In this tutorial, I’m going to run through the new Face-Aware Liquify feature and show you how you can use it to quickly adjust facial features.
Prior to the introduction of this new liquify filter, the only way to manipulate facial features is to use the standard liquify filter, or the selection + free transform tool. Both methods are quite time-consuming. Now, all you need is the this new Face-Aware liquify filter for simple facial feature adjustments.
Before We Begin, Ensure Graphics Processor is Enabled
In order to use Face-aware Liquify, please make sure that the graphics processor is enabled in your Photoshop preferences:
- Go to Edit > Preferences > Performance.
- In the Graphics Processor Settings area, select Use Graphics Processor.
- Click Advanced Settings. Ensure you select “Use Graphics Processor To Accelerate Computation”.
- Click OK.
Let’s Begin
Download a portrait image from the web (I used this image: Black Summer (18) by FrostAlexis), load the image into Photoshop.
Go to Filter > Liquify:
On the Liquify window, you will notice there is a human icon labelled “Face Tool” on the left, click on it:
Once the Face Tool is enabled, move your mouse over any one facial feature (eyes, nose, etc.) – you will see a smart guide appearing. This allows you to Click & Drag and adjust the relevant facial feature:
Eyes
Face Shape
Nose
Mouth
On top of the click & drag, you will also find all the settings on the right pane:
Notice the paper clip icon under the Eyes settings? Click on it and it will automatically apply equal value to the left/right eye setting:
Once you’re happy with the result, click “OK” to apply the filter. This conclude the application of Fare-Aware liquify filter.
One thing I need to mention is that the Face-Aware liquify filter works the best for faces that directly facing the camera. If you have a photo similar to the one below, you can still use Face-Aware, just the outcome may not be as good:
Troubleshooting: “No Face Detected in Photoshop Face-Aware Liquify” Error
In certain instances, Photoshop may encounter difficulty detecting faces in the Liquify tool, leading to the absence of facial features for adjustment. If you encounter this issue, consider the following troubleshooting steps:
- Ensure a Frontal View: Face-Aware Liquify is optimised for faces that are directly facing the camera. If the subject’s face is at an angle or partially obscured, Photoshop may struggle to detect facial features accurately. Select images with clear, frontal views for optimal results.
- Check Image Quality: The accuracy of face detection can be influenced by the quality and resolution of the image. Choose high-resolution images with well-defined facial features to enhance the detection capabilities of the Face-Aware Liquify tool.
- Adjust Facial Feature Size: If the facial features are too small or large in relation to the overall image, Photoshop may have difficulty recognizing them. Experiment with resizing the facial features within the Liquify tool to see if it improves detection.
- Increase Image Contrast: Enhance the contrast of the image to make facial features more distinct. This can assist the Face-Aware Liquify tool in accurately identifying and adjusting specific facial elements.
- Utilise Manual Liquify Tools: If automatic face detection proves challenging, you can resort to using the standard Liquify tools manually. This involves selecting and adjusting facial features using traditional Liquify options for more precise control.
- Update Photoshop: Ensure that you are using the latest version of Adobe Photoshop. Updates often include improvements and bug fixes, which may address issues related to face detection in the Liquify tool.
- Check System Requirements: Confirm that your computer meets the necessary system requirements for utilizing advanced features like Face-Aware Liquify. A lack of computational resources can impact the tool’s performance.
That’s it for this tutorial! I would love to hear your opinion about the Face-Aware liquify filter – simply drop me a comment below.