Use Adobe Photoshop to retouch a photo.

Removing minor blemishes and imperfections from your photos can have a major impact. In this article, see how visual artist Gabriel Isak retouches an image in Adobe Photoshop.

Photo of two figures standing in water, one in a white body suit, one a blue suit, a white ball and a blue ball between them
Play

Take a quick one-minute look at Isak’s touchup technique in the steps below.

Before you start.

Use these sample images or practice with your own.    

 

Step 1: Brush away distractions 

Isak selected the Healing Brush and brushed over the seams, zipper, and wrinkles in his photo. Each time you move to a new area, reset the source point for the brush using option-click (or alt-click). 

Use the Healing Brush in Adobe Photoshop to hide zippers and seams in the photo

Step 2: Reposition elements 

The Content-Aware Move tool, nested under the Healing Brush, allowed Isak to easily move objects around. He made sure that Mode was set to Move in the Options bar, drew a selection around the white ball, and dragged the object to its new position. 

Use content aware move to move objects to new location in photo

Step 3: Eliminate imperfections

Isak noticed small imperfections around the white figure and used the Spot Healing Brush to remove them.

Use Spot Healing Brush to remove small reflections in the water

Step 4: Never settle 

With a few simple adjustments, you can turn an almost-perfect photo into a perfect one.

Finished retouch photo placed in white picture frame on marble surface

Note: Project files included with this tutorial are for practice purposes only.

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