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Marcin Mikus

Retouching beauty images had always been a huge challenge for photographers and retouchers. I made this course to introduce you non-destructive ways of retouching that will allow you to retouch fast and create beautiful portraits that you may see on magazine covers.

What is Professional Beauty Retouch?

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Retouching beauty images had always been a huge challenge for photographers and retouchers. I made this course to introduce you non-destructive ways of retouching that will allow you to retouch fast and create beautiful portraits that you may see on magazine covers.

What is Professional Beauty Retouch?

Professional retouching or so called High End retouching is most advanced form of retouching that require a lot of practice and patience. For many people, retouching beauty images might take hours - in this course I teach you how to not waste too much time and retouch fast and effective. In such a retouch it's very important to work non-destructively, which means to not destroy the skin texture, face features or color harmonies. In prefessional retouch we don't blur or soften skin, we use advanced techniques to make image clean and dynamic, at the same time preserving the skin texture.

To make great beauty retouch, you need to use the right techniques, which allows you to save the time and get perfect results.

Who am I?

I am Marcin Mikus and I am professional retoucher with 6 years of experience in the field. I specialise in fashion, beauty and commercial retouching. Choosing me as your teacher guarantee that you will get prefessional knowledge and practice from the real industry expert, working every day with images that can be found in magazines, lookbooks and fashion campaigns.

What This Course is about?

For many photographers one of the biggest challenge they face is retouching process and making images look professional - with the right skin retouch, contrasts and color. Getting the final look requires knowledge of retouching tools, light and color grading techniques. Yet, It doesn't have to be overhelming process once you know how to manage your work and use the right tools.

I cover up all of the important subjects of retouching such as:

  • RAW Processing - A camera raw image file contains minimally processed data from the image sensor of a digital camera. Raw files are named so because they are not yet processed and therefore are not ready to be printed or edited with a bitmap graphics editor. In this course I show you how to work with the RAW files straight out of your camera. I will teach you how to process images in such a softwares like Camera Raw, Lightroom or Capture One. No matter which software you are using - you will find lessons for you.

  • Clean Up - In this course I teach you how to clean up your images. And not only the skin. First of all you will learn such a retouching tools as healing brush tool, spot healing brush tool, patch tool and clone stamp tool. You will know how to clean up background, how to retouch skin, hair, eyes, lips and every other part of the beauty image you could think of.

    As a part of this section I will teach you some additional things as usage of filters that allow you to remove fine body hair within seconds. I will teach you how to use Frequency Separation in the right way to correct light imperfections. And I will teach you how to restore skin texture that we could loose during demanding tasks with skin retouching.

  • Nails Retouching - Small part of clean up but how important. With beauty images we need to make sure every element of the image looks great. Thats why I will teach you how to create natural nail reflections on the image.

  • Dodge & Burn Retouching - Dodging and Burning is only one Non destructive technique used in Retouching. Learning this technique brings your skills to the new level of retouching, and allows you to achieve non destructive results You can see in Beauty Posters or Magazines. In this course I teach you dodge & burn technique using curves - most common and most popular way to retouch using D&B technique. Curves are the only one tool that allows You to retouch whole image. I will introduce You to the terms like dodging and burning and You will know how to work with Your image on a micro level to retouch small imperfections of the skin by controlling lights and darks.

  • Contrasts, Lights and Shadows - Wrong is thinking that to get better perspective of the image we need to do global Dodge & Burn. It could lead us to destroing natural face features. Thats why in this course I teach you how to create precise masks that allows you to work selectively on increasing highlights and shadows to get the perfect contrats. I will show you few tricks that teach you how to get special look of the image, weather you look for something more dramatic or more of a film camera look.

  • Color Grading - One of the most important part of retouching - often underrated. Now knowing how to work with colors we can easily destroy our final outcome of the image. Thats why in this course I teach you not only about color grading tools and adjustement layers but also about theory behind color harmonies. After that we will do very subtle color grading on our images working with tones and saturation values of the image.

  • Final Touch Ups - At the end of each retouch we want to make sure that our images looks perfect, this is where we polish our colors, lights and saturation values. In this section you will know how to do each of this things as well as liquify image and add noise in non destructive way.

