Photo retouching, also known as digital image retouching, is the specialized area of image editing to elevate photo quality and appearance. Professional-grade image retouching contributes to marketing goals for many businesses including e-commerce businesses, fashion & luxury brands, the automotive industry, and advertising agencies. 

Expert photo retouchers use plenty of retouching techniques, which are divided into 3 categories: basic, high-end, and advanced-level photo retouching techniques. Common photo retouching techniques are image resizing, color correction, object removal, shadow creation, e-commerce product retouching, model & beauty retouching, background adjustment, reflection and glare removal, etc. 

High-quality visuals contribute to building brands, nurturing consumer loyalty, and driving conversion. Renowned photographers, fashion brands, e-commerce sellers, and online marketers continuously use high-end retouched images for promotion and branding. They collaborate with renowned photo retouching companies to fulfill image demand, eliminate bottlenecks, and stay ahead of the competition. 

What is Photo Retouching?

Photo retouching is a specialized manipulation process implemented in photos that removes flaws, improves the quality of visuals, and makes images commercially usable. Professionally retouched photos are well-balanced and glamorous—perfect to use for marketing, social media advertising, and e-commerce product listing, and are not limited to online campaign launching. 

A professional photo retoucher performs basic to extensive levels of retouching techniques during the post-processing stage. It includes photo resizing, background removal color correction, tone balance, contrast, and brightness are adopted. Popular photo retouching software that industry expert retouchers use are Adobe Photoshop, Adobe Lightroom, Gimp, Skylum Luminar, and Affinity Photo.

Why is Photo Retouching Important?

Photo retouching is important because it improves image quality, removes flaws, displays professionalism, engages viewers, and drives more conversion. Global fashion brands, product manufacturers and sellers, online marketers, entrepreneurs, individual content creators, and industries including retail, e-commerce, and automotive use photo retouching services to take advantage of those benefits. A 2024 report published in Data Intelo has explained that the global image retouching service market is expected to reach $5.8 billion by 2032. Retouched photos ensure a uniform look of images online, evoke emotion, and increase sales.

Why is Photo Retouching Important for E-commerce Businesses?  

Photo retouching is important for e-commerce businesses to ensure an appealing visualization, capture the audience’s attention, and accelerate the conversion. Retouch enhances image quality for e-commerce product sellers and online store owners. Referring to a Shopify Study, a 2025 blog by Welpix has reported that high-quality images increase conversion rate by 250%. Amazon,eBay, Shopify, and similar e-commerce platforms have high-quality image guidelines. High-quality images capture viewers’ attention and clear viewers’ confusion. Well-edited images impact the following sectors of the e-commerce business. 

• Creates brand awareness and trustworthiness 
• Display product authenticity and luxuriousness 
• Increase traffic and conversion rate 
• Reduce product return rates

Why is Photo Retouching Important for Fashion Brands? 

Image retouching is important for fashion brands to deliver clarity and secure flawless presentation for clothing, shoes, jewelry, beauty & cosmetics, and accessories. Renowned and new fashion brands maintain consistent marketing approaches across all selling channels. High-quality photos give the fashion industry the following benefits.  

• Make products glamorous to the potential buyers 
• Ensure visual domination with professional-quality photos 
• Displays product features and benefits to the buyers 
• Contributes to driving traffic, interaction, and sales 

Why is Photo Retouching Important for Online Marketing & Advertising? 

Image retouching is important for advertising and online marketing to secure high-quality images for conveying the right message and improving customer engagement. A 2024 blog by Hubspot revealed that 47% of online marketers use images that work well on all social media platforms. Online marketers use images to implement digital marketing techniques to gain competitive advantages. Retouched images impact online marketing and advertising in the following ways. 

• Describes the brand’s story and narratives effectively 
• Builds brand’s credibility and professionalism 
• Contributes to launching campaigns successfully 
• Drives traffic, and engagement and fosters paying customers 

Why is Photo Retouching Important for Professional Photographers? 

Photo retouching is important for professional photographers to demonstrate their skills through portfolios. Retouching provides an artistic, detail-oriented, and professional presentation for the photographer’s work in the competitive visual-driven market. By retouching photos, photographers receive the following advantages. 

• Ensures high-quality photos 
• Showcases photography expertise 
• Captures the viewer’s attention and evokes emotion 
• Ensures client satisfaction

What are the Different Types of Photo Retouching? 

