Digital Retouching & Image Manipulation

What is digital retouching?

Digital retouching is a process where I use professional Adobe Photoshop software, professionally calibrated monitors and graphical tablets to alter an image to make it and the object or people within it look even better.

Step 1. Raw Image Processing and Colour Correcting

Image (a) above shows the raw image that is captured by the camera. The first stage is to use a raw image altering software to manipulate the following features of the image:

• Colour, vibrancy and saturation
• White balance
• Black Levels and Contrast
• Image exposure
• Lens distortion and colour aberrations

In the above image we are deliberately wanting to create a punchy image with high contrast and a white background so the manipulation is very strong resulting in image (b).

Step 2. Retouching Digital Images

Once the image is perfectly corrected then the second stage of enhancing the image can begin. This is also known as "photoshoping a picture" and is often used to achieve the following:

• Removing skin blemishes
• Hiding bags under the eyes
• Loosing acne spots
• Masking scars
• Changing the shape of a persons face and body
• Removing people or objects from an image
• Introducing people or objects into images
• Altering features such as the sky

In the example above I have removed moles and blemishes from the models skin, enhanced the make-up around the eyes, made the whites of the eyes slightly brighter to increase the contrast, removed the shadows on the backdrop and also the backdrop edges. And I have balanced out the skin contrast on the elbow too. To produce the final stylized image seen on the right (c).

Professional Digital Retouching Service

I work very efficiently and clients usually visit me so they can sit and describe exactly what they want on their important images. I use the latest professional equipment including large format wacom touchpads with high quality NEC professional screens to ensure the highest quality. And with 18Gb of RAM, 8 processors and top of the range graphics cards I can work extremely quickly delivering great value for money.

Get in touch today for a friendly chat to find out more about the professional and cost effective digital retouching service I offer.

More Complex Digital Image Manipulation

Some projects require even more than described above. For example bringing together several images or an HDR (High Dynamic Range) image to produce a final image. When you need digital image manipulation expertise then give me a call to discuss your project.

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