Portrait Retouching – Red Eye Removal Lecture Notes
Introduction/Anticipatory/Hook
Ever seen or taken a picture of your friends or family where their eyes are glowing red? Do you wonder why this happens? Ever wish you could see how you look with different colored eyes? This lesson will explain why red eye occurs and how to correct it using Adobe Photoshop software. You’ll also learn how to enhance or change eye color.
Classroom Set Up
Open the red_eye2.jpg and the eye_diagram.jpg files to have available for students to look at while the instructor explains what red eye is and how it occurs.
Goals and Objectives
Recognize the red-eye effect by looking at photographs Understand a bit of the biology of the eye and how light reflects in the eye causing the red eye effect Make selections using Photoshop’s selection tools Use Photoshop’s red eye tool to correct the red-eye effect Enhance or change eye color in a photograph
What is red eye? The red-eye effect in photography is the common appearance of red pupils in color photographs of eyes. The red color comes from light that reflects off of the retinas in our eyes. ("Why do people have red eyes in flash photographs?" 01 April 2000. HowStuffWorks.com.
Solano County Office of Education Christine A Long, Digital Arts Instructor (Dixon High School) Page 1 of 2
Why does red eye happen?
The red eye effect occurs when using a photographic flash very close to the camera lens (as with most compact cameras or cell phone cameras), in ambient low light.
The light of the flash occurs too fast for the pupil to close, much of the very bright light from the flash passes into the eye through the pupil, reflects off the fundus at the back of the eyeball and out through the pupil. The camera records this reflected light. The main cause of the red color is the ample amount of blood in the choroid which nourishes the back of the eye and is located behind the retina.
The fundus of the eye is the interior surface of the eye, opposite the lens, and includes the retina, optic disc, macula and fovea, and posterior pole.
How to avoid red effect during portrait photography
Outdoor photograph using natural light is best. If conducting indoor photography, the easiest way to avoid the red eye effect is to move the flash attachment away from the camera lens if possible. Bounce flash and light boxes in the studio eliminate red eye. Many modern digital cameras also have a “red eye reduction” feature (see image below); refer to the instruction manual that came with your camera to see if this option is available.
Activity/Lab Assignment: Have the Red Eye Removal Assignment (Word or PDF document) available as a handout or have the students open the document to refer to while working.
Solano County Office of Education Christine A Long, Digital Arts Instructor (Dixon High School) Page 2 of 2