There are 18 different types of photo retouching determined by the purpose of the images and the influences of the subject. 

1. High-End Retouching

High-end retouching is an artistic and sophisticated photo retouching process without deforming any pixels. High-end retouching is used to ensure high standards and top-notch refinement in commercial photography. This retouching provides flawless photos, removes imperfections, and brings dramatic color combinations. 

Use cases: High-end photos are mostly used in the fashion industry, e-commerce industry, marketing and advertising, model photography, real estate photography, and portrait photography.

2. Portrait Retouching 

Portrait retouching is dedicated to editing digital images with models. A retoucher manipulates the model’s images from different angles—adjusts skin tone, removes stray hairs & facial blemishes, brightens teeth, and eliminates dark spots. Retouching displays people’s personalities and overall image’ vibes. 

Use cases: Portrait retouching is used in model photography, magazine, advertising, and editorial features in print media.

3. Headshot Retouching 

Headshot retouching is a specific retouching type implemented only on the face. Headshot retouching aims to improve facial appearances, retain natural features, and remove blemishes. A fresh and healthy face increases viewers’ approachability and displays professionalism. 

Use cases: Headshot retouching is mostly used in corporate and business profile photos, social media portfolios, and entertainment industries.

4. Product Retouching 

Product retouching is the editing process to enhance product images. Product photo retouching makes the product realistic by adjusting color, and size, eliminating distraction, and improving quality. High-quality product images boost online product sales and minimize return rates. 

Use cases: Product image retouching is mostly used in the e-commerce industry, food industry, electronic gadgets, beauty, and healthcare industry.

5. Commercial Retouching 

Commercial retouching refers to retouching images to fulfill promotional and marketing purposes. Commercial retouchers create visually appealing images that spark viewers’ curiosity and drive traffic to the brands. This type of retouching works involves light and color adjusting, flaw correction, and highlighting features. 

Use cases: Commercial photo retouching is used for online campaigns and advertising on digital & print media.

6. Fashion Retouching 

Fashion retouching is an exclusive editing process for fashion products and models’ photos. Fashion photo retouching focuses on color, appearance, and detail. It creates visually stunning photos by eliminating flaws and enhancing resolution and quality. Fashion image retouching involves model retouching, beauty retouching, product retouching, etc. 

Use cases: Apparel industry, footwear industry, beauty and skincare industry, cosmetics industry, healthcare industry, jewelry & accessories industry, and fashion photographers mostly hire fashion photo retouching solutions.

7. Beauty Retouching 

Beauty retouching refers to retouching beauty products photo retouching. Beauty retouching involves both product and model photos. So the retouching works vary from basic level editing to high-end editing, color correction, resizing, following symmetry, etc. Such photos help viewers scale before and after effects and impact conversion. 

Use cases: Beauty retouching is used by beauty products, cosmetics, skincare, and health improvement products manufacturers, online marketers, and model photographers.

8. Model Photo Retouching 

Model photo retouching is a dedicated retouching solution for editing lifestyle photos and model photos. Model retouching makes images attractive, glamorous, and flawless. The process of retouching the model includes face, skin, hair, and body photo retouching. 

Use cases: E-commerce store owners, professional photographers, advertising agencies, beauty brands, fashion brands, and social media influencers use model retouching.

9. Body Retouching 

Body retouching is the photo editing work of adjusting the human body. Common body photo retouch techniques include body slimming, shaping, eliminating cellulite from muscles, arms, belly, and thighs, highlighting natural curves, height adjustment, etc. Such photos display the models with the perfect body shape that viewers crave. 

Use cases: Fashion businesses, beauty products, health and fitness product brands, advertising agencies, online marketers, and the e-commerce industry mostly look for body photo retouching solutions.

10. Skin Retouching 

Skin retouching refers to removing unwanted blemishes in the skin and rejuvenating it. In skin photo retouching, temporary marks (acne and pores) are removed. Permanent marks such as birthmarks, moles, and age-based marks are kept. Skin retouching makes model photos naturally glowing, devoid of any artificial look. 

Use cases: Skin retouching is sought by fashion and beauty industries, models and influencers, and professional photographers.

11. Hair Retouching 

Hair retouching works on frizzy and loose hair strands and secures stylish-looking hair. Hair photo retouching includes removing flyaway hair, hair volume, shine adjustment, color correction, and refined images. 

