How to Whiten Teeth in Photoshop Like a Pro

A radiant smile is a powerful tool, conveying confidence, warmth, and approachability. In the world of photography, however, even the most dazzling grin can sometimes fall victim to less-than-ideal lighting or natural variations in tooth colour.

Thankfully, with the magic of Photoshop, how to whiten teeth in Photoshop is a question with a simple answer.

This comprehensive guide will delve into the step-by-step process of whitening teeth in Photoshop using the Hue/Saturation adjustment layer and the Object Selection Tool. We’ll explore not only the technical aspects but also offer valuable tips and tricks to ensure a natural and believable outcome in your photos.

Gearing Up: Software and Selection

Before we embark on our teeth-whitening journey, let’s ensure you have the necessary tools at your disposal. This tutorial assumes you’re using Adobe Photoshop. While other photo editing software might offer similar functionalities, the specific tools and menus might differ slightly.

Step 1 – Selecting Your Weapon – The Object Selection Tool

Save the image below to your computer (click to enlarge and right-click to “Save as” to your computer):

Find the Object Selection Tool

The Object Selection Tool, a recent addition to Photoshop’s arsenal, is our weapon of choice for whitening teeth in Photoshop. Its power lies in its ability to intelligently identify and select objects within your image. Here’s how to activate it:

1. Locate the Toolbar on the left-hand side of your Photoshop workspace.
2. Within the Toolbar, find the Quick Selection Tool (indicated by a rectangular marquee with a paintbrush).
3. Click and hold on the Quick Selection Tool to reveal a hidden menu.
4. From the menu, choose the Object Selection Tool (represented by a rectangular marquee with a gear icon).

Pro Tip: If you frequently use the Object Selection Tool, consider customizing your keyboard shortcuts for faster access. You can find this option under Edit > Keyboard Shortcuts.

Step 2: Lassoing the Smile – Making the Selection

Now that we have our trusty Object Selection Tool equipped, let’s make the magic happen for whitening teeth in Photoshop:

1. Open your desired image in Photoshop.
2. With the Object Selection Tool active, carefully click and drag your cursor around the mouth area. The tool will intelligently detect the teeth within your selection.

Here’s where the Object Selection Tool shines. Unlike traditional selection tools like the Lasso Tool, you don’t need to meticulously trace the exact outline of the teeth. The tool will automatically encompass them within your selection, saving you time and effort.

Pro Tip: If the Object Selection Tool doesn’t perfectly capture all the teeth or includes unwanted areas like the lips, don’t worry! You can refine the selection further. Hold down the Option/Alt key while dragging your cursor to add areas to the selection, and hold Command/Ctrl while dragging to subtract areas.

Step 3: Introducing the Hue/Saturation Maestro – Colour Adjustment

Once you’re satisfied with the selection for whitening teeth in Photoshop, it’s time to introduce the maestro of color manipulation – the Hue/Saturation adjustment layer. This powerful tool allows us to target specific colors within our selection and fine-tune their appearance. Here’s how to bring it into play:

1. Navigate to the Layers panel, typically located on the right side of your Photoshop workspace.
2. Click on the Create a new adjustment layer icon (represented by a half-black, half-white circle at the bottom of the Layers panel).
3. From the dropdown menu, select Hue/Saturation.

This action creates a new Hue/Saturation adjustment layer specifically affecting the area you selected with the Object Selection Tool. Essentially, you’re creating a virtual layer where you can modify the colors of the teeth without altering the rest of the image.

Step 4: Targeting the Yellows

Teeth naturally have a slight yellow tinge. To achieve a brighter smile through whitening teeth in Photoshop, we’ll target and reduce this yellow hue. Here’s how to fine-tune the adjustment layer:

1. In the Layers panel, locate the newly created Hue/Saturation adjustment layer. It should be positioned above your image layer.
2. Within the Properties panel (usually located next to the Layers panel), find the Edit dropdown menu. By default, it’s set to Master, affecting all colors within the selection.
3. Click on the dropdown menu and select Yellows. This crucial step ensures that our adjustments only target the yellow tones present in the teeth, leaving the rest of the colours untouched.

