Then add in the workflow slowdowns while processing the filters and other functions involved in the setup, and frequency separation becomes a necessary evil, perhaps, but one that leaves you feeling a little flat about your results. For many retouchers, the discovery of this method is initially exciting, and then eventually discouraging due to the limitations of the classic frequency separation setup process. On paper, this sounds to good to be true. The basic premise of frequency separation is creating the ability in Photoshop to manipulate the base colors and textures separately, thus giving you the control to perfect skin tone without obliterating skin texture.
While the method remains a skin retouching staple, the core approach to setting it up in Photoshop has been more or less the same for a while now, and accepted as such. A Photoshop preset, on the other hand, is applied in a program called ACR. A Photoshop action is applied directly to your opened image in the PS interface. The difference between a preset and action is where you apply within Photoshop. If you're familiar with the process of utilizing frequency separation in your retouching workflow, then you're probably aware – and frustrated by – the lack of total control and somewhat average results you get while using it. A Photoshop preset, like actions, contains saved processing data.
