Photoshop’s Smart Portrait Neural Filter provides a powerful yet accessible way to relight portraits using AI. This tool intelligently adjusts lighting direction, intensity, and angle on detected faces, enabling quick creation of dramatic effects such as low-key side lighting or cinematic rim lights – all non-destructively.
In this tutorial, we’ll transform a standard portrait into a moody, dramatic one in minutes using this neural filter.
What You’ll Need
- Adobe Photoshop (2025 version recommended for the latest Neural Filters performance)
- A portrait image with a clearly visible face (front-facing works best for optimal AI detection)
Step-by-Step Guide
Step 1: Open Your Image and Duplicate the Layer
Open your portrait in Photoshop (File > Open). Duplicate the Background layer (Ctrl+J / Cmd+J) for non-destructive editing. Name it “Relight Edit” if desired.
Step 2: Access Neural Filters
Go to Filter > Neural Filters. If prompted, sign in to your Adobe account and download the Smart Portrait filter (cloud icon indicates download required).
Step 3: Select Smart Portrait and Detect Faces
In the Neural Filters panel, toggle on Smart Portrait. Photoshop’s AI automatically detects faces—select the desired face from the dropdown if multiple are present.
Step 4: Adjust Lighting Direction
Under the Global section, adjust the “Light Direction” setting:
Step 5: Test Other Facial Feature Settings and Use Layer Mask to Adjust the Result
Test other settings such as Happiness, Facial age and Eye Direction
You can also use Layer Mask on the duplicated layer to remove some undesirable result:
Step 6: Finalise and Refine
Double-click the Smart Filter to tweak settings anytime. Add a Levels or Curves adjustment layer for further contrast if desired. Export as needed (File > Export > Export As).
Before
After
Pro Tips
- Optimise Starting Image Quality: For the most accurate AI detection and lighting simulation, use well-exposed portraits with good contrast. Overexposed highlights or underexposed shadows can limit the range of dramatic adjustments—consider basic Levels correction before applying Smart Portrait.
- Combine with Depth of Field: After relighting, apply the Depth Blur Neural Filter (Filter > Neural Filters > Depth Blur) to emphasise the new lighting direction. A subtle background blur enhances separation and reinforces cinematic drama.
- Use Multiple Faces Strategically: When working with group portraits, relight faces individually by duplicating the layer and applying Smart Portrait separately to each. Mask the effects to avoid unnatural overlap.
- Create Custom Presets: Once you achieve a desired dramatic look (e.g., low-key side light with increased intensity), save it as a preset in the Smart Portrait panel. This enables consistent application across a portrait series—ideal for editorial or client work.
- Blend with Manual Techniques: For ultimate control, reduce the Smart Filter opacity (e.g., 70-80%) and layer manual Dodge/Burn on a 50% grey overlay layer. This hybrid approach refines AI results while preserving natural skin transitions.
- Colour Grading Synergy: Pair dramatic relighting with a Color Grading adjustment layer (Layer > New Adjustment Layer > Color Lookup) using cinematic LUTs (e.g., teal-orange or film emulation). Cool shadows and warm highlights amplify the mood created by AI lighting.
- Non-Destructive Workflow Reminder: Always output as a Smart Filter and group related layers (Ctrl+G / Cmd+G). This allows instant reversion or variation testing without committing to permanent changes.
- Performance Note: Neural Filters process faster on machines with dedicated GPUs. If working on a laptop, close other applications or reduce preview resolution in the Neural Filters panel for smoother real-time adjustments.
Why Use Smart Portrait for Relighting?
This AI-driven tool simplifies complex studio lighting setups, delivering professional dramatic effects quickly without manual dodging/burning. Ideal for portraits needing mood enhancement.