retouching

Retouching is the process of altering an image to improve its appearance or to alter its content. In photography and digital art, retouching can range from cosmetic adjustments to comprehensive image restoration. Cosmetic retouching targets flaws and tones in portraits, including blemish removal, skin smoothing, eye enhancements, teeth whitening, and color balancing. Technical retouching addresses exposure, contrast, noise, sharpness, and color grading, and may involve repairing damaged areas in archival photographs or improving product photography.

Techniques used in retouching include cloning or healing to remove unwanted elements, dodge and burn to adjust light and shadow, frequency separation for skin texture, and masking to control edits precisely. Compositing can add or remove elements or merge multiple images to create a final result. Tools commonly used are image editors such as Photoshop, Lightroom, GIMP, and dedicated retouching plugins; workflows often rely on non-destructive editing with layers, masks, and adjustment layers.

Ethical considerations accompany retouching practices. Transparency about edits varies by industry, and excessive manipulation can mislead viewers, particularly in journalism or advertising. Standards may require disclosure or limit the extent of changes to preserve authenticity, while fashion and beauty contexts often pursue a polished, cohesive look.

Retouching also encompasses restoration of damaged or aged photographs, which aims to preserve archival information while removing defects and improving legibility. Overall, retouching is used to enhance, restore, or creatively modify images, balancing technical quality with the intended visual message.