Frequency Separation Tool
Built for portrait and beauty retouchers, the Frequency Separation Tool splits a photo into two layers in your browser: a blurred low-frequency layer that holds tone and color, and a high-frequency layer that holds texture and fine detail. Set the blur radius, extract both as PNG files, and retouch skin without losing pores.
Drop Image for Frequency Separation
Extract High (Detail) and Low (Tone) layers
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Frequently asked questions
What is frequency separation in photo retouching?
Frequency separation divides an image into two parts. The low frequencies are the broad transitions of tone and color, such as blotchy skin or uneven lighting. The high frequencies are the fine texture, such as pores, hair and fabric weave. Working on them separately lets you smooth tone without blurring texture, or clean up texture without shifting color, which is why portrait retouchers rely on it.
How do I use the Frequency Separation Tool?
Click the upload area or drop an image onto it. The Blur Radius slider appears, set to 10 px by default. Adjust it, then click Extract Layers. The tool downloads two PNG files: low-frequency-layer.png, the blurred tone layer, and high-frequency-layer.png, the detail layer shown as texture over mid-gray. Your browser may ask permission to download multiple files.
What blur radius should I choose?
The slider runs from 1 to 50 pixels. The right value depends on resolution and framing: pick the smallest radius at which skin texture disappears from the low-frequency layer while the shapes of features stay recognizable. For a head-and-shoulders portrait from a high-resolution camera, values around 8 to 15 px are a common starting point; tighter crops and larger files usually need more.
How is the high-frequency layer calculated?
The tool blurs the image with your chosen radius to make the low-frequency layer, then subtracts that blur from the original, channel by channel, and adds the result to a neutral mid-gray value of 128. Areas without detail stay flat gray, while edges and texture show as lighter or darker variations. Because the difference is not scaled down, very strong edges can clip.
How do I recombine the two layers in my editor?
Open both PNGs in a layer-based editor and place the high-frequency layer above the low-frequency layer. Because the detail sits on mid-gray at full strength, a Linear Light blend at 50 percent opacity, or a grain merge style blend, adds it back so the stack matches the original. Then retouch tone on the low layer and blemishes on the high layer.
Is it free, and do my portraits stay private?
Yes on both counts. The tool costs nothing, adds no watermark and needs no software. Your portrait is processed in your browser on your own device and is never uploaded anywhere, which matters for client work. To open the tools, you answer that you are a photographer and create or sign in to a free Imagen account once; every tool then stays unlocked.
