HOW TO FACE SWAP IN PHOTOSHOP APP.

Are you looking to transfer faces onto another body by using Photoshop? This guide will help you do the process. Also, here are helpful tips and tricks for beginners!

There’s a good chance you’ve heard of face swapping as a great activity to play with apps on your smartphone. However, you may not know that you can perform it using Adobe Photoshop for all sorts of uses.

Yes, you can enjoy blending your appearance with the cat’s, but you could also test different styles before visiting a hairdresser to get them done.

Creatives can also use this to create topics that aren’t present in the real world by combining bodies and faces.

Professionals also employ this technique to create more than just faces. They also use it to switch logos and designs between different items.

It’s an all-purpose method that opens up many possibilities. Find out how simple it’s to perform.

How to Photoshop a Face Onto Another Body in Photoshop

1. Prep Work

The first step is to select the two images you’ll use. To do this, you need to consider certain factors.

Resolution and size must have the same resolution and size. If that’s not the case, The face you’re planning to add to the body should be the one with the highest resolution.

There’s no harm in reducing it. But, if you expand it to increase its size and wider, you’ll end up with blurred and pixelated images within a head that is otherwise sharp.

Another thing to consider, particularly if you’re trying this method to capture your first shot, is that your subjects must be looking the same way (i.e., facing about at the exact angle).

The lighting needs to be comparable so that the mix is more real. Also, begin with portraits that don’t have too many details that can be matched. Therefore, avoid portraits in which hair flows across the face or something similar.

Ready? Let’s go!

2. Open Your Images

Both images must be opened pictures in Photoshop.

You can keep tabs on them as the default, but you could also put these in distinct windows if you prefer to view them in a row.

The second view is useful because it allows you to ensure the faces match up for this type of work.

To access this view, it is possible to access the Window menu. Arrange 2-up Vertical (or 2-up Horizontal, based on the type of view you require).

3. Select and Copy the Face

Select that tab or the window where you can see the picture of the face you would like to transfer onto another head.

You can choose the face with the Lasso tool since it isn’t necessary to be precise.

Drag and click around the principal facial features to cover everything from the eyebrows to the chin if you wish to switch the entire face.

Of course, you can choose only certain parts, such as the nose or eyes, If that’s what you’re looking for. In this video, I’ll teach you how to completely change the faces within Photoshop.

Once you’ve selected the face, You can copy the image using The menu edit and copy or with keystrokes Cmd + C.

If you’re working with separate windows, you’ll be able to click and drag the other window without copying.

4. Paste

Click on the tab or window where you’ll find the head of the recipient. Close the other tab since you will not require it anymore.

Paste the face into this document using the shortcut Cmd + V, or go into the Edit menu Paste.

You now have the original image locked in a background layer and then another layer with the face of the new image.

5. Transform

Now, you must make sure you match your new look to the elements from the first image as close as you can.

Begin by reducing the opaqueness on the layer that faces you using the layer panel. You’ll be capable of seeing the original underside to guide making adjustments.

After that, you can activate The Free Transform tool by pressing Cmd +T. Start by adjusting dimensions using the handles on the corners.

Place the reference point where you feel it is the most appropriate – for instance, the eye or mouth. The choice is based on the images you have.

You must ensure that you keep the aspect ratio of the face layer while adjusting it. This is enabled by default if you’re using a newer version of Adobe Photoshop.

If not, simply hold the Shift button while moving the handle. You can also select the chain icon on the bar with options on top.

If the head is slightly inclined, the second step will be to turn the face layer to align with the angle.

Additionally, if the subject were mirrors, you may right-click and open the Free Transform menu, then select Flip Horizontal.

6. Duplicate the Original Image

Once everything is implemented, accept the change and turn the transparency back to 100 100%.

Remove your face’s visibility by pressing the eye icon right next to it. Then, we can prepare the layer to receive it by combining the body and head.

It’s not an excellent idea to modify the original image just in case there’s a problem. Make a copy of the area you’ll be working.

