retusch

Retusch, in German-language usage, denotes the process of retouching an image to improve its appearance or correct errors. The term derives from the French "retouche" and is used in photography, publishing, and digital imaging to describe cosmetic corrections and artistic manipulation. In practice, retouching can range from subtle refinements to substantial alterations.

Historically, retouching began with manual techniques on negatives and prints, including scraping, pigmenting, and airbrushing. In the 20th century, chemical and mechanical methods and commercial airbrush tools enabled more efficient work. With the rise of digital imaging in the late 1990s, retouching moved to software-driven workflows, allowing non-destructive edits, cloning, healing, dodging and burning, and color grading.

Applications include portrait correction, fashion and advertising imagery, product photography, and restoration of archival photos. Retouching raises ethical questions about authenticity, particularly in journalism and documentary contexts, where transparency about edits is expected. Professional standards emphasize proportionality, consent, and reproducibility, balancing image integrity with the creative goals of the photographer or client. See also photo retouching, image editing, and ethical considerations in image manipulation.