THE ART & BUSINESS OF RETOUCHING
As retouchers, we enhance, polish, and perfect images in order to create a beautiful final result. Part of our role is to ensure that wherever the images are displayed, they are shown in the best light. Our laser-focused attention to detail should not stop once the image is retouched, but should continue through the printing stage when our work is meant for print.
To anyone with years of working in commercial retouching the terminology comes naturally, but each of us remembers a time when the language of the industry wasn’t quite so clear. When speaking to an art director who might be interested in hiring you, it’s important to speak his or her language. Clear communication and understanding between you and your client instills trust, helps you deliver exactly what the client wants and gives your client the confidence that he hired the right talent. If you’re a skilled amateur looking to land your first commercial job, check out this quick guide to some common industry terminology and conduct your client correspondence with confidence.
In order to become a skilled retoucher, it is vital for every artist to recognize when they’ve gone too far with their retouching, and what mistakes to watch out for. Training your eye to discern the differences between quality retouching and visually poor retouching should be one of the first steps on your journey. Below, we will discuss six aspects that can greatly impact the quality of your retouching.
