In the world of imagery, photo retouching is an essential step. But the line between subtle work that enhances an image and heavy-handed editing that distorts it can be thin. So, how can we tell the difference between good and bad retouching? What are the key criteria that make all the difference? Let’s take a closer look.

A Good Retouch: The Art of Subtlety

A good retouch should never be obvious. It enhances the image while remaining invisible. There’s nothing worse than a portrait where skin texture has vanished, shadows are flattened, and colors look unnatural.

The goal is simple: correct without transforming. It’s about balancing contrast, adjusting colors, and removing small imperfections without betraying reality. This is precise work that supports the image rather than overwhelming it.

What defines a good retouch:

  • Respect for textures: Skin should look alive, fabric should retain its texture, and landscapes should keep their depth.

  • Color harmony: Over-saturation or excessive contrast can disrupt the image’s balance.

  • A believable result: If the retouching is immediately noticeable, it’s a failed edit.

Take a simple example: a corporate portrait. A good retouch softens redness, gently lightens under-eye shadows, but leaves the subject’s personality intact. On the other hand, extreme skin smoothing results in an artificial, frozen appearance that erases all expression and authenticity.

A Bad Retouch: Excess in All Its Forms

Anything that’s too obvious is a mistake. Too sharp, too smooth, too contrasted… Common retouching errors often stem from overusing editing tools.

The worst mistakes?

  • Excessive skin smoothing, resulting in a plastic, lifeless effect.

  • Inconsistent color grading, where the hues become surreal, unrealistic, or simply unpleasant.

  • Distorted perspectives, especially in architecture or product packshots, giving the image a false impression.

  • Sloppy cutouts, with visible edges or poorly managed shadows.

A Retouching Tailored to Each Field

Photo retouching goes beyond simply “beautifying”; it serves a specific purpose depending on the field in which it’s used.

  • In advertising, it needs to grab attention while staying credible. The image should be impactful without looking artificially altered.
  • In e-commerce, it must be realistic. Color and texture fidelity is crucial to avoid product returns.
  • For a corporate portrait, it should remain subtle. Softening without masking, balancing without exaggerating.

Retouching expertise varies according to the needs: what’s essential for an advertising visual isn’t necessarily the same for a fashion photo or a reportage. This adaptability is what enriches the profession.

The Essential Criteria for Good Retouching

A well-retouched image should:

✔ Remain natural: The intervention should not be noticeable at first glance.

✔ Enhance without distorting: Correct imperfections, yes. Transform an image to the point where it looks fake, no.

✔ Adapt to the final medium: An image for the web has different needs than one for a printed billboard.

In advertising, a good retoucher knows how to enhance without over-editing, while in professional portraits, they focus on subtle corrections to preserve the model’s expression.

En conclusion

The difference between good and bad retouching often comes down to one key element: precision. Knowing when to stop, understanding what needs to be changed and what should be preserved, respecting authenticity while enhancing the image.