◆ Photoshop · retouch

Teeth Whitening And Red‑Eye Fix

I shot the candidate and the portrait has red-eye and slightly yellowed teeth; the standards desk wants modest retouch…

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CDecide — “help me choose”I shot the candidate and the portrait has red-eye and slightly yellowed teeth; the standards…+
I shot the candidate and the portrait has red-eye and slightly yellowed teeth; the standards desk wants modest retouching to meet print standards but not to glamourize. I'm nervous about pushing it too far. Tell me how to remove red-eye and whiten teeth conservatively, which values will look natural in newsprint, and the one line I must not cross so the image stays truthful.
when the reply comes backPush once: ask it to sharpen the weakest part, and to say what it assumed.

How to do it

the tool · the steps · what to avoid
The tool
Healing Brush Tool

The Healing Brush Tool seamlessly blends imperfections by sampling pixels from one area and applying them to another, matching texture, lighting, and shading.

  1. 1

    Select the layer containing imperfections in the Layers panel.

  2. 2

    Select the Healing Brush Tool (J) from the toolbar.

    NoteIt may be nested under the Spot Healing Brush Tool.

  3. 3

    Click the brush sample in the tool options bar to set brush options.

  4. 4

    Adjust Size, Hardness, and Pressure in the options bar.

    Best practiceUse the right square bracket key (]) to enlarge the brush, and the left ([) to shrink it.

  5. 5

    Hold Alt (Option on Mac) and click a desired sample area.

    NoteThis sets the source pixels for healing.

  6. 6

    Click or drag over the imperfection to apply the sampled texture.

    RecommendationAdjust the brush size so it is slightly larger than the blemish for best results.

  7. 7

    Repeat sampling and painting as needed for other imperfections.

  8. 8

    Go to File > Save or File > Save As to commit your work.

For non-destructive editing, create a new empty layer above your image and set the Healing Brush's Sample option to 'Current & Below' or 'All Layers'.

The Healing Brush Tool's functionality is not directly exposed for automation via scripting or actions in a way that replicates its intelligent blending.

Glossary

words on this page
Spot Healing BrushA tool that quickly removes small imperfections and blemishes from an image by blending surrounding pixels.ExampleThe Spot Healing Brush quickly removes a small dust speck from an otherwise clean product photo.
Options barA contextual bar displaying settings and controls for the currently active tool.ExampleWhen you select the brush tool, the options bar shows its size, hardness, and flow settings.
Brush ToolPaints custom strokes of color or applies adjustments directly onto an image or mask.ExampleYou can use the brush tool to paint a red stripe across a white background.
HardnessA brush setting that controls the sharpness or softness of the brush's edge when painting or erasing.ExampleSetting the brush Hardness to 100% creates a sharp, crisp line, while 0% creates a soft, blurry edge.
ActionsRecorded series of commands that can be played back to automate repetitive tasks in Photoshop.ExampleYou can record a set of Photoshop actions to apply the same effects to many images.

The real tasks

1 of them
Portrait for the candidate needs teeth whitened and red-eye fixed before tonight's print run

Who does this

1 roles
Photojournalist

Questions people actually ask

with the jobs and tasks they touch

Use the Clone Stamp or Healing Brush tool to carefully paint over the reflection. Zoom in for precision and sample nearby areas to match the background.

A graphic designer or amateur photographer might do this after taking a portrait or product shot where the background reflection pulls attention away.

Fix them when the reflection pulls focus from the main subject, especially if the photo is for a portfolio or client presentation. Doing it before final editing ensures a cleaner look.

Use the Spot Healing Brush for small areas or the Clone Stamp for larger spots. Blend edges softly and match textures to keep the background realistic.

Using too much cloning or healing that creates flat, unrealistic patches. It’s better to work gradually, matching textures and lighting carefully.

A portrait photographer or product photographer usually does this before publishing or printing the final image.

AI can quickly reduce reflections but may struggle with complex backgrounds or matching textures perfectly. Manual correction is often still needed for best results.

Both involve detailed retouching to improve focus and detail. However, fixing background reflections specifically targets distracting spots or glare in the scene.