Source: 爱上MAC | Software download link: ON1 Portrait AI 2021 for Mac
ON1 Portrait AI 2021 is an AI-powered portrait editing software designed specifically for macOS. By integrating advanced AI technology, it automates the complex and time-consuming steps in traditional portrait retouching (such as skin smoothing, facial feature enhancement, and face shaping), enabling photographers and retouchers to quickly achieve professional-grade portrait results. This guide will provide an in-depth breakdown of its interface, workflow, and core techniques.
I. Detailed Overview of the Core Interface and Workspace
After launching the software, the main interface can be divided into the following core areas:
- Top Menu Bar and Toolbar: Includes standard menus such as File, Edit, and View. The left toolbar provides the “Hand Tool,” “Zoom Tool,” “Adjustment Brush,” “Masking Brush,” and more, used for local adjustments and navigation.
- Central Viewing Area: Displays the currently edited portrait photo. Supports multiple tabs to open multiple images simultaneously.
- Right Panel Area: This is the core editing area, with panels stacked as vertical tabs:
- “Portrait AI” Panel: The core of the software. After loading an image, AI automatically analyzes the face and generates initial retouching results. Includes sub-modules such as “Skin,” “Eyes,” “Mouth,” “Hair,” and “Face Shaping.”
- “Effects” panel: Provides a large number of presets (such as lighting, color grading, and film emulation) and manual adjustment tools (such as color grading, color, split toning, etc.).
- “Local Adjustments” panel: Allows users to use brushes, gradient filters, radial filters, and other tools for non-destructive local editing.
- “Presets” panel: Collect and manage various effect presets.
- Bottom filmstrip: Displays thumbnails of all imported photos for easy switching between different images.
- Status bar: Located at the bottom of the window, displaying image information, zoom ratio, etc.
II. Complete Workflow: From Opening to Exporting
Step 1: Create/Open a Project
Method 1: Open from the “File” menu Click the menu bar File → Open... or use the shortcut ⌘Cmd + O, then select one or more portrait photos in the Finder.
Method 2: Drag and drop to import Drag photos directly from the Finder to the central view area of the software or the bottom filmstrip.
Method 3: Launch as a plug-in In Photoshop or Lightroom, you can select “ON1 Portrait AI 2021” from the “Filter” menu to send the current image to this software for editing.
Step 2: AI Automatic Analysis and Initial Adjustment
After the image is loaded, the software automatically starts AI analysis and generates an initial retouching result in the “Portrait AI” panel on the right.
- Review and fine-tune AI detection results: AI automatically frames the detected facial features. If the detection is incorrect, you can manually use the “Add Face” or “Remove Face” tools at the top of the panel to make corrections.
- Adjust the global application intensity: The “AI Intensity” slider at the top of the panel controls the overall strength of all AI adjustments. Usually start from 75%-90% and adjust according to your needs.
- Fine-tune by module: Expand sub-modules such as “Skin” and “Eyes”. Each module provides an “Auto” toggle and detailed sliders (such as skin smoothness, radiance, eye brightness, contrast, etc.). It is recommended to turn off “Auto” and manually adjust the sliders according to your aesthetic preferences.
Step 3: Apply effects and make global adjustments
Switch to the “Effects” panel to add stylized color grading to the portrait.
- Browse and apply presets: In the “Presets” browser, click any preset under a category (such as “Portrait”, “Black & White”, “Retro”) to preview it in real time. Double-click a preset or click the “Apply” button to apply it.
- Manually adjust parameters: Below the “Effects” panel, use tools such as “Color”, “Tone”, and “Details” for custom adjustments. All adjustments are non-destructive.
Step 4: Local Adjustments (Optional)
If you need to enhance or correct specific areas, use the “Local Adjustments” panel.
- Add an Adjustment Layer: Click the “Add New Adjustment” button (+ icon) at the bottom of the panel, and choose “Brush”, “Graduated Filter”, or “Radial Filter”.
- Paint and Adjust: After selecting the “Brush”, paint over the areas of the image you want to adjust. Then adjust exposure, contrast, color, and other parameters in the panel; these will only affect the brushed areas. Use
⌘Cmd + Zto undo brush strokes.
Step 5: Export the Final Image
Once editing is complete, click the “Export” button on the right side of the top toolbar, or use the menu File → Export... with the shortcut ⌘Cmd + Shift + E.
- Configure Export Options: In the dialog that appears:
- Location: Choose the folder to save the file.
- File Name: Set the naming rule.
