Opening Closed Eyes

Sometimes while photographing the eyes of the subjects appear closed, which results in the image turning out to be useless. This can pose a problem unless you are able to photograph the subject again. Sometimes it may not be possible such as in events like a wedding. Photoshop can come to the rescue. You can open closed eyes easily. I will show you how. And, you will not be able to tell the difference. Best of all it can be done in any version of Photohshop, even Photoshop 7.

I was sent this image of the bride with the eyes closed to correct.

This is a close up to show you the problem. Added to this is the strand of hair across her right eye (camera left). I also do not know the color of her eyes.

The eyes after being 'opened'.

Step 1 : First you need an image with good eyes such as this image. I have opened both the images in photoshop. I will be going back and forth between them.

Step 2 : Click the Magnetic Lasso. I have set a feather of 3 pixel in the top panel.

Step 3 : Use the Magnetic Lasso to click and drag to make a selection. You need not be absolutely accurate.

Step 4 : Press CTRL+J to copy and paste the selection to a new Layer 1. I have renamed the Layer as eye. It is not absolutely essential that you do so. It is just for convenience. The eye has been secured.

Step 5 : I have zoomed in on the eye of the bride with strands of hair running over it. This has to be tackled first. I have used the Magnetic Lasso to select the strands.

Step 6 : After selection, press CTRL+J to copy and paste it on a new Layer 1. I have renamed it hair. Switch off the eye icon of the layer.

Step 7 : Click off the eye icon in the Background layer from which I selected the eye.

Step 8 : Press v (Move Tool) and drag the eye from the other image to the one of the bride.

Step 9 : I have placed the eye roughly over the closed eye of the bride.

Step 10 : Press CTRL+T. S selection forms. Hover the cursor on any corner and you will see a small bent arrow with which you can rotate the selection. I am positioning the eye.

Step 11 : Drag the handles at the sides and above and below to resize the eye.

Step 12 : Right click inside the selection to see the other options for resizing. If needed you can Skew or Distort.

Step 13 : I have used Skew to resize and reposition.

Press ENTER and Zoom out.

The image looks like this. The eye looks very unnatural.

Step 14 : I have lowered the Opacity of the layer to 32%. How much will depend on your image. I have kept the Hair layer switched off.

The right eye has been 'opened'. It looks natural.

Step 15 : Click on the eye icon on the hair layer. Move the hair layer over the eye layer.

The 'opened' eye with the strands of hair over it.

Step 16 : Bring up the eye and move it over the left eye of the bride.

Step 17 : Press CTRL+T to reposition. Remember that we had used the right eye to replace the right eye of the bride. We are still using the right eye.