Article source: Love Mac | Software download link: ON1 Portrait AI 2022 for Mac
ON1 Portrait AI 2022 is an intelligent portrait retouching software designed specifically for macOS. It integrates advanced artificial intelligence technology that can automatically recognize facial features and perform one-click enhancement and retouching on areas such as skin, eyes, mouth, and hair. This greatly simplifies the workflow of professional-grade portrait retouching, enabling photographers and enthusiasts to quickly produce high-quality portrait works.
I. Detailed Explanation of the Core Interface and Workspace
After launching ON1 Portrait AI 2022, you will see a clean, feature-focused single-window interface, mainly divided into the following areas:
- Top Menu Bar and Toolbar: Contains file operations, editing tools (such as brush and eraser), view controls (zoom, compare view), and application settings.
- Left Panel – Original/Effect Preview: Displays the original image by default. During effect application, you can quickly toggle the effect on and off here by clicking the “Original/Effect” button or pressing the
Backslash ()key. - Right Panel – Core Function Modules: This is the core control area of the software, where all AI automatic adjustments and manual fine-tuning parameters are centralized. At the top of the panel are several main tabs:
- Portrait: AI automatically analyzes and generates adjustment layers, including all sub-modules such as face, skin, eyes, and mouth.
- Effects: Provides non-destructive filters, color adjustments, texture overlays, and other creative effects.
- Local Adjustments: Used to create and use brushes and gradient filters for local retouching.
II. Complete Workflow: From Opening to Exporting
Step 1: Create/Open a Project
Method: After launching the software, you can import single or multiple portrait photos for processing in the following ways:
- Click the menu bar “File” → “Open”…, or use the shortcut
Command + O. - In the Finder window that appears, select the target portrait file and click “Open”.
- The image will be loaded onto the central canvas, and AI will immediately begin automatically analyzing the face, generating preliminary optimization suggestions in the “Portrait” panel on the right.
Step 2: AI Automatic Analysis and Initial Adjustments
After opening an image, the software will automatically complete the following:
- Face Detection and Feature Recognition: AI automatically locates the face, eyes, mouth, teeth, hair, etc.
- Generate adjustment layers: In the “Portrait” panel on the right, you will see multiple automatically created adjustment modules, such as “Face,” “Skin,” “Eyes,” etc. Under each module, there is an AI-recommended adjustment intensity slider.
- Review and accept AI suggestions: By default, AI will apply the adjustments it considers appropriate. You can:
- At the top of each module, click the “switch” icon to enable or disable that group of adjustments.
- Drag the sliders (such as “Smooth Skin,” “Remove Blemishes,” “Brighten Eyes,” etc.) to fine-tune the effect intensity. It is usually a good habit to start adjusting from 50% intensity.
Step 3: Fine-tune by module
This is the key step to achieving ideal results. Click the title bar of each module in the “Portrait” panel on the right to expand detailed controls.
- Face: Adjust facial lighting, shape (face slimming), and three-dimensionality.
- Skin: The core module. Control smoothness, blemish removal, texture, shine, and color uniformity. Use the “Brush” tool (toolbar or shortcut
K) to paint only on skin areas, avoiding effects on facial features. - Eyes: Brighten, enhance clarity, and adjust iris color and size. Use the mask brush under “Pupil Enhancement” to precisely control the enhancement range.
- Mouth: Whiten teeth, adjust lip color and fullness.
- Hair & Makeup: Enhance hair details, add digital makeup (such as lipstick, eyeshadow).
Tip: During the editing process, press the Backslash () key at any time to quickly toggle between the before/after results to assess the degree of modification.
Step 4: Add Creative Effects (Optional)
Switch to the “Effects” panel. Here you’ll find a large number of presets and manual adjustment tools:
- Select a style you like from the “Presets” browser (such as cinematic color grading, black and white).
- Use the manual adjustments below to fine-tune parameters such as “Color/Tint,” “Contrast,” “Sharpening,” “Lens Blur (defocus),” and more.
- All effects are non-destructive and can be adjusted or turned off at any time.
Step 5: Local Adjustments and Mask Retouching
If you need local control beyond what AI recognition offers, use the “Local Adjustments” panel.
- Click the “Add New Adjustment” (+) button at the bottom of the panel and choose “Brush Adjustment,” “Graduated Filter,” or “Radial Filter.”
- For example, select “Brush Adjustment,” set parameters such as exposure and contrast, then paint directly on the canvas over the areas you want to brighten or darken.
- Use the shortcut
Bto activate the brush,Eto activate the eraser, andCommand + +andCommand + -to quickly zoom the canvas for detailed retouching.
