For me, the creative process begins after the image is captured. I love taking someones vision and turning it into reality with my colour correcting and retouching skills.
Before I changed my focus to become to web designer and developer, I worked in the reprographics industry. This involved a great deal of high-end scanning film and photo retouching, for some very particular clients in the arts industry. This have given me a good understanding of the process of colour correcting images, the removing of blemishes, and retouching.
Admitted, this is not my core focus these days, but I still have the skill set. I am also continually using these photo retouching skills in my everyday graphic and web design work.
A few examples of the things I can do:
- Colour correcting
- Removing or adding things to images
- Digital dodging and burning (lightening and darkening of areas)
- Body shaping & face moulding
- Retouching of skin while keeping the natural texture and detail
- Head swapping
- Image sharpening
- Restoring old family photos
- Removing or changing backgrounds
- Clipping paths
- Cropping and re-sizing images to specific dimensions
- Adding effects & colour enhancements
- Product or package mock-ups from stock images
If you have any retouching requirements, do not hesitate to ask. You will be amazed at what I can achieve with some imagery!
Five Amateur Photo Retouching Tips You Need to Know
The perfect photo is what all image retouching services are striving to create. There are several tricks of the trade, although some are more helpful than others. Below are the 5 you absolutely need to know:
- Decide on a plan of action
Look carefully at your photo. Think through what you want the finished product to look like, and determine the changes needed to make that happen. Once you have the goal established, make a plan and execute it. The planning ahead phase cannot be underestimated when it comes to the quality of your finished product. - Make a copy
Always create a copy to work on, never start cloning on the base layer. This way any mistakes or cluttering up you make can be redone, and you can mask in and out without worry. - Be aware of your zooming
Make sure you pay attention to your zooming. Zoom out for a distant view and to check for bad edges, halos, and other issues. Zoom in to correct minor mistakes you might miss when zoomed out. The effort will be well worth it. - Vary your brush sizes
Don’t start with the hard or small brushes, as they leave jarring lines when you zoom in. To avoid this, always start with a softer brush. Use different size brushes to bring out a clearer, less repetitive result. - Switch up your tools
While you can get the basics of cloning done with an Aperture or Lightroom clone, don't stop there. Try Path tool, spot healing or Content Aware Fill. Keep working until you are satisfied with your finished project.
Expert services that offer professional photo retouching include a lot of processes. If you want great results, this is the way to go. However, it never hurts to be aware of retouching tips and tricks.