It is done by dragging the background layer onto it and clicking the Create New Layer button at the bottom of the Layers panel.

You can also do this by clicking on the layer background and selecting Duplicate Layer in the options menu. Leave the default settings on the pop-up window, and select OK.

You can disable the background layer’s visibility as you won’t require it anymore. It’s going to remain there as an extra backup.

7. Delete the Original Face

Before adding the new face, it is necessary to remove the old one. To do this, just click on the thumbnail in the layer while pressing your Cmd key.

It doesn’t matter if it’s inaccessible at the moment it will still select the contents in the layer. That is, it will select the features you copied and pasted from the previous image.

Check that you’re still on the original background layer. Because we’ll blend layers during the following stage, we’ll reduce the selection a bit smaller to make space to allow for the transition.

This can be done by selecting Select, Modify, or Contract. The number can be changed. You can play around using different numbers based on the picture.

Then press the backspace key to erase the contents of the selection.

8. Blend the layers

Okay, now it’s time to get the magic to happen. Reset the transparency to the layer that faces you.

After that, you can select each face layer and the Background Copy Layer by holding Cmd and clicking on them.

Then, click on the menu Edit and Auto-Blend Layers. This will display a dialogue box. Make sure Panorama is selected. Panorama has been selected.

After that, look in those boxes that say Seamless Tones and Colors and Content-Aware Fill Transparent area. Click OK.

Then, be patient for Photoshop to perform its work.

9. Fine-Tune the Details

Photoshop usually does an excellent job at creating seamless colours and tones between the face swap pictures. However, you may require manual correction of some tiny specifics.

Select the Create Layer Mask button from the lower left corner of the Layers panel.

This creates an opaque white layer on the merged layer. There will be no changes. However, everything that is painted black on it will disappear.

You can also use the brush tool with gentle edges to draw over areas you don’t like. Utilize a low flow to create transparent areas instead of blocking all pixels.

By doing this, you will be able to remove any imperfections that may have occurred during the blend. If this doesn’t work, you might need to add more transition areas when blending layers.

Repeat the steps earlier, creating a larger space for transitions in step 6. Enter a larger number to make the selection smaller.

Other Uses for the Face Swap Technique

As I said earlier in this article, the method to switch faces within Photoshop can be used for various purposes.

You don’t have to be confined to faces. This technique is also effective for objects.

In this instance, I used a 50 per cent sign from the window of a shop selling. Then, I applied the face swap method to incorporate it into the street sign.

Tips and Tricks for Beginners

The two images you wish to merge in Photoshop must be as similar in technical aspects as possible. For instance, the lighting should be similar, and the light source to be in the same direction.

Make sure the sharpness is equal. If you try to combine an image with everything in focus and one in which your field of view is small, it will not produce a realistic image.

To simplify things, If you’re an inexperienced photographer, look at different photos from the same photo shoot.

Imagine that you have one image where the body’s posture is great; however, the model has their eyes shut. Another image where the facial expressions are perfect, but the body does not appear natural.

This is the ideal group of photos to start getting comfortable with Face swaps in Photoshop.

You’re aware of how the light, perspective, and focal length are all the same. Also, you know the hair tone, skin tone, teeth, and more. Will all match? Thus, merging faces of Photoshop will be very smooth.

After that, you’ll be able to move on to more challenging situations until you can go from beginner to professional.

Another Way to Do a Face Swap

If the method to swap faces within Photoshop isn’t working for you, or if you do not already have an Adobe Creative Cloud subscription, then try Luminar.

Luminar is a powerful photo editor that can make creative editing of photos a breeze because of Artificial Intelligence (AI).

Final Words

Executing the face swap with Photoshop is a very simple method that can be used for many purposes.

It might take some practice before you can master it and master it, but once you’ve learned how to switch faces in Photoshop, it’s possible to apply the technique for more intricate post-production effects.

Neither the Shotkit team nor myself endorse these edits to serve unethical goals. Be professional, enjoy yourself, and let your creativity run wild.