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Home » Photoshop Tutorials » Photoshop Effects » How To Swap Faces In Photoshop — FAST & SIMPLE!

How To Swap Faces In Photoshop — FAST & SIMPLE!

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Posted In: Photoshop Effects | Watch on YouTube

In this tutorial, you will learn how to swap faces in Photoshop with a fast and simple technique!

Swapping faces or swapping heads is perhaps what Photoshop is most commonly used for. Just about every magazine cover or any movie poster that you see has had a head or face replaced.

There are many ways to swap faces in Photoshop, but one of the quickest and most effective techniques is to use the Auto-Blend Layers command found in the Edit menu.

Auto-Blend is usually used to stitch panoramas together, but in this video, I will show you how you can use Auto-Blend to easily and quickly match skin tones to create seamless faces swaps.

Swapping faces in Photoshop can be a ton of fun, and it is not just for professionals anymore! After watching this Photoshop tutorial, you will be able to quickly swap faces from one head onto another with only a few clicks.

I’m sure that you will impress your friends with your newly acquired Photoshop skills!

Select Your Photos to Swap Faces in Photoshop

You can follow along with your own photo or download the Adobe Stock photos I am using in this tutorial. Here are the links to the photos:

  • Model’s Body
  • New Face

Table of contents

  • Select Your Photos to Swap Faces in Photoshop
  • Let’s Get Started With The Face Swap!
  • Scale the Face to Proportion
  • Apply a Layer Mask
  • Swap Faces In Photoshop with Auto-Blend
  • Fix the Face Swap Problems

Let’s Get Started With The Face Swap!

Open the two images that you will use to follow along with this tutorial.

First, select the face you want to swap into the model’s body. To do that, select the Lasso tool.

The Lasso Tool allows you to freehand a selection around the face.

Click-and-drag and make a selection around the face.

Note: there is no need to be precise about outlining the area.

When you are happy with the selection, press Ctrl C (Windows) or Command C (macOS) to copy the contents of the selection.

Go to your working document, the one with the photo with the model’s body and press Ctrl V (Windows) or Command V (macOS)  to paste the face into the photo.

Scale the Face to Proportion

To swap faces in Photoshop you need to match the scale and position of both faces as best as possible.

Start by selecting the Move tool to move the face on top of the model’s face. 

Then press Ctrl T (Windows) or Command T (macOS) to transform the layer and align the new face over to the model’s face.

It can be useful to use a guide to help you place the face. For example, you can align the inner corner of the right eye as your reference.

Click here to learn how to Enhance Eyes in Photoshop!

Then click-and-drag the Reference Point to the inner corner of the model’s eye. A Reference Point is a fixated point where all of the transformations are performed. 

Note: If you don’t see the reference point, enable it from the Options bar by clicking on the reference point checkbox.

As you transform the layer, you could also reduce the Transparency so that you can better match it with the model’s face.

Hold Alt (Windows) or Options (macOS) and click-and-drag the corner of the selection to scale the face.

The best way to know if you have done it correctly is when both of the model’s eyes and the face layer’s eyes are aligned and well-proportioned.

You can further transform and distort the layer by using the Warp feature. Press Ctrl T (Windows) or Command T (macOS) > right-click > Warp.

In Photoshop CC 2019 or older, the warp only has a 3×3 grid that you can use to distort the image.

In Photoshop 2020 and newer, you can customize the grid to your own preference. The newer features allow you to better swap faces in Photoshop. Nevertheless, both methods work perfectly for this Photoshop trick.

On your Options bar, you’ll see three split icons: Split Warp Horizontally, Split Warp Vertically, or Split Warp Crosswire.

Select the Split Warp Vertically to add a split right in the middle of the face and divide it in half. 

Click at the top point while holding Shift before you click on the bottom point. Then move both of the points at the same time by click-and-dragging, this will adjust the tilt of the face to truly match that of the model’s and making it look realistic.

NOTE: Feel free to add more splits to adjust specific parts of the face in a proportion of the body. 

Apply a Layer Mask

Click on the Layer Mask icon to create a mask and select Black as your foreground color. A Layer Mask’s purpose is to hide pixels when you paint over it with Black.

Select the Move tool or press the V key on your keyboard. 

Then make sure you click on the Brush icon in your Options bar and on the Brush Settings (F5), set the Brush Hardness to 100% and the Spacing to 1%.

Brush over the areas of the face layer that you don’t want to be affected by the blending.

