Frequency Separation

Frequency separation is a preset from the Retouching Bundle. Frequency separation is a popular retouching technique in which an image is split into two frequencies. The low frequency contains the most color information, the high frequency all the details. You will be able to edit these areas independently from each other. There are different methods available for the frequency separation.

Basics

Method

Determine how the frequencies should be created by using one of these four methods.

Gaussian Blur GB Gaussian Blur and Apply Image.
Median M Median and Apply Image.
High Pass HP High Pass and Apply Image.
Surface Blur MM Surface Blur and Apply Image.
Right: Surface blur with radius and threshold. Left: Gaussian blur.

Layer Selection

You can define whether one of the two layers or the group should be selected after the frequencies have been successfully separated. For example, if you want to start editing the colors immediately, you can choose the low frequency.

Dialog

All blurring methods have parameters you can control via sliders. You should always define the values depending on your source image. That’s why the respective dialog opens where you can control the values. If you don’t want the dialog to open, you can disable this option.

Layer Settings

Layer name & color

You can define the name and color for the layer.

Protect original frequencies

You can lock both frequencies, make a copy of each, and then work on the duplicates. They are created as clipping masks of the original layers. This way, you will always have a reference, if you want to undo your processing in whole or in part, e.g., with a layer mask.

Right: the original frequencies are locked. The editable duplicates are created as a clipping mask.
Suffix

You can define the name of the editable layers with a suffix.

Lock Background Layer

The background layer of your image will be locked, so it can’t be accidentally edited. It will also be renamed to “Original.”

Left: Background layer in Photoshop. Right: completely locked layer, renamed to “Original”.

Group Settings

Gruppieren

The frequencies are placed in a group named by you if this option is active.

Left: the frequency separation was grouped.

No Subgroup

Group name & color

You can define the name and color of the group.

Change Group name and color

Add Parameters

You can add values used for frequency separation (such as Gaussian blur with 14px radius) as abbreviations in the group name. For this, the abbreviations listed in the table above will be used, eg. “GB 14px”.

Left: Group name without parameters. Right. Group name with parameter.

Tool

Choose whether to select a tool after the frequency separation. For each tool, you can use the current settings or define a tool preset (if any). The following tools are available:

  • Brush
  • Pencil
  • Mixer Brush
  • Healing Brush
  • Clone Stamp

Custom Presets

Create Button

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