Retusálás

Retusálás is a term used to describe the process of retouching or touching up an image to correct, enhance, or alter its appearance. The word originates from the French retoucher, meaning to touch up. In modern usage it is most closely associated with photographic and digital image editing, though historical retouching was also done by hand on prints or negatives.

In practice, retusálás covers a range of techniques applied to photographs, film stills, and digital artworks. Common aims include removing blemishes, smoothing skin, whitening teeth and eyes, adjusting color and contrast, and reconstructing missing or damaged areas. It can also involve more elaborate operations such as reshaping features, enhancing texture, or compositing multiple images. Digital retusálás is typically performed with image-editing software using layers, masks, cloning, healing brushes, and specialized methods like frequency separation to separate texture from color and tone.

The retouching workflow often begins with planning and consent, followed by non-destructive edits that preserve the original data. Professionals may work in stages: global color/c toning adjustments, localized corrections, and final refinements. In high-end or commercial contexts, retusálás aims for realism and consistency with the intended look, while ethical considerations distinguish legitimate corrections from deceptive manipulation. In journalism and documentary work, strict standards limit or prohibit alterations that could mislead viewers.

Historically, retusálás evolved from manual methods such as airbrushing and painting on prints to sophisticated digital workflows that dominate image production today. It remains a central practice in photography, advertising, fashion, and media, balancing technical skill with judgment about authenticity and effect.