Match Skin Tones Between Photos in Photoshop with Curves
In this tutorial, you’ll match the skin tone of a subject to a reference image using Curves and sampled RGB values. You’ll place both images together for sampling, create clean color swatches, and use the Info panel to drive exact channel adjustments. Finally, you’ll mask the effect so it affects only the skin.
Step-by-step instructions
Place both images in one document for sampling
Open both images in Photoshop.
Select the Move Tool (V), drag the reference image tab, then drag into the target image and release to place it on top.
Position the reference where you have room to sample colors side by side.
Create color swatches from representative skin areas
Create a new blank layer (Layer → New → Layer).
Select the Eyedropper Tool (I) → set Sample Size to 5 by 5 Average.
Click a midtone skin area on the reference (avoid highlights/shadows).
Select the Brush Tool (B), Hardness 100%, paint a solid swatch on the blank layer.
Hold Alt/Option to temporarily sample a midtone on your target face, then paint a second swatch beside the first.
Limit the adjustment to the face with a Curves mask
Select the Lasso Tool (L) and make a loose selection around the target face.
Create a Curves Adjustment Layer (Layer → New Adjustment Layer → Curves).
Ensure the Curves layer is at the top of the stack so the Info readings are correct.
Add samplers and open the Info panel
Select the Color Sampler Tool (nested under the Eyedropper).
Click the reference swatch, then click the target swatch to set two sample points.
Open Window → Info to see RGB readouts for both points (left = reference, right = target).
Target the color with per‑channel curve points
In the Curves properties, hold Ctrl+Shift (Cmd+Shift on Mac) and click the target swatch area on the image to add a point to each RGB channel.
Use the channel dropdown to switch channels (or Alt+4 for Green, Alt+5 for Blue; Alt+2 returns to RGB).
Match the RGB values channel by channel
Go to Red channel and select the point. In Output, type the reference Red value (e.g., 174) and press Enter/Return.
Go to Green channel and set Output to the reference Green value (e.g., 123).
Go to Blue channel and set Output to the reference Blue value (e.g., 105).
Switch back to RGB (composite) and, if desired, create a gentle S‑curve to adjust contrast.
Clean up helper layers (optional)
Select the swatch layers and press Delete/Backspace to remove them.
Close the Info panel if no longer needed.
Reveal the effect only on skin
Click the Curves layer mask, fill it with black to hide the effect (Edit → Fill → Black, or Ctrl+Backspace/Command+Delete if Black is Background).
Select the Brush Tool (B), Hardness 0%, paint with white on the mask to reveal the effect on skin areas only.
Refine edges as needed; remember white reveals, black conceals.