- Format: Usually choose JPEG (for web/printing) or TIFF (to preserve maximum quality).
- Resize Image: You can set the long-edge pixel dimensions or resolution of the final output.
- Perform the Export: Click the “Export” button to generate the final file.
- Return to the host software (if applicable): If launched as a plug-in, after editing is complete, click the “Apply” button in the lower right corner, and the result will be returned to Photoshop or Lightroom.
III. Advanced Tips for Common Features
- Local control of AI modules: In each AI sub-module (such as “Skin”), click the “Mask” icon to the right of the slider to use a brush to erase or restore the AI effect in specific areas of the face (for example, preserve natural skin texture such as freckles).
- Batch processing: Select multiple portraits in the browser and click the “Batch Processing” button. In the dialog box, apply the same “Portrait AI” settings and “Effect” presets to achieve an efficient streamlined retouching workflow.
- Create and save custom presets: After adjusting to a satisfactory effect in the “Portrait AI” or “Effects” panel, click the “+” icon in the upper right corner of the panel, enter a name, and save it. Later, you can quickly access it from “User Presets” in the “Presets” panel.
- Non-destructive editing workflow: All adjustments (AI, effects, local) are stored as a layer stack, and you can return to modify them at any time or turn off switches to disable effects. Use the “History” panel at the bottom to roll back to any step.
IV. Common Problems and Solutions
| Issue Symptom | Possible Cause | Solution |
|---|---|---|
| AI fails to detect faces or detects them incorrectly | Face angle is too large (e.g., profile), there are obstructions, or lighting is too dark or too bright. | 1. Use the “Add Face” tool at the top of the “Portrait AI” panel to manually select a face. 2. Before applying AI, try using the basic adjustment tools in the “Effects” panel to improve image contrast and brightness. |
| Skin retouching looks too “plastic” or unnatural | The “Smoothness” or “AI Strength” values under the “Skin” module are set too high. | 1. Lower the global “AI Strength” slider. 2. Go to the “Skin” sub-module, lower the “Smoothness” slider, and appropriately increase “Texture” and “Softness” to preserve skin texture. 3. Use the “Mask” feature mentioned above to erase areas that don’t need smoothing. |
| Software runs slowly or lags | Processing high-resolution images (e.g., 40 megapixels or above) or opening multiple images at once; insufficient Mac hardware performance. | 1. In the menu bar, select ON1 Portrait AI → Preferences..., and in the “Performance” tab, make sure “Use GPU acceleration” is enabled (if your Mac has a dedicated graphics card).2. Try editing only one high-resolution image at a time. 3. Close other applications that consume large amounts of resources. |
| Exported image colors don’t match the in-app preview | Color profile mismatch or export format settings issue. | 1. Make sure the correct color space is selected in the “Export” dialog (usually sRGB for web and general printing). 2. Check your Mac’s “Displays” system preferences to ensure the color profile is set correctly. |
V. Mac Shortcuts Summary Table
| Function | Shortcut | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Open File | ⌘Cmd + O |
Bring up the Finder window to select an image |
| Close Current Image | ⌘Cmd + W |
Close the currently active view tab |
| Save Project | ⌘Cmd + S |
Save as an .onphoto format project file |
| Export Image | ⌘Cmd + Shift + E |
Open the export dialog |
| Duplicate Image | ⌘Cmd + D |
Create a copy of the image within the software |
| Zoom In/Out View | ⌘Cmd + + / ⌘Cmd + - |
Scale the image in the central view area |
| Fit to Screen | ⌘Cmd + 0 |
Scale the image to fully fit the view area |
| Actual Pixels | ⌘Cmd + 1 |
View the image at 100% scale |
| Undo/Redo | ⌘Cmd + Z / ⌘Cmd + Shift + Z |
Undo or redo the previous operation |
| Switch Adjustment Panel | ⌘Cmd + 1, 2, 3... |
Quickly switch to the 1st, 2nd, 3rd… panel on the right side (in order) |
| Switch Toolbar Tools | Press the corresponding letter key | For example, press H to switch to the Hand tool, Z for the Zoom tool, B for the Brush tool (when local adjustment is active) |
| Clear Brush Mask | Delete key |
When a brush adjustment layer is selected, press this key to clear all brush strokes |
Note: This guide is based on ON1 Portrait AI 2021 for Mac. Minor differences in interface and features may exist between different minor versions; please refer to the actual software you are using. Mastering the above workflow and shortcuts will greatly improve your efficiency and results when using this software for portrait retouching.
