Ageing in Photoshop

Often photographers and digital artists are asked to improve upon the people they use in their images. Cloning out wrinkles, smoothing porous skin and re-colouring grey hair is generally par for the course. More often than not, younger is better. Magazines and advertisements sell youth as beauty – our entire culture is obsessed with looking younger than we really are.

That is why it was a bit of a surprise for one of our leading illustrators, Derek Lea, when three separate commissions from three different clients asked for something similar: ageing. The first art director asked if it was possible to photograph a woman, and then age her 30 years or so. Of course the answer was yes. Anything is possible if you have the initiative and a working knowledge of Photoshop, and this issue we’re sharing the secrets of how these briefs were met.

After the first image was completed, a strategy was developed in Photoshop. Using carefully planned photography, layers, masks, channels and a handful of other Photoshop features, the ageing process was greatly accelerated. A highly-believable result can be achieved by following this methodical process.