Photo retouching uses brushes, either real or digital, to enhance and correct a photograph.
A photo retoucher specializes in taking an existing photograph and enhancing the image through the application of certain artistic enhancement techniques. Retouchers work predominantly in digital formats and provide services for a variety of industries using digital images on a regular basis. Editing backgrounds, adjusting color tones and retouching skin textures are some of the many tasks that a photo retoucher incorporates in her daily work.
Traditional Photo Retoucher
Traditional photo retouchers use inks and paint brushes to add embellishments or edit an existing print image. One common retouching task is to repair dust spots on images with ink and brush techniques. The technique is often used on black and white photographic prints to remove dust spots, using black ink and a very fine-tipped brush. Adding color to black and white images is also a common retouching technique and uses either oil-based or water-based inks to paint color onto the print.
Digital Photo Retoucher
A digital photo retoucher is the most common career application used for editing and retouching images. Retouching can include editing skin blemishes on models, reducing or manipulating certain body parts on models, enhancing the sky in an image or removing unwanted objects or obstructions in certain types of images. Photographers shooting in high volumes or working with fashion photography images will often hire a photo retoucher to fine tune their digital images for their client, as these techniques are difficult and time-consuming.
Software for Retouching
A modern digital photo retoucher will use a professional level photo editing software program, such as Adobe's Photoshop or Corel's Paintshop Photo Pro. Using professional-level editing programs will allow you to achieve complex retouching results and save time when working on photographs. Photo editing software uses a variety of actions, tools and layers applied to the original digital image to help achieve the final, perfected image.
Hardware Necessary for Retouching
While complex editing programs are a necessary tool for a photo retoucher, the appropriate hardware is just as important. Computers with a high level of processing speed, RAM and data storage space are essential to the photo retoucher, as the complicated software programs use high volumes of computer processing speed to edit large image files in a quick manner. Storage is also essential, as images become much larger in file size as layers and editing actions are applied to the digital file. A retoucher will also want a high quality, large monitor for editing multiple image files at once and working in multiple programs at one time. The monitor should be color-calibrated, using special calibration software and devices, to ensure that the images undergoing color correction match the actual color desired. Monitors and printers render color profiles differently and calibration is a key element in the photo retoucher's toolkit.
Careers for Photo Retouchers
Jobs for photo retouchers can be done in a freelance capacity as an independent contractor on a per job basis. Most photographers who work with independent contractors for their photo retouching needs will hire in a sporadic manner, as larger photographic jobs are not a frequent occurrence for most photographers. Photo retouchers are also hired to work in advertising agencies, for magazines, galleries and other businesses that use high volumes of digital images. After gaining experience with the profession, making connections and interviewing with professional photographers, creative directors and editors is the best method for launching a career in photo retouching.
