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, zip 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 zips 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.

You might also be interested in…

Remove and add objects in photos in Photoshop.

Remove and add objects.

Adjusting the elements of your photos can create new worlds in your images.

Make complex selections in Photoshop.

Make a complex selection.

Get your glow on with this simple technique.

Make an underwater text effect in Photoshop.

Create an underwater effect.

Blend distorted text with your images for a 3D finish.

Create a photo composite in Photoshop.

Make a photo composite.

Learn to create surreal images by compositing two photographs.

Discover more on photography