Retouching Guides

Practical guides for brands and photographers on hiring a retoucher, briefing the work and getting images ready for print and screen.

• How to Brief a Retoucher, With a TemplateHow to write a retouching brief that gets the result you want: the job, what must change, references, deliverables, feedback and a template to copy.
• What Files to Send a RetoucherWhat to send a retoucher: RAW files or TIFFs, your own edit, extra frames, color references, file names and how to agree on what comes back.
• What High-End Retouching CostsWhat high-end retouching costs and why. Our price is $40 to $500 per image, depending on complexity and deliverables. How to get an accurate quote.
• Retouched Image Label Rules by CountryRules on labeling retouched images in ads: Norway, France, Israel, the UK and New York, with what triggers them, penalties and links to sources.
• AI vs Human Retouching: What Each Does WellWhere AI retouching tools help, where they fall short on fashion, beauty and product images, and how to decide which images need a human retoucher.
• Editorial vs Campaign vs E-commerce RetouchingHow editorial, campaign and e-commerce retouching differ in time, approvals, files and cost, and how to brief each type of work.
• Natural Skin Retouching: How Much Is Too MuchWhat usually stays and what usually goes in natural skin retouching, how to spot overworked skin, and how to brief a retoucher on it.
• Color Correction vs Color Grading in PhotosThe difference between color correction and color grading in still photos, which one comes first, and how to ask a retoucher for the right one.
• How to Keep Product Color ConsistentHow to keep product color consistent across a shoot, a campaign and every screen and print format, from color targets on set to matching in post.
• How to Prepare Retouched Images for PrintHow to prepare retouched images for print: printer specifications, CMYK profiles, ink limits, resolution, sharpening, bleed and proofs.
• How a Beauty Campaign Gets RetouchedHow a beauty campaign usually moves through retouching: brief and product claims, selects, skin, makeup, color, versions and final proof.
• How a Magazine Cover Gets RetouchedHow a magazine cover usually gets retouched: layout and masthead, cover lines, skin and hair, print specifications, proofs and press deadlines.
• One Campaign, Every FormatHow to plan one campaign image for print, outdoor, web and social: what to shoot, how to build a master and how to manage versions.