, you do not need a complicated or costly photo editor to create Vogue-worthy portraits. There are lots of free face editors out there that can help you polish pictures in a few clicks. In this article, we’ll talk about 5 go-to programs for portrait retouching. Let’s see their key features, compare pros and cons, and find out which software works better for you.
In This Article:
1. PhotoDiva
If you need a powerful portrait editor without difficult and time-consuming processing, take a look at PhotoDiva. It’s an AI-driven photo editor available for free. It has ready-to-use presets for quick enhancements: removing glare and redness, whitening somebody’s teeth, applying a light tan, and more–just one click, and a perfect portrait is ready! You can also make changes yourself simply by dragging the corresponding sliders. Whether you want to change the face width, reshape the eyebrows, make the nose smaller, or add a smile to a person’s face, you can do it in an instant.
To make a magazine-worthy portrait, you can also apply makeup digitally. Let’s say you don’t like the color of your lipstick or forgot to apply bronzer before taking your photo, you can fix it all in PhotoDiva. When the person’s appearance looks its best, you can also make some other changes: edit the background, try auto correction, play with HSL sliders, apply trendy filters, or crop the image.
Pros
- AI-run tools for editing portraits
- One-click retouching presets
- Beginner-friendly interface
- 100+ stylish filters
Cons
- Doesn’t have a Mac version yet
2. Darktable
For retouching portraits, many users also prefer using Darktable. It supports RAW files, so this software accommodates many camera brands. Plus, color management in Darktable can also apply different working profiles–advanced users get the freedom to choose. If you need consistent color from your camera to the final output, you’ll definitely find it useful.
You should take into account that the photo editor’s performance might vary depending on how powerful your computer is. Even though Darktable smoothly handles large batches of RAW files, there might be a slowdown if you stack multiple complex modules on top of each other. If you decide to touch up pictures on older hardware, you might encounter brief lags when applying noise reduction, making lens corrections, and making multiple color adjustments all at the same time. Besides, this software takes extra time to master if there’s no previous experience in photo editing.
Pros
- RAW files supported
- Color management
Cons
- Interface is cluttered and confusing to a first time user
3. RawTherapee
Prefer non-destructive photo editing? Then you can try RawTherapee. Adjustments you make in this program are immediately reflected in the preview image. There are also such useful features as Lab adjustments and tone mapping. They provide users with precise color correction and tone management.
While perfecting portrait photos, you might also need to get rid of noise to enhance the quality of the image. The noise reduction tools in RawTherapee allow for fine-tuning of luminance and chroma noise. In addition, it’s available for Linux, macOS, and Windows.
Pros
- Non-destructive editing
- Cross-platform program
Cons
- The software can be a bit slow
4. Adobe Express
If you’re looking for a powerful tool for editing photos on the go, take a look at Adobe Express. There are many automatic tools to enhance your images in an instant. You can also erase backgrounds from any photo with a single click. The built-in AI technology will do it for you automatically, saving you a lot of time.
With this program, you can smoothen the person’s skin tone and texture yet retain a natural look. While touching up your pictures, you might also want to experiment with the various filters available in Adobe Express. From vintage-inspired to modern effects, there is something for every style. Just pick the desired filter and change the intensity of the effect to suit your preferences.
Pros
- Lots of automatic tools
- Suitable for non-experienced users
Cons
- Top features require a paid plan
- Unexpected menus popping up
5. GIMP
GIMP is an open-source photo editor that is considered by many a good Photoshop alternative. For example, just like the big brother by Adobe, GIMP allows you to process images using layers, which is always best for retouching. They help you go back if you don’t like how things are going and have more control over the editing process.
By the way, you can tailor the user interface in GIMP to your preferences. The software lets you rearrange the panels for quick access to the needed tools. This provides the flexibility level that can ensure an optimized user experience.
Need to correct some imperfections? Try using the healing tool or clone stamp. GIMP also has tools for enhancing the look of the person’s eyes. You can adjust the color saturation to make the eyes more vibrant. To enhance the brightness and contrast of the eyes, use the dodge and burn tools. And if you want to achieve a natural-looking white smile, don’t hesitate to create a mask to isolate the teeth and then change the brightness and contrast value.
There are some drawbacks, though. One of the issues is that GIMP cannot directly open RAW files. In addition, it requires some previous experience and might be rather difficult to use for amateur photographers or editors.
Pros
- Powerful functionality
Cons
- Confusing interface
- Plugins required for certain functions
Useful Tips to Retouch Portraits
To achieve a natural beauty retouch, it’s better to make subtle changes so you do not remove the “character” completely from someone’s face.
It can also feel tempting to smooth out every little shadow or highlight in the picture. However, it might give a very plastic and strange appearance to the person’s skin tone. It’s also a good idea to tweak the shadows and highlights in the camera settings before taking the shots.
When editing portraits, you should also consider cropping. Before cropping, you can ask yourself, “What is this picture about?”, “Have I cut off my subject’s limbs in natural places?”, “How can I emphasize the main object?”, and so on. This little trick will help you achieve better composition.
Summary
Now you know several solutions for easy and free portrait retouching. Consider the pros and cons of each option, their sets of tools, and the level of skill required for editing pictures. Select your tool and see it in practice today!