Use cases: Hair retouching is mostly used in the fashion and beauty products industry, e-commerce industry, online advertising, etc.

12. Makeup Retouching

Makeup retouching is the retouching process of fine-tuning and highlighting the makeup on the eyes, eyebrows, cheeks, lips, jawline, etc. Makeup retouching is a precise retouching work. Product images get highlighted on features and benefits. Models’ images focus on looking attractive yet natural. This type of retouch accentuates the subject’s appearance and delivers a professional makeup look. 

Use cases: Social media influencers, e-commerce brands, professional photographers, beauty and cosmetic industry mainly use makeup retouching.

13. Glamour Retouching 

Glamour retouching is the digital makeup technique to update a model’s look visually. Glamour retouching includes many improvements, for example, enhancing facial features & skin tone, cohesive color tone, removing flaws, and adjusting hair. The edited images look gorgeous to look at. 

Use cases: Glamour photo retouching is particularly used in advertising and print media for fashion and cosmetic brands, lifestyle photography, and portrait photography.

14. Editorial Retouching 

Editorial retouching is solely for editorial images published in editorial platforms, and magazines. Editorial photos mainly promote concepts and emphasize the subject. Depending on the publishing platform, editorial retouching includes aesthetic improvement, detail editing, photo restoration, etc. 

Use cases: Editorial retouching is mainly used for print media, magazines, billboards, the publishing industry, art exhibition photos, etc.

15. Creative Retouching 

Creative retouching is the combination of artistic and custom retouching. Creative retouching includes photo collaging, brand-specific custom retouching, industry trends following, etc. This retouching includes different blending, reshaping, blurring, painting, and dissolving techniques. The final retouched photos turn out as thought-provoking and interesting to view. 

Use cases: Creative retouching creates imaginative, unique, surreal imagery. 

16. Old Photo Retouching  

Retouching old photos is used by individuals and organizations to protect precious memories. Old image retouching removes scratches, tears, water damage, fading colors, and blur. It improves image quality, vibe, and look. Old photo retouching delivers similar results to photo restoration. 

Use cases: Old photos retouching is used for reviving old memories and restoring lost & torn images.

17. Packshot Retouching 

Packshot retouching is the retouching process of packshot or packaging images. Packshot photos contain labeling, packaging, or branding. It shows product ingredients, usefulness, and many more. Retouching makes the image information readable and clear to them. 

Use cases: Product photographs, beauty, and cosmetic photographs mostly use packshot retouching in their e-commerce product photos.

18. Stock Photo Retouching 

Stock-photo-retouching offers marketable and eye-catching photos. Stock image retouching includes color correction, exposure, sharpening, noise reduction, and technical adjustment to bring aesthetic improvement. Retouching enhances stock image accessibility, perceived value, and versatility among the users. 

Use cases: Professional photographers mostly use stock photo retouching solutions.

What are the Different Photo Retouching Techniques? 

Different photo retouching techniques include color adjustment, image resizing, shadow creation, noise reduction, e-commerce retouching, image toning, dodge and burn, and reshaping. Retouching techniques are categorized into 3 different levels. 

1. Basic level photo retouching techniques 
2. High-end photo retouching techniques 
3. Advanced photo retouching techniques 

Basic Photo Retouching 

Basic photo retouching is image retouching work that focuses on making essential alterations and uplifting images in some areas. It includes several edits as follows. 

Photo Culling: Photo culling is the process of categorizing photos based on quality in different folders. Photo retouchers select the best looking photos before starting the post-production work. They categorize images in different areas, which is known as culling. Photo culling comes in 2 types. 

1. Culling In: Sorting images from best to worst. 
2. Culling Out: Sorting images from worst to best. 

Color Adjustment: Color adjustments involve editing colors’ appearance, white balance, contrast, exposure, intensity, darkness, and brightness. Photo retouchers use non-destructive methods to implement color and tonal balances in images to achieve a well-balanced natural look. 

Hue and Saturation: Hue means the color variations, and saturation means the intensity of a particular hue. Adjusting saturation and hue can cause slight changes in the color scheme to alter the color completely. This retouching technique reveals color diversity in photos that don’t appear during photoshoots.  

Image Resizing: Photo resizing is the process to save images to a certain file format. E-commerce platforms, print media and social media images have specific image guidelines. Photo editors mainly follow publishing platforms’ size guidelines for images. 