Remember to hide areas of the new face that don’t match with the models. For example jaws, ears, and forehead.

When you’re happy with the mask, go over to the Layers panel and right-click on the layer > Apply Layer Mask.

Click on the model’s layer and press Ctrl J (Windows) or Command J (macOS) to duplicate the layer. Then hide the original model layer by clicking on the eye icon so that you can work on the copy of the model layer.

Swap Faces In Photoshop with Auto-Blend

The big secret on how to swap faces in Photoshop seamlessly is to use the Auto-Blend feature.

To start, select the pixels around the new face layer by holding Ctrl (Windows) or Command (macOS) and clicking on the face layer thumbnail. This step will load a selection around the face.

Click on the eye icon to hide the face layer and reveal the copy of the background layer.

Go to Select > Modify > Contract. 

Set the value to 5 pixels and press OK. Contracting the selection means that you will make the selection smaller by the number of pixels you entered in the Contract Selection box.

Now that the selection is smaller than the face layer, select the Model’s layer by clicking on it from the Layers panel, and press Backspace (Windows) or Delete (macOS) to delete the pixels inside the selection.

When you enable the face layer, you will see that the selection (and the hole you created) will be smaller than the face.

Next, select both layers by holding Shift, and click on both layers.

Go to Edit > Auto-Blend Layers > check both boxes for Seamless Tones and Colors and Content-Aware Fill Transparent Areas. Then Press OK.

Auto-Blend Layers was designed to stitch panoramas. Allowing you to easily match tones and color.

But you can use this same technology to swap faces in Photoshop! As you can see, it does a great job of blending faces seamlessly.

Press Ctrl D (Windows) or Command D (macOS) to Deselect.

If you go to the Layers panel, you will notice that a new layer has been made where the face layer has been merged with the model’s face.

Note: Older versions of Photoshop do not have the Content-Aware feature with Auto-Blend Layers. You can patch up the transparent areas by using the Healing Brush Tool.

Fix the Face Swap Problems

You’ll notice the shifting of the Luminous values and the Color values upon comparing the newly-merged layer with the original image.

To adjust this, simply highlight the face merge layer > hold Alt (Windows) or Options (macOS) > click the Layer Mask icon to create an inverted mask, which will hide the the image.

You then use the Brush Tool using a soft-edged brush to paint back the face in.

And you’re done!


If you enjoyed this tutorial, make sure to follow PTC on YouTube! And if you create something using this tutorial, then share it on social media with the hashtag #PTCvids for a chance to get featured!

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About Jesus Ramirez

Jesús Ramirez is a digital graphics expert, speaker, and educator specializing in Adobe Photoshop. Jesús is best known as the founder of the Photoshop Training Channel, one of the most popular Photoshop YouTube channels in the world. More.

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39 Comments
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Raoul
Raoul
8 years ago

You created a man…

Reply
Johnny
Johnny
8 years ago

Very cool. I thought I was pretty good at face swapping till I saw this video. You made this look easy and the results are great.

Reply
Jesus Ramirez
Jesus Ramirez
Author
Reply to  Johnny
8 years ago

Thanks Johnny!

Reply
Cheryl
Cheryl
8 years ago

Hi. Great video! getting tons of giggles swapping faces on family photo’s. Is it possible to swap faces on a single photo with two or more faces? Thanks. Cheryl

Reply
Jesus Ramirez
Jesus Ramirez
Author
Reply to  Cheryl
8 years ago

Cheryl,

it is possible! but you will need to do one face at time, and then copy the results into a new layer and repeat the process.

Reply
ululf01
ululf01
8 years ago

thank his video tutorials

Reply
Jesus Ramirez
Jesus Ramirez
Author
Reply to  ululf01
8 years ago

Thanks!

Reply
Zakaria
Zakaria
8 years ago

Wow! That was probably one of the best video tutorials I’ve seen in a while.
Great job

Reply
Jesus Ramirez
Jesus Ramirez
Author
Reply to  Zakaria
8 years ago

Thanks Zakaria!

Reply
steve
steve
7 years ago

Its not working for me, when i shift key both layers and do the blend it just turns the 5 pixel contract into a mask and the two faces still have same original color.

Reply
steve
steve
7 years ago

Okay i sorted it, for some reason if you press the delete key to delete the background images face and not use the backspace key it does what i said above but i have don’t understand why that makes a difference as they both remove the background using the selection.
Can you explain the difference between using the delete and backspace.

