How to Get a Tan With CS5

A tanned skin tone can be achieved using Photoshop CS5.

A suntan can make a person look healthier. In Photoshop CS5, a photo-manipulation program, you can take an image of a person and edit it to make the person's skin appear tan. The process is simple: Use the Quick Mask tool to select the skin, then change the tone of the skin using the Curves tool. When you've finished making the changes, the person in the picture will appear to have a healthy glow.

Things You'll Need

• Photoshop CS5
• Image file

Instructions

1. Start Photoshop CS5, click "File" and then select "Open." Click on the image you want to edit, then click "Open."

2. Select the "Paint Brush" tool, then press "Q" on your keyboard to use the "Quick Mask" tool. You can also select the tool by using the icon in the toolbar. Change the size of the brush if necessary.

3. Click an area on the skin and brush the red translucent Quick Mask on it. The parts of the image that are red will be the ones selected to "tan," so don't cover the person's eyes or mouth.

4. Press the "Q" key again, click "Select" and then choose "Inverse" to select the entire Quick Mask area.

5. Hold the "Ctrl" and "J" keys on your keyboard simultaneously. Click "Image," then "Adjustment"; then select "Curves." Click the center of the Curves line and drag it down to the lower right. The farther you drag the line, the darker the tan will be.

6. Save the image file by clicking "File," then "Save."

Tips & Warnings

• You may need to use a smaller brush to cover the areas around the eyes and mouth with the Quick Mask tool.

References

• Adobe: Create a Temporary Quick Mask
• Adobe: Adjust Color and Tonality With Curves