Unlike older versions that relied on the extension panels menu, users in CC 2021 can typically access the plugin via:
Once opened, the plugin launches a standalone window, allowing you to process the image before applying it back to the layer in Photoshop.
Critics have always accused Portraiture of creating the infamous "mannequin skin" look. And they’re right—if you cranked the Threshold to 100 and the Softness to max. But professional retouchers in 2021 knew the rule: Less than 30% opacity on a separate layer. imagenomic portraiture photoshop cc 2021
The plugin’s real power wasn’t elimination—it was reduction. It would reduce pore visibility by 60%, not 100%. It would even out a forehead’s oil-slick shine without destroying the highlight. Used subtly, Portraiture became invisible. Used poorly, it screamed "Instagram 2014."
The defining "deep feature" of Portraiture is not just the skin smoothing algorithm, but the Auto-Mask technology. Unlike standard Photoshop tools (like Surface Blur or High Pass filtering) which require manual masking to avoid blurring eyes, lips, and hair, Portraiture automates this entirely. Unlike older versions that relied on the extension
How it works in the CC 2021 Environment:
With the 2021 update, Adobe introduced "Neural Filters," which includes a "Skin Smoothing" slider. This led many to ask: Is Portraiture still worth the money? Once opened, the plugin launches a standalone window,
Adobe Neural Filters:
Imagenomic Portraiture:
For high-end commercial work, Portraiture still generally holds the edge in maintaining a realistic "skin pore" look, whereas Neural Filters can sometimes flatten the image too aggressively.
Photoshop CC 2021 introduced "Object Selection" for people, but Portraiture’s mask is smarter. Click the "Auto" mask button, and it instantly ignores pores on your hand or forehead texture while preserving eyelashes. You can visualize the mask by turning on the "Mask Overlay" (red = protected, green = affected).