Step 6: Export the Final Image
Once all adjustments are complete, you can export the finished product.
- Click the menu bar “File” → “Export”…, or use the shortcut
Command + Shift + E. - In the export dialog that appears, configure:
- Export location: Choose the folder to save the file.
- File format: Usually choose JPEG (for online sharing) or TIFF (for printing or further editing).
- Image size and quality: Set the dimensions, resolution (DPI), and JPEG quality slider (90% or above is recommended).
- Color space: Usually choose sRGB (for web) or Adobe RGB (for professional printing).
- Click the “Export” button in the lower right corner of the dialog to complete the final output.
III. Advanced Tips for Common Features
1. Selectively Apply AI Effects
AI’s automatic recognition may not be perfect. If an adjustment affects areas it shouldn’t (such as mistakenly identifying glasses frames as skin and smoothing them), you can use the mask feature built into each adjustment module:
- In the “Portrait” panel, click the “Mask” icon to the right of the title bar of any module (such as “Skin”).
- Select the “Brush” tool and set an appropriate flow and opacity.
- Paint on the canvas with a black brush to erase the effect of that module in a specific area; use a white brush to restore the effect.
2. Batch process multiple portraits
ON1 Portrait AI 2022 supports batch synchronized settings.
- In the bottom work area, select multiple portraits (hold the
Commandkey and click to select). - Adjust the currently active photo.
- Once you are satisfied with the adjustments, at the top of the right panel, click the “Copy Settings” button (or press
Command + C). - Select the other photos that need the same effect applied, and click the “Paste Settings” button (or press
Command + V). AI will automatically adapt the adjustments for each face.
3. Create and use custom presets
Save a successful set of adjustments as a preset so you can quickly apply it to other photos.
- After completing all adjustments, at the very bottom of the “Portrait” panel on the right, click the “Add Preset” (+) button.
- Name the preset and select the parameter categories to save (such as skin, eyes, etc.).
- Click “Save.” Later, when processing new photos, simply find and click your custom preset in the “Presets” browser to apply it with one click.
IV. Common Issues and Solutions
Issue 1: The software cannot detect faces or detects them incorrectly.
Solution:
- Make sure the face is clearly visible in the photo and is not overly obscured.
- Try manually clicking the “Find Faces” button at the top of the “Portrait” panel.
- If multiple faces or incorrect areas are detected, you can manually click the “X” on unwanted recognition boxes to remove them.
Issue 2: The skin retouching effect looks “too fake” or plastic-like.
Solution:
- Lower the intensity sliders for “Smooth Skin” and “Remove Blemishes” in the “Skin” module (try 30%–70%).
- Increase the value of the “Skin Texture” slider to retain more natural skin detail.
- Use the “Color Unify” feature to neutralize red or yellow patches on the skin and make the skin tone more even.
Issue 3: After applying the effect, the eyes or teeth look unnatural.
Solution:
- In the “Eyes” module, appropriately reduce the intensity of “Brighten Eyes” and “Enhance Eyes.”
- For teeth, in the “Mouth” module, reduce the intensity of “Whiten Teeth,” and check whether the “Adjust Teeth” mask accurately covers the teeth area; you can use the mask brush to make corrections.
Issue 4: Exported image quality is degraded or the file is too large.
Solution:
- In the export dialog, make sure the JPEG quality slider is set to 90% or higher.
- If the file is too large, you can check the “Resize” option and set a long-edge pixel value that suits your target use (for example, 2000 pixels for web use).
- For the highest quality output, choose the TIFF format (uncompressed).
V. ON1 Portrait AI 2022 for Mac Keyboard Shortcuts Summary
| Function | Shortcut (Mac) | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Open Image | Command + O | Select and open a photo from disk |
| Export Image | Command + Shift + E | Open the export dialog |
| Copy Settings | Command + C | Copy the adjustment parameters of the current photo |
| Paste Settings | Command + V | Paste the copied parameters onto the selected photo |
| Toggle Original/Effect | Backslash () | Quickly compare before and after adjustments |
| Zoom In Canvas | Command + + (plus) | Zoom in the view |
| Zoom Out Canvas | Command + – (minus) | Zoom out the view |
| Fit to Screen | Command + 0 (zero) | Scale the image to fit the window size |
| Actual Pixels | Command + 1 | View the image at 100% scale |
| Activate Brush Tool | K or B | Used for local adjustments or mask painting |
| Activate Eraser Tool | E | Erase brush-painted effects |
| Undo | Command + Z | Undo the previous operation |
| Redo | Command + Shift + Z | Redo the undone operation |
Through the detailed interface analysis above