Objects Removing: Object removal ensures clutter-free, clean images. Clear images gain viewers’ attention. Photo editing software tools offer the following tools to remove unwanted and distracting objects from images. 

• Content-aware fill tool 
• Object selection tool 
• Clone stamp tool 
• Patch tool 
• Lasso tool 

Shadow Creation: Shadow creation is the retouching technique to add artificial shadows to images. Adding shadows makes the subject appear realistic and believable. There are 5 types of artificial shadows. 

1. Natural/original shadow: Natural shadows appear in daily life. 
2. Photoshop drop shadow/box shadow: Drop shadows are digitally created effects to simulate a shadow. 
3. Mirror/reflection shadow effect: Reflection or mirror shadow appears on a reflective surface. 
4. Floating shadow creation: Floating shadow is an illusion of shadow that appears detached. 
5. Cast shadow: Cast shadow appears on a surface. 

Retouchers create authentic-looking shadows with accurate depth, color, and dimension. The shadow creation process needs a blur effect, brush tool, and masking technique. 

Noise Reduction: The noise is the pixelated and grainy appearance of images that appears due to low-light photography, high ISO in camera settings, or digital artifacts. Photo retouchers make balanced removal noise to keep a natural appearance. 

Product Cleanup: For product photos, basic level retouching ensures pristine presentation—removal of distractions, dust specks, and scratches, adding correct color and visual information. 

Image Dimensions: Dimension of the image means the height and width of the image. Photo dimension is measured in pixels. A retouched image follows a selective dimension for its publication. Dimension affects photo file size, visual quality, display, and printing. 

Image Resolution: Image resolution is the detail in an image, measured in PPI (pixels per inch) or DPI (dot per inch). The resolution of a photo determines how many pixels are inside a certain area. Higher-resolution retouched images contain more data and lower-resolution photos contain loss of data or pixelation.

High-end Photo Retouching

High-end photo retouching refers to professional, precise, and meticulous work that requires in-depth niche understanding and is often used in commercial platforms. High-end retouching includes the following works. 

Beauty Retouch: Beauty retouching is the digital photo retouching technique to enhance a person’s look. Beauty photo retouching involves editing techniques that refine images. So the retouched photos have a dramatic transformation in appearance. Beauty retouching is often used in model photographs to fulfill brands’ commercial targets. Commercial-grade beauty retouching involves the following editing tasks. 

• Blemish Remove: Blemish removal is the process of eliminating acne, temporary scars, facial imperfections, or spots that appear on the face. It ensures clean and natural skin. 
• Skin Smoothing: Skin smoothing works on facial bumps, uneven skin, pimples, and skin roughness. So, it ensures a natural and rejuvenating tone for portrait photographs and commercial photographs. 
• Eye Retouching: Eye retouching involves the work of making the eye bigger, smaller, clear, and defined, adjusting eye color, eye bag removal, etc. Such editing can add dimension to portrait photographs and make the person look attractive. 
• Wrinkle Adjustment: Wrinkle adjusting in photo retouching is performed based on models’ age. Instead of removing all wrinkles, digital retouching makes realistic alterations. So, the model’s face appears natural and authentic. 
• Braces Removal & Teeth Whitening: Professional retouching brings models’ natural smile by whitening teed and removing branches. A radiant smile ensures a welcoming and approachable look to the target audience. 
• Stray Hair Removal: Stray hair in retouching changes stray, and loose hair strands to a refined look. This technique ensures the model’s hair has volume, and the hair shines to make him/her appear neat and professional. 
• Model’s Figure Editing: Retouching the human body is the work to change body proportions and shape. It makes the model look healthy while maintaining realism and naturalism. 
• Airbrushing Skin: Airbrushing is a skin blemish, uneven skin tone, facial bumps, and wrinkle removal technique in Photoshop. Airbrushing is used in model photos and portrait photos. Beauty airbrushing tool is also used for whitening teeth and hair & eye color change. 

Image Toning: Toning in images means the level of warmth, coolness, black or white according to different shades of color. Digital toning in photos emphasizes the right style, color, and mood to bring the desired output. 

Background Adjustment: Background adjustment is the image backdrop modification technique in retouching. Adding background, swapping/replacing background, background removal, background enlargement, adding blur, changing color- to ensure consistency in photos. 

Dodge and Burn: Dodge and Burn is the image retouching method of adjusting the lightness and darkness of an image. Conscious editing brightness and darkness enhance photo contrasts and add dimension and depth. 

