Skip to main content

How to make eyes shine with 3 simple steps in Photoshop

AMAZING Eyes in 3 Simple Steps: PHOTOSHOP #96
As author Paulo Coelho famously proclaimed in his novel
Recommended Videos
Manuscript Found in Accra, “The eyes are the mirror of the soul.”

Considering the significance our eyes play in representing emotion, as alluded in the above quote, it only makes sense that they be a strong and important point in emphasis in photography.

It’s important to capture the eyes correctly in-camera when shooting photographs of people. But there are times when the eyes need a little tweak here or there to emphasize the mesmerizing details of our irides.

For those times, photographer and Photoshop guru Glyn Dewis has shared a helpful tutorial on how to create amazing-looking eyes in Photoshop with three simple steps. In it, he explains how to easily improve the detail in the eyes of a subject by using quick masks and a selective color adjustment layer within Photoshop.

Something to keep in mind, and something that Dewis points out more than once throughout the tutorial, the key to bringing out the beauty of eyes lies in subtlety. If you’re even slightly overzealous on the brightening or sharpening of the eyes, it’s easy to spot, either on the screen or in a print.

By taking it slow and making smaller adjustments, it’s easier to create a realistic photograph where the subject doesn’t appear as though their possessed.

At eight-and-a-half minutes long, the tutorial isn’t a quick watch, but it’s a piece of information you’ll inevitably use at some point or another, whether it’s in your photo career or touching up images at home. Dewis’ YouTube channel offers more tutorials and Photoshop tips.

Gannon Burgett
Former Digital Trends Contributor
GoPro launches ultralight, affordable Hero 4K Camera for $199
The 2024 GoPro hero is frozen in ice.

GoPro enthusiasts have a new camera to consider after the company introduced its miniature, ultralight 4K Hero late last week. It is the company's smallest and most affordable offering, costing just $199.

The Hero is waterproof and combines GoPro's simplest user interface with 4K video, 2x slo-mo at 2.7K resolution, and 12-megapixel photos. It is available on retail shelves around the world and online at GoPro's website.

Read more
The best camera phones in 2024: our top 9 photography picks
A person holding the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra and Xiaomi 14 Ultra.

In the past decade or so, cameras on smartphones have evolved so much that they can pretty much replace a standalone digital camera for most people. The results you can get on some of the best smartphones these days are just so impressive, and being able to be with you at all times means you'll never miss a moment.

But what if you want the best possible camera phone money can buy? A camera that won't let you down no matter what you're taking a picture of? You've come to the right place. Here are the very best camera phones you can buy in 2024.

Read more
An ace photographer is about to leave the ISS. Here are his best shots
The moon and Earth as seen from the ISS.

NASA astronaut Matthew Dominick is preparing to return to Earth after spending seven months living and working aboard the International Space Station (ISS).

After arriving at the orbital outpost, Dominick -- who is on his first mission to space -- quickly earned a reputation for being an ace photographer. He's been using the facility’s plethora of high-end cameras and lenses to capture amazing shots from his unique vantage point some 250 miles above Earth. Sharing his content on social media, the American astronaut has always been happy to reveal how he captured the imagery and offer extra insight for folks interested to know more.

Read more