How to Remove Eye Bags Using Dodge and Burn in Photoshop

Eye bags can dramatically age a portrait, making subjects appear tired or unhealthy. Traditional removal methods often destroy skin texture or create unnatural results that look obviously retouched.

This professional dodge and burn technique removes even severe eye bags while preserving every detail of natural skin texture. The method uses selective lightening and darkening to reshape facial contours without any blurring or cloning.

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Practical Tips

Master this texture-preserving eye bag removal technique with these essential steps:

• Create a gray solid color adjustment layer set to Color blend mode to better see luminosity values while working
• Use a new layer set to Soft Light blend mode with 1% flow brush for precise dodge and burn control
• Paint with white to brighten dark areas and black to darken light areas, building the effect gradually
• Add a separate Color blend mode layer to correct any color shifts after luminosity adjustments
• Sample good skin colors with Alt+click and paint over discolored areas to match surrounding tones

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