Photo Reshaping: Photo reshaping is an image manipulation technique of distorting, cutting, or adding any object to change its shape or structure. Examples of photo reshaping are muscle and abs enhancement, model body adjustment, fat removal, fixing awkward posture, etc. 

Spot Removal: Spot removal is the process of removing any unwanted spots, marks, or distractions from the photos. Expert photo retouchers use the ‘Spot Healing Brush’ tool from image editing software to remove blemishes and naturally blend the surrounding pixels creating a natural appearance. Spot removal is specifically used for model images, product images, and portrait photographs. 

Scratch Removal: Scratch removal is used for removing scratch marks on e-commerce products. Sometimes, shooting scratch products is the only option for photographers. Hence, they use several tools to remove those marks, including Clone Stamp Tool, Healing Brush Tool, and AI-powered tools.  

Dodge and Burn: Dodge and burn is a photo editing technique to adjust lightness and darkness in images. It is used in overexposed and underexposed images to bring back the right amount of light in images. 

Adding Reflection: Reflection is used in retouched photos to create artistic effects. Reflection increases the subject’s visual appeal, adds depth, and sparks viewers’ interest. Product photography, cosmetic photography, and model photography often use reflection during promotion and marketing. 

Clipping Path: A clipping path is a closed vector path around a subject that is used for isolating it. Any object from photos can be added or removed using clipping. 

E-commerce Retouching: E-commerce retouching refers to the compiled retouching techniques implemented in product photos to enhance product image looks for online sales. High-quality images connect viewers with brands. As a result, potential buyers trust the brand and decide to buy. E-commerce retouching involves the following adjustments. 

• Color Correction 
• Background Removal 
• Shadow Creation 
• Image Sharpening 
• Photo Resizing 
• Distraction Removal 
• Product Cleaning etc. 

Masking: Maskin is the editing technique to hide and reveal some parts in the layer selectively. Masking blends color, brightness, and intricating object isolation. 

Layering: Layering involves multiple image adjustments that create a non-destructive workflow. Each layer stores different elements, allowing selective editing. So editing in one later doesn’t affect the other layers. 

Advanced Photo Retouching Techniques 

Advanced retouching techniques refer to most intricating, creative and custom techniques to fulfill client’s business-specific image requirements. Advanced retouching delivers sophisticated and professional standards photos. The implemented techniques of advanced retouching are as follows. 

Frequency Separation: Frequency separation, also called frequency adjustment, is a retouching technique to separate images’ color and texture. Frequency separation is used for accurate adjustments in photos without losing any data. It is used for retouching portrait images. 

Color Grading & Color Correction: Color correction and color grading are mostly used for accurate and vibrant color representation. By applying curves, and color layers, retouchers bring out the right color palette in the photo. 

Creative Compositing: Creative compositing is merging several images, elements, and concepts into one photo to generate a new perspective. Compositing requires complex editing (for example, clipping mask) to transform the image. 

HDR Retouching: HDR (High Dynamic Range) retouching is a technique to reveal the dynamism of highlights and shadows. It creates an extended range of luminosity in a photo by merging several exposures in a single image. HDR retouching is mostly used in real estate photography. 

People and Object Placing: In advanced retouching, elements, objects, and people are also manipulated to create a compelling visual composition. The subject is artificially placed in the photo depending on the desired output. The final output naturally blends with the surroundings and scales up the photo’s look. 

Ghost Mannequin Effect: The ghost mannequin/invisible mannequin effect is a photo editing technique to remove the body/mannequin from a cloth. Ghost mannequin adds volume, and gives a fittning look for the cloth. Apparel brands mostly use ghost mannequins to highlight their clothing product fit without distracting the viewers. In advanced retouching, clothes are presented professionally, without creases, removed of stains or unwanted marks, and fully ironed. 

Shape & Silhouette Correction: Silhouette and shape correction is the retouching technique to polish the outline of a product. It is mostly used for bags, and garments products to straighten their shapes for a professional and pleasing look. Tools that are used for shape and silhouette correction are as follows. 

• Warp tool 
• Liquify tool 
• Clone stamp tool 
• Adjustment layers 
• Masking techniques, etc. 

Curves Adjustment: Curve adjustment is the editing technique of adjusting the tone of an RGB photo. In photos, curve adjustment is shown in a diagonal line inside a square. By moving this line, the tone of the selected area can be changed. With the curve adjustment, you can control tone, shadows, etc. 

