Correct those wonky teeth to achieve that perfect
smile
What you’ll need
A shot of a suitable toothy grin
One or more of our featured programs
We used
Photoshop CS5
You could try
Photoshop elements 10
Pixelmator
Photostudio 6
What you’ll learn
How to isolate an object
Layers
Cloning
Whitening
Transform
![Description: Before and after](http://programming4.us/image/072012/Straighten%20Teeth%20for%20Better%20Portraits_1.jpg)
Before and after
If only Photoshop worked in real life! We could permanently
remove blemishes and those unwanted wobbly bits. Unfortunately this is not
possible, so for now at least we can look magnificent in our photos.
Correcting small facial elements can transform a portrait,
and if done correctly it should be unnoticeable. In these tutorials we will run
through how to straighten up teeth in four different photo-editing programs.
The techniques are fairly similar across the board but be sure to real all of
them thoroughly before commencing as you may pick up some other useful tips not
relating to the specific program of choice.
Straightening teeth is not as scary as it may seem but it
will require some perseverance and is one of the more trickier retouching
skills to master. Stick with it and you will be able to transform many more of
your photographs.
Photoshop CS5 – new ways to transform features within your photos
Step 1
First isolate the wonky tooth. Select the Magnetic Lasso
tool from the side bar and slowly trace around the tooth to create an active
selection.
![Description: Step 1](http://programming4.us/image/072012/Straighten%20Teeth%20for%20Better%20Portraits_2.jpg)
Step 1
Step 2
Press Cmd/Ctrl+J to place the selection onto its own layer.
Activate transform with Cmd/Ctrl+T and rotate the tooth so it sits naturally,
then hit Enter.
![Description: Step 2](http://programming4.us/image/072012/Straighten%20Teeth%20for%20Better%20Portraits_3.jpg)
Step 2
Step 3
Repeat for other teeth. Drag the background layer over the
Create A New Layer icon (bottom of the Layer’s palette), then hide the bottom
layer.
![Description: Step 3](http://programming4.us/image/072012/Straighten%20Teeth%20for%20Better%20Portraits_4.jpg)
Step 3
Step 4
Use the Magnetic Lasso tool to select a front tooth. Place
on its own layer and go to Edit>Transform>Warp to alter the shape by
moving the mesh.
![Description: Step 4](http://programming4.us/image/072012/Straighten%20Teeth%20for%20Better%20Portraits_5.jpg)
Step 4
Step 5
Repeat for both teeth. Click on the main photo layer and
choose the Clone Stamp. Alt + click a sample piece of gum, then paint over to
hide the underlying teeth.
![Description: Step 5](http://programming4.us/image/072012/Straighten%20Teeth%20for%20Better%20Portraits_6.jpg)
Step 5
Photoshop elements 10 – a basic method, just repeat for each tooth
Step 1
Go to File>Open and select your start photo. Pick the
Zoom tool from the side toolbar and get in close to the mouth area, ready to
start your editing.
![Description: Step 1](http://programming4.us/image/072012/Straighten%20Teeth%20for%20Better%20Portraits_7.jpg)
Step 1
Step 2
Swap to the Selection Brush tool in the side bar. In the top
bar make sure it is set to a small yet hard-edged brush, then paint over the
first tooth.
![Description: Step 2](http://programming4.us/image/072012/Straighten%20Teeth%20for%20Better%20Portraits_8.jpg)
Step 2
Step 3
Paint right to the edges of the tooth. With an active
selection left behind press Cmd/Ctrl+J to place onto its own layer. Press
Cmd/Ctrl+T to transform.
![Description: step 3](http://programming4.us/image/072012/Straighten%20Teeth%20for%20Better%20Portraits_9.jpg)
Step 3
Step 4
Rotate and nudge the tooth into place. Omit underlying teeth
with the Stamp tool – Alt + click a sample on the background layer then paint
over the old tooth.
![Description: Step 4](http://programming4.us/image/072012/Straighten%20Teeth%20for%20Better%20Portraits_10.jpg)
Step 4
Step 5
To straighten the front teeth, place onto a new layer then
go to Image>Transform>Distort. Holding Cmd/Ctrl, move the corner pointers
to reshape.
![Description: Step 5](http://programming4.us/image/072012/Straighten%20Teeth%20for%20Better%20Portraits_11.jpg)
Step 5