Retouching

Retouching techniques utilize a selection of brush-based tools for focused colour and tonal adjustment.

Retouching techniques before
Retouching techniques after
Dodging (A), Burning (B), Sponging (C), Blurring (D), Sharpening (E), Denoising - Median (F) and Smudging (G).

In contrast to the adjustment layers, the retouch brushes apply modifications to a selected pixel layer, thereby affecting individual pixels on the layer.

The retouch brushes provide the opportunity for precision work in editing images and pixel layers. For example, the Dodge Brush Tool is ideal for lightening areas of shadow within a photo while leaving other areas unaffected.

The retouch brushes available include:

Dodge Brush Tool Dodge Brush Tool

Dodging adjusts the exposure under the brush stroke to lighten the painted area. This has the opposite effect to Burning.

Burn Brush Tool Burn Brush Tool

Burning adjusts the exposure under the brush stroke to darken the painted area. This has the opposite effect to Dodging.

Sponge Brush Tool Sponge Brush Tool

Sponging lets you increase or decrease the colour saturation under the brush.

Blur Brush Tool Blur Brush Tool

Blurring reduces the contrast between pixels under the brush stroke, thereby softening the edges of the painted area. This has the opposite effect to Sharpening. Blurring does not smear colour within the painted area like Smudging.

Sharpen Brush Tool Sharpen Brush Tool

Sharpening increases the contrast between pixels under the brush stroke, thereby enhancing the edges of the painted area. This has the opposite effect to Blurring.

Median Brush Tool Median Brush Tool

Painted pixels are blended together to reduce noise under the stroke.

Smudge Brush Tool Smudge Tool

Smudging is a technique which allows you to blend pixels within an image. The brush 'picks up' colour from the click point and 'drags' it in the brush stroke direction.

To use a retouch brush:
  1. Use the Layers panel to select the pixel layer that you want to work on.
  2. Select a retouch brush tool from the Tools panel.
  3. The tool uses a soft-round brush by default. To use a different brush style, choose one from the Brushes panel.
  4. On the context toolbar, change the brush values as desired.
  5. Drag on the image to apply the effect under the brush stroke.

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