Pro Tip: While targeting Yellows is the most common approach for whitening teeth in Photoshop, you might encounter situations where a slight adjustment to Reds or Oranges might be necessary for optimal results. Experiment cautiously to achieve the most natural look.

Step 5: Reducing Yellow Saturation

With Yellows isolated, it’s time to wield the whitening wand for whitening teeth in Photoshop:

1. In the Properties panel, locate the Saturation slider. This slider controls the intensity of the yellow tones within the teeth.
2. Drag the Saturation slider to the left. As you move the slider, you’ll see the yellow cast in the teeth diminish, revealing a brighter white.

Finding the Sweet Spot: Be mindful not to overdo it! Dragging the Saturation slider too far to the left can result in unnaturally white teeth that appear fake and glowing. A subtle reduction is usually all that’s needed for a natural-looking smile.

Pro Tip: Use your on-screen preview as a guide. Zoom in to closely examine the teeth as you adjust the Saturation. Stop when the teeth appear brighter but still retain a slightly yellowish hue, mimicking the natural colour of healthy teeth.

Step 6: Bringing Up the Brightness

While reducing yellow saturation is the primary method for whitening teeth in Photoshop, you can add another layer of refinement by adjusting the brightness. Here’s how:

1. In the Properties panel of the Hue/Saturation adjustment layer, locate the Lightness slider.
2. By default, the Lightness slider is set at 0. You can carefully nudge it slightly to the right to increase the overall brightness of the teeth.

A Word of Caution: Similar to the Saturation adjustment, be careful not to overdo it with Lightness. Excessive brightening can make the teeth look chalky or unnatural. Aim for a subtle increase that complements the reduced yellow tones.

Step 7: Fine-Tuning the Selection

While the Object Selection Tool does a great job of isolating the teeth, there might be instances where minor adjustments are necessary. Here’s how to refine the selection for a flawless whitening teeth in Photoshop result:

1. With the Hue/Saturation adjustment layer selected in the Layers panel, hold down the Option/Alt key (PC: Ctrl) and click on the layer mask thumbnail. This creates a temporary view of the layer mask, which controls which areas of the image are affected by the adjustment layer.
2. In the layer mask view, a white area represents areas affected by the adjustment, while black areas remain untouched. You can use a black brush (soft brush recommended) to paint on unwanted areas of the mask, effectively hiding the whitening effect in those specific spots. This could be helpful for cleaning up around the gums or lips if the selection wasn’t perfect.
3. Once you’re satisfied with your refinements, press Option/Alt (PC: Ctrl) again to return to the normal layer view.

Pro Tip: Use a low brush opacity (around 30-50%) for better control when refining the mask. This allows for a gradual transition between the whitened teeth and the surrounding areas.

Step 8: Achieving a Natural Look – The Power of Opacity

Even with careful adjustments, there’s a chance you might have gone a bit overboard with whitening teeth in Photoshop. Here’s how to dial it back for a more natural look:

1. Reduce the overall opacity of the Hue/Saturation adjustment layer in the Layers panel. Lowering the opacity weakens the whitening effect, allowing the original colors of the teeth to show through more prominently.
2. Adjust the opacity slider until you achieve a level of whitening that complements the overall image and appears natural.

Finding the Right Balance: The ideal opacity level depends on the initial colour of the teeth in the photo and the desired level of whitening. Experiment until you find a balance that looks natural and aesthetically pleasing.

Once you are happy with the results, save the photo.

Additional Tips

Most likely you would be happy with the result already, but here are some additional tips for whitening teeth in Photoshop:

• Use a soft-edged brush when painting on the layer mask to create a smooth transition between the whitened teeth and the rest of the photo.
• If you want to whiten the teeth even more, you can create a second hue/saturation adjustment layer and set the “Edit” option to “Master”. Then, drag the “Saturation” slider to the left to reduce the saturation of all the colors in the teeth.
• Be careful not to over-whiten the teeth, as this can make them look unnatural.

Hope this tutorial was helpful! Drop me a comment if you have further questions.

Further Readings

• How to Use the Object Selection Tool in Photoshop
• Adjust color, saturation, and hue
• 20 Must-Read Advanced Photoshop Tutorials with Cutting-Edge Feature