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Photo Retouching and Color Correction

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Retouching
A challenging photo with multiple issues
Retouched photo of two boys in a park, closer up, with faces in full view.
The retouched photo
Photo of two young boys in a park in bright sun with their faces shaded.
The original photo
Problems and solutions

Uneven lighting
Isolate and treat areas of the photo separately. Lighten obscured areas of the figures, darken background, tone down bright spots on figures.

Skin tones
Correct lighting and spot remove blemishes. To even up and smooth skin tones use Photoshop paint tool at 5% opacity.

Focal point
To create a focal point, separate and subdue background with darker exposure, blurring and cropping, with figures brighter than the background. Even out high contrast color with exposure and brightness. Keep faces in focus, use subtle blur on the figures.

Clothing bright spots
To make lighting on clothing look natural without losing details isolate each area and apply paint, blur and exposure tools.

Color Correction
Color corrected photos, before and after

Photo 1

  • Faded, bluish color on a photo of young boy in parka.
    Before
  • color corrected photo of young boy in parka.
    After

Photo 2

  • Faded vintage photo of large family at holiday dinner table.
    Before
  • Restored and color corrected vintage photo of large family at holiday dinner table.
    After

Photo 3

  • Photo of Tivoli movie theater and its marquee. Too dark, details lost.
    Before
  • Photo of Tivoli movie theater and its marquee. Even lighting, details visible, crisp and color corrected.
    After

Photoshop color tools: levels, curves, balance, hue/saturation