Liquify Effect: Liquifying effect is the technique of adding a creative and artistic touch to a photo. The liquifying effect includes rotating, pulling, pushing, puckering, bloating, warping, and reversing distortion. The application of the liquify effect doesn’t damage the original image data. 

Digital Makeup: Digital makeup is a retouching method of applying digital cosmetics to model photos to rectify model imperfections and enhance features. It combines digital composition and visual effects to transform models’ faces into a glamorous and dramatic look. 

Swapping Body Parts: Advanced retouching also allows seamless merge and replacement of body parts. Body parts swap includes swapping heads, eyes, and limbs, enhancing body features, slimming edits, etc. It is mostly applied in fashion and cosmetic photographs, advertising agencies, and digital arts.  

Reflection & Glare Removal: The reflection removal technique in retouching removes unwanted and unstructured glare and reflections of images. Photos having glass, mirrors or any reflective item get the reflection. Removing reflection and glare offers image clarity. Image reflection removal is mostly used in fashion photographs, automotive photos, and commercial photography. 

What is the Difference Between Photo Editing and Photo Retouching?

The differences between photo editing and photo retouching include alteration level, focus, output, and the purpose of changes.

Parameter	Photo Editing	Photo Retouching
Definition	Photo editing refers to overall adjustments made in images.	Photo retouching is a specialized set of editing techniques that improve images.
Alteration level	Photo editing involves all types of changes. Editing improves or keeps the same content in the image.	Image retouching works are designed to make improvements to photos.
Focus	Editing images focuses on changing images overall. It includes color, cropping, resizing, and applying filters among other alteration techniques.	Retouching in image focuses on image correcting and improving so the subjects appear flawless and appealing.
Output	Edited images look improved overall.	Retouched images are flawless and surreal to look at.
Purpose	Image editing is the foundation for any type of changes in photos. Edited images are used for personal to commercial purposes.	Photo retouching is used on images used for commercial, promotional, and marketing purposes.

Which Are The Tools Used For Photo Retouching? 

Tools that are used for photo retouching are Healing Brush Tool, Spot Healing Tool, Red Eye, Patch Tool, Content Aware Tool, Clone Tool, Dodge & Burn Tool, Blur & Sharpen Tool, Color Replacement Tool, The Pattern Stamp Tool, Liquify Tools. 

1. Healing Brush Tool: The healing brush tool of Photoshop is used to remove imperfections in images and create uniformity. Users can control their work without creating any mess or trouble. 

Navigation:

• Click ‘Healing Brush from the toolbox. 
• Hit ‘Alt’ and click to copy the sample that you want the change. 
• Click and drag to the imperfect areas where you want to apply the changes. 

2. Spot Healing Brush Tool: Spot healing brush tool allows you to edit photos without selecting any samples. The tool automatically selects samples, makes adjustments, and delivers fast output. 

Navigation:

• Select ‘Spot Healing Brush Tool’ from the toolbox. 
• Make adjustments from the 2nd top menu bar (options like size, hardness, mode, type, etc.). 
• Click/ drag wherever you need, and Photoshop will heal those spots automatically.

3. Patch Tool: A patch tool is another tool for removing unwanted objects, flaws, or blemishes that are large in size. Select that part for removal using any selection tools, and the patch tool will remove that. 

Navigation:

• Click the patch tool from the same palate as the ‘Healing Brush Tool’. 
• Select the area you want to blend and drag it. 

4. Content-Aware Tool: The content-aware tool is a Photoshop tool that removes distractions, similar to a patch tool. It automatically detects the surroundings and fills up the spot after the object gets deleted.

Navigation: 

• Select the subject of removal with any selection tool.
• Click ‘Edit’ from the menu bar, go to ‘Fill’.
• Choose content-Aware, and hit ‘OK’.

5. Red Eye Tool: While photographing under a flashlight for headshot or portrait photography, we sometimes end up having red pupil eyes. A red-eye tool is used to remove that. It’s a much easier and time-saving tool. 

Navigation: 

• Click the Red Eye tool from the toolbox (below the healing brush). 
• Click and drag the tool around the eye area. And the crimson color will be gone. 

6. Clone Tool: The clone tool duplicates a particular area and helps conceal unwanted areas. The above-mentioned tools have limitations while working with complex patterns or tiny details. And that’s where this tool liberates the users. It is quite a complementary tool for all types of photography, especially portrait photography. 

