Replace a Face in a Photo with Photoshop (Auto-Blend Method)
In this tutorial, you’ll replace a face in a target photo with a face from a source image using Auto-Blend Layers for a seamless result. You’ll select and move the face, align it precisely, match color, and blend tones for a realistic composite.
Step-by-step instructions
Select and move the source face
Choose the Lasso Tool (L).
Draw a loose selection around the face in the source image.
Switch to the Move Tool (V).
Drag the selected face to the target document/tab and drop it onto the canvas.
Align and transform the new face
In the Layers panel, reduce the face layer Opacity to 50%.
Go to Edit → Free Transform (Ctrl+T / Cmd+T).
Right-click inside the transform box → Flip Horizontal (if needed to match orientation).
Scale, rotate, and position the face so facial features align with the target.
Press Enter/Return to commit the transform, then set Opacity back to 100%.
Prepare for color matching
Select the Background layer and duplicate it (Ctrl+J / Cmd+J) to create “Background copy”.
Ctrl/Cmd-click the face layer’s thumbnail to load a selection around the new face.
Select the face layer (the one you moved).
Match the new face color
Go to Image → Adjustments → Match Color…
Under Source, choose the current document; under Layer, choose “Background copy”.
Click OK to apply the color match.
Contract the selection and clear the area on the background copy
With the face selection still active, go to Select → Modify → Contract… and set 6 px (adjust based on image size).
Hide the top face layer and the original Background layer (click eye icons) so you can work on “Background copy”.
Select the “Background copy” layer, then go to Edit → Clear to remove pixels inside the contracted selection.
Go to Select → Deselect.
Auto-blend for a seamless merge
Show the face layer again (enable the eye icon).
In the Layers panel, Shift-click to select both the face layer and “Background copy”.
Go to Edit → Auto-Blend Layers…
Choose Stack Images and enable Seamless Tones and Colors.
Click OK to blend and review the result.