Thanx

Reply
skoville
skoville
7 years ago

Man, I’m floored! I was doing this with puppet warp, masks, all kinds of color correcting.As long as the cheek bones are fairly close this is the way. Auto-blend, wow. Thanks, my headache is going away.

Reply
suresh kumar
suresh kumar
6 years ago

One of the best videos on face swapping. Simple.Superb.

Reply
Jesus Ramirez
Jesus Ramirez
Author
Reply to  suresh kumar
6 years ago

Thank you, Suresh!

Reply
rocky
rocky
6 years ago

hey! i can not find the tutorial. can you help? where is it?

Reply
Noogie
Noogie
6 years ago

Hilarious, and informative . Thumbs Up (oh and thumb on a face a la Spy Kids would also be cool!)

Reply
james
james
6 years ago

i get a white layer outside , how to erase the thick white layer

Reply
Gabriel
Gabriel
6 years ago

Hello ,

I am a student of photography on Iceland , I am making a final project about swap faces , I need to know if there is anybody known that made something similar so I can take a look and have an inspiration .
Thank you in advance for any help you can give

Reply
Jesus Ramirez
Jesus Ramirez
Author
Reply to  Gabriel
6 years ago

Hi Gabriel,

I’m not sure if where you can find people who have done something similar, but maybe google it?

I hope this tutorial helps you out!

Reply
Bob Kushner
Bob Kushner
6 years ago

Do you provide transcripts of your video tutorials?
A written transcript would be valuable to follow all the quick select keys that are rapidly used in the procedures.

Reply
Jesus Ramirez
Jesus Ramirez
Author
Reply to  Bob Kushner
6 years ago

Bob, I do not. But it’s something that I am considering in the near future.

Reply
Chris
Chris
5 years ago

Hey so I have ben having trouble with merging faces with facial hair. Example, merging Jon Snow with Gandalf. Please help {:

Reply
Jesus Ramirez
Jesus Ramirez
Author
Reply to  Chris
5 years ago

Chris, you will have to do some extra work. The facial hair needs to sort of match, then you will have to maybe add a layer or paint/clone hair to hide the stitching

Reply
ADRIANNA
ADRIANNA
5 years ago

THIS IS SO FUN

Reply
Jesus Ramirez
Jesus Ramirez
Author
Reply to  ADRIANNA
5 years ago

It is, Adrianna!

Reply
jonah
jonah
4 years ago

Hi. I’m trying to photoshop my Chinese friend’s face into a photo of Shrek. Although I am coming close, I am having trouble finding the correct shade of green to finish it. Can you help?

Reply
Jesus Ramirez
Jesus Ramirez
Author
Reply to  jonah
4 years ago

Maybe share a screenshot and I can give you some tips.

Reply
Peter
Peter
4 years ago

Auto blend layers s greyed out
however many times I follow the instructions I just can’t get auto blend layers has available option

Reply
Peter
Peter
4 years ago

FOR LAYER BLENDING TO WORK:

Make sure all layers are RASTERIZED;

You cannot apply Auto Blend Layers Command on CMYK images, you can apply this command only on RGB or Grayscale images. You can’t apply it to background layers, Smart Objects or Video layers as well.

Reply
Cat
Cat
4 years ago

Although I’m IT savvy I’m new to Photoshop and find most tutorials not great for beginners. This was awesome not to slow but very easy to follow with clear instruction. A written instruction to print off would have been fab. Thanks

Reply
Jesus Ramirez
Jesus Ramirez
Author
Reply to  Cat
4 years ago

You’re welcome, Cat!

Reply
Carolyn
Carolyn
4 years ago

You made it easy..thank you!

Reply
Jesus Ramirez
Jesus Ramirez
Author
Reply to  Carolyn
4 years ago

You’re welcome, Carolyn!

Reply
Becky
Becky
4 years ago

You are amazing! Thank you so much. This was beyond helpful and easy to follow.

Reply
Jesus Ramirez
Jesus Ramirez
Author
Reply to  Becky
4 years ago

Thank you, Becky!

Reply
Sapon
Sapon
3 years ago

This was the great post. Thank you so much.

Reply
Jesus Ramirez
Jesus Ramirez
Author
Reply to  Sapon
3 years ago

You’re welcome, Sapon!

Reply
Gunther Stopa
Gunther Stopa
3 years ago

Excellent, so precise and clear. Thank you.

Reply
Jesus Ramirez
Jesus Ramirez
Author
Reply to  Gunther Stopa
3 years ago

You’re welcome!

Reply

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