Navigation: 

• Go down to the left side of the toolbar until you find the ‘Clone Stamp Tool’ icon. 
• Hit the right click. You will see the name. 
• It will start copying/cloning the area. 
• Paste it in the place you want.  

Note: In the Clone Stamp Tool, the ‘plus’ sign is from where it copies, and the brush is where it pastes.

7. Pattern Stamp Tool: The pattern stamp tool is used for making patterns and creating designs in particular areas. Users can choose different patterns from the pattern palette on the options and create interesting features on their images with this tool. 

Navigation:

• Go down to the left side of the toolbar until you find the ‘Clone Stamp Tool’ icon. Click it, and the 2nd option is the Pattern Stamp Tool. 
• Select a brush and a pattern from the palette. 
• Adjust size, shape, opacity, and other specifications.  
• Paint it where you need it; the pattern will be visible. 

8. Dodge & Burn Tool: The dodge and burn tool is a non-destructive technique to darken or lighten any particular part or spot in the image. Dodge works to whiten the picture, whereas burn plays the role of darkening. Combining both the shadow, tone, etc., are adjusted.

Navigation:

• Go to the tools panel. 
• You will find the dodge tool icon; click it. 
• The panel of the dodge tool and the burn tool will pop up. 

9. Blur & Sharpen Tool: The Sharpen tool highlights some parts and the blur tool makes the parts obscure by blurring. Both blur and sharpen tools work opposite to each other. 

Navigation: 

• Go to the tools panel. 
• You will find the Blur tool icon; click it. 
• The panel of the Blur tool and the Sharpen tool will pop up. 

10. The Color Replacement Tool: The color replacement tool is handy for changing foreground and background color in images. Choose the color and hover the brush over your targeted spot; the color will replace the new one.    

Navigation: 

• Go to the tools panel. 
• You will find the Brush tool icon; click it. 
• The panel will open up, and you will see the color replacement tool.  

11. Liquify Tools: The liquifying tool creates liquifying effects, for example, pull, push, rotate, and distortion during photo retouching.    

Navigation: 

• Go to Filter. 
• A panel will open up; go below to liquefy. 
• Click it, and there you go.  

Which Software Professionals Use to Retouch Photos? 

Professionals use Adobe Photoshop, Adobe Lightroom, GIMP, Skylum Luminar, Aurora HDR, Affinity Photo, On1 Photo Raw, DxO Photolab 5, Pixlr, and Exposure X6 to retouch photos. The market has plenty of photo editing software available. This software offers several retouching tools. By implementing the photo retouching techniques photo retouchers bring the best look of photos. The best 10 software used for photo retouching are as follows. 

1. Adobe Photoshop

Adobe Photoshop is an internationally used photo editing and retouching software. It offers comprehensive sets of tools for retouching, such as layers, healing tools, masking, content-aware fill, cloning tools, etc. The premium version of Photoshop pricing starts at $22.99/month. 

2. Adobe Lightroom

Adobe Lightroom is also one of the best photo retouching programs. Lightroom offers several retouching tools, including adjustment brushes, spot removal, radial filters, and graduated filters to aid professional retouchers. The price of Lightroom starts at $11.99/month. 

3. GIMP-GNU Image Manipulation Program

GIMP is an open-source image editing software with powerful sets of retouching tools. Masking, blending modes, layers, cloning tools, healing tools, and plenty of other effects and features- have become a popular choice for global retouchers. GIMP is free to use for any users. 

4. Skylum Luminar

Skylum Luminar is a revolutionary software with AI power. Its AI retouching tools include skin retouching, structure enhancement, sky replacement, cloning, and healing tools. Apart from AI, its exposure and color adjustment, layers and overlayers, presets and filters, noise reduction, optics correction are effective to retouching works. The premium pricing structure for Skylum Luminar starts at $49. 

5. Aurora HDR

Aurora HDR is an HDR photo editing tool. Its tone mapping, color correction, exposure adjustments, AI sky enhancer, and retouching and correction tools are among many tools that aid image retouching work. The price of Aurora HDR is $99. 

6. Affinity Photo

Affinity Photo, a powerful photo editor, offers compelling retouching tools. Its retouching tools include layering, masking, cloning tools, healing tools, and blending modes for seamless image retouching. Affinity Photo costs $69.99. 

