Software Basics

Adobe Photoshop, Lightroom, Capture One

On this page, you will find a selection of articles that will help you to begin and continue getting to know the necessary programs for retouching.

A wider list of articles can be found here: Software Articles

ADOBE PHOTOSHOP. IMPORTANT BASICS

03 Jul

Efficiency & Productivity, Fundamentals, Software

Customizing Your Workspace in Photoshop

Software: Adobe Photoshop Skill level: Beginner Workspaces A workspace, is the entire working area of Photoshop. It’s what encompasses all the menus, tools and panels. Simply put, it’s pretty much everything you can see and click within Photoshop. So it’s high time you dropped the...

30 Jun

Fundamentals, Software

Photoshop Basics: Getting To Know The History Panel

History Panel The History Panel is a tool which creates a chronological top-down view of everything you do in your working session in Photoshop. To access the History Panel, choose Window > History, or click the History Panel tab if it's already...

12 Dec

Efficiency & Productivity, Fundamentals

History, Caches & Good Work Habits For Better Photoshop Performance

Please read How to Set Preferences & Memory Usage for Peak Performance before you continue reading this article. History & Caches Simply put, keep History States and Cache Levels at their default settings, and get into the habit of working on separate Layers,...

11 Sep

Fundamentals, Software

How to Set Preferences & Memory Usage for Peak Performance – Photoshop CC, CS6

Here are a few ways to enhance Photoshop performance: Optimize your current hardware Customize Performance Preferences in Photoshop Tailor your Photoshop work habits (read more: History, Caches & Performance-Friendly Work Habits) Hardware The faster the processor you’re using and the more random...

20 Nov

Software, Video Tutorial

Quickly Learn the Curvature Pen Tool in Photoshop CC 2018

The Curvature Pen Tool is one of the most exciting new features brought to Photoshop CC 2018, making selecting and masking a breeze. This quick video tutorial will have you using this powerful new tool in no time.

15 Nov

Software, Video Tutorial

The Differences Between Levels and Curves in Photoshop

During the journey to become proficient with Adobe Photoshop, two tools - Levels and Curves - will likely beg the question: what is the difference between them? This video by Unmesh Dinda of PiXimperfect, details their similarities and differences. When it...

02 Nov

Software, Video Tutorial

Brush Stroke Smoothing in Photoshop CC 2018

One of the many new features brought to the Photoshop CC 2018 update, was the introduction of a new brush smoothing algorithm. These new tools grant a more polished look with cleaner lines when using a brush, and are...

18 Jul

Fundamentals, High-End Beauty & Fashion, Video Tutorial

Essential Retouching Tools for Face & Hair

In this video we'll be covering commonly used retouching tools for fixing blemishes on a subject's face and stray hairs. As always, our aim is not only to show you the basics of the tools but also best practices for...

18 Nov

Fundamentals, Software

Everything You Need To Know To Love The Pen Tool

In this video we will talk about the Pen Tool and how you can make and adjust precise and complex selections using this tool. The Pen Tool is one of the most highly underestimated and underused tools in Photoshop and...

27 Oct

Fundamentals, Software, Video Tutorial

The difference between Brush Opacity & Fill and Layer Opacity & Flow

BRUSH OPACITY vs. FLOW While most people starting out with Photoshop tend to utilize Opacity slider and leave Flow untouched, knowing the difference between the two will allow you to select the one that will perform best for a given...

23 Aug

Fundamentals, Software

Working With The Healing Brush Tool

As a Beauty & Fashion retoucher, one of the tools I most often go to is the Healing Brush tool. It works similarly to the Clone Stamp tool in the sense that you choose the area that you wish...

22 Jun

Beauty Retouching, High-End Beauty & Fashion

Black and White Conversions in Relation to Dodging and Burning

This is an outtake from the RA online workshop Beauty Retouching: Skin & Skin Tones. The technique of Dodging and Burning, where one selectively adjusts the exposure on various areas of a film is as old as photography itself. With traditional...

01 Oct

Real World Practices, Video Tutorial, Working With Colors

Color Grading with the Color Balance Tool in Photoshop

One of the most powerful means of impacting your audience is through the effective use of color. Setting the mood, creating an atmosphere, or even just using an aesthetically pleasing color palette is vital to attracting the clients you...

06 Sep

Efficiency & Productivity, Fundamentals, Software

Working With Selections: The New Select and Mask Feature

Adobe Photoshop CC 2015 recently released their 5.0 update which brought us a revamp of the already useful tool formerly known as Refine Edge. Let’s look at what’s new and how we can take advantage of this new update...

17 Aug

Efficiency & Productivity, Fundamentals, Software

Selection Tools Overview

One of the most powerful tools for retouchers in Adobe Photoshop is the ability to select and modify pixels, referred to as making selections. Located on the tool bar, Selection tools are used to isolate one or several parts...

17 Feb

Fundamentals, Video Tutorial

The Power of The Curves Adjustment Layer – Part 2: Manipulating Color

In part 2 of our introduction to the Curves Adjustment Layer we will take a look at how to use this tool to tone and color correct an image. In particular, the video demonstrates how to use Curves to: Color correct an image; Use Color...

21 Jan

Fundamentals, Video Tutorial

The Power of The Curves Adjustment Layer – Part 1: Tonal Range & Contrast

In this video, we are going to take an introductory look at the Curves Adjustment Layer, one of Photoshop’s most powerful and flexible tools. In particular, the video demonstrates the strengths of the Curves tool: How to use it to precisely extend the...

18 Oct

Fundamentals, Software, Video Tutorial

How to Work Smart With Quick Mask in Adobe Photoshop

Quick mask is a Photoshop tool that can be used in a wide range of image editing situations. It will be quite handy for a retoucher working with Architectural photography as well as Product, Advertising and even Wedding images. In...

PRO BEAUTY RETOUCHING VIDEO COURSE

The world of professional beauty retouching is very exciting, collaborative and diverse, however, the percentage of skilled professionals who are qualified to work for commercial clients in the beauty, health and wellness industry is very small. While a myriad of freelancers compete at the bottom of the retouching market, skilled retouching professionals are in high demand because of the sheer number of businesses that create an enormous amount of visual content today. They all need qualified post-production help: processing, retouching, color-matching.

This course is created by commercial beauty photographer and retoucher Julia Kuzmenko McKim (Los Angeles, CA) and professional retoucher and educator Sarah Tucker (London, UK).

Skill Level: Intermediate to Advanced
Duration: 5 hours
Videos: 24 video lessons, including 2 full retouches from start to finish
Practice Files: 3 Raw files photographed by Julia Kuzmenko & Anita Sadowska
Additional Materials: Custom Brushes + Job Application Checklist + Pro Retouching Vocabulary
Format: Digital Instant Download