7. On1 Photo Raw

An all-in-one photo editor, On1 is equipped with numerous advanced photo editing, retouching, and organizing tools—RAW processing, AI-powered enhancements, healing tools, cloning tools, non-destructive layering, and masking. The On1 Photo Raw pricing is $49.99. 

8. DxO Photolab 5

DXO Photolab’s robust features are globally recognized. Its retouching solutions include U-point technology for precise and non-destructive editing, control lines, lens correction, noise reduction, etc. DXO Photolab’s price starts at $109. 

9. Pixlr

Pixlr is a versatile image-retouching solution. It works based on the browser. It offers quick solutions such as healing and clone tools, liquifying tools, layer-based editing, AI-powered editing, and many other advanced retouching. The monthly subscription of Pixlr starts at $ 2.49. 

10. Exposure X7

Exposure X7 is a smart editing solution and organizer for photos. The features of this software include spot healing, cloning tools, layering and masking, film simulations, and creative effects. Exposure X7 costs $149. 

How to Hire a Photo Retoucher? 

To hire a photo retoucher you have to determine your needs, and review potential retouchers. While reviewing the retouchers, consider 9 essential factors as follows. 

Know Your Purposes

Determine your purposes for using the retouched photos. The retouching category would vary depending on the purpose, publishing platforms, and target audience. E-commerce sellers need professional-grade product photo retouching, whereas online marketers need glamorous image retouching to launch a campaign. 

Determine Your Project Volume

Having an estimation of your project is necessary to choose the right retouchers. E-commerce sellers or professional photographers need photo retouching solutions frequently and in large volume. An online marketer needs retouched photos from time to time. Determining your project volume by considering these factors. 

• Number of images 
• Project complexity level 
• Type of photos you have 
• Urgent project submission 

Decide Freelancer or Retouching Company

Determining your project volume would give a clear picture of whom to hire. Outsourcing from a professional photo retouching agency is a wise choice for big projects and frequent image needs. Agencies offer a wide range of solutions at competitive pricing. From solopreneurs to large entrepreneurs, they have different retouching packages. Freelance photo editors are effective solutions for small projects or new content creators. 

Check Retouchers’ Experience

Check photo retouchers’ working history in the photo post-production industry. Experience photo retouchers have working experience with multiple clients. They are well-versed in premium software, different retouching tools, and techniques to achieve satisfactory results. 

Learn About Retouchers’ Expertise

Know about their work style, skill level, and expertise. Each photo retouching agency has a designated team to fulfill the specific retouching work. Learn their style if that match with your versatile marketing needs. 

Look for Sample Work

Sample works give you an overview of the retouchers’ work style. Check their portfolio which you will find in their photo gallery pages. Also, check the free-trial option to learn how fast they deliver, and how they communicate along with their working sample. 

Know Retouchers’ Work Quality

Understand your target retouchers’ work quality and if they can maintain consistency across project volume and complexity. Know about their revision process. Also, check reviews and testimonials from other service receivers, and review sites, such as Trustpilot, Google Maps about their work. 

Evaluate the Pricing Structure

Generally, outsourcing photo editing and retouching services costs less than in-house photo retouchers. Pricing structure varies depending on the type of retouching work, retoucher expertise, and level of customization work. Photo retouching agencies offer discounts or seasonal cut-off prices for bulk projects. 

Understand the Turnaround Time

Have a direct conversation with your potential retouchers. Talk about the turnaround time, and how fast they can deliver in case of your emergency. Get a clear idea of custom photo editing, retouching diversity, and revision. Also, know the pricing difference for the faster turnaround.

Why Should You Outsource Photo Retouching Services? 

You should outsource photo retouching services to ensure brand consistency and convince potential buyers. Outsourcing image retouching is a fast, cost-effective, and efficient solution. Brands and professionals collaborate with retouching agencies to access expertise and save resources. 

Offshore Clipping is a certified photo editing and retouching company in NYC. With a team of 250 photo retouchers, Offshore Clipping has been offering high-end photo retouching services for decades. Photographers, e-commerce store owners, and advertising agencies outsource from professional retouching companies for the following benefits. 

• High-quality service from industry expert photo retouchers  
• Budget-friendly, and resource-saving photo editing solution 
• Timely measurement for continuous and fluctuating image needs  
• Custom and bulk image editing in a wide range of categories  
• Fastest turnaround to match your deadline 
• Scalable results as per your business demand   
• Freeing up spaces for business core activities