And the best part of this course is that it comes with resources valued at over $500. I provide to you high quality images to practice taken by amazing fashion and beauty photographer Dominika Jarczyńska. Shot in professional studio, with professional model and make up artist. And all of this specially for this course. Except the images you will get my retouching actions that will be big help in your retouching process and let you get the things done much quicker.

Enjoy the Course.

Marcin

Enroll now

What's inside

Learning objectives

  • To use best possible retouching techiniques
  • Do a high end beauty retouch
  • Work fluently with photoshop and retouching tools
  • Use advanced techniques on every kind of image

Syllabus

Cleaning up Background
Cleaning up Skin
Introduction
Introduction to The Course
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Traffic lights

Read about what's good
what should give you pause
and possible dealbreakers
Teaches non-destructive retouching techniques, which are essential for maintaining image quality and flexibility in post-production workflows
Explores RAW processing in Camera Raw, Lightroom, and Capture One, which are industry-standard tools for photographers to manage and enhance their images
Covers frequency separation, which is an advanced technique for skin retouching that allows for precise control over tone and texture
Includes retouching actions to help learners automate tasks, which can significantly speed up the retouching process and improve efficiency
Requires Wacom tablet, which may be an additional expense for some learners who are used to retouching with a mouse
Emphasizes dodge and burn using curves, which is a non-destructive technique that allows for precise control over highlights and shadows in an image

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Reviews summary

High end beauty retouching techniques

According to learners, this course focuses on developing professional-level beauty retouching skills using Photoshop. It emphasizes non-destructive workflows and covers essential techniques like RAW processing, detailed cleanup, advanced Dodge & Burn with curves, and precise color grading. Students appreciate the inclusion of high-quality practice images and retouching actions, described as valuable resources. The instruction aims to teach fast and effective methods for achieving magazine-quality results while preserving texture. While the course title suggests advanced content, it appears structured to guide learners through these complex processes.
Taught by an experienced industry professional.
"Learning from a retoucher with real industry experience is a plus."
"The instructor's background in fashion and beauty is evident in the techniques taught."
"You get professional knowledge from someone working daily in the field."
"The advice feels grounded in practical application."
Teaches how to retouch quickly and effectively.
"I learned methods to speed up my retouching workflow significantly."
"The techniques shown help achieve great results without wasting hours."
"Getting things done much quicker using the right tools and actions is a focus."
"The course helps streamline the process for faster turnaround."
Covers a wide range of essential retouching steps.
"From RAW conversion to final touches, all the important steps are included."
"Frequency separation, dodge & burn, color grading – it's all here."
"Cleaning up skin, hair, eyes, lips, and even nails is covered in detail."
"I learned specific methods like restoring texture and removing fine body hair."
Includes high-quality images and helpful actions.
"The practice images are professional and perfect for following along."
"Having the retouching actions provided is a huge time-saver."
"The quality of the resources helps simulate real-world projects."
"Practicing on these studio-shot images was very beneficial."
Learn crucial techniques that preserve image quality.
"I learned how to work non-destructively, which is key for professional retouching."
"The emphasis on preserving skin texture was exactly what I needed."
"Using curves for Dodge & Burn keeps the edits flexible and reversible."
"This approach ensures I can always go back and make adjustments later."
Best suited for those with some Photoshop knowledge.
"Some sections assume prior familiarity with Photoshop tools and layers."
"As a beginner, I found some parts moved quite quickly."
"Understanding adjustment layers and masking is pretty important beforehand."
"It's high-end techniques, so not necessarily an intro to Photoshop itself."

Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in High End Beauty Retouching in Photoshop 2.0 with these activities:
Review Photoshop Fundamentals
Reinforce your understanding of Photoshop's core tools and interface. This will make learning advanced retouching techniques smoother and more efficient.
Show steps
  • Review the Photoshop interface and commonly used panels.
  • Practice using selection tools, layers, and masking.
  • Experiment with basic adjustments like levels, curves, and color balance.
Read 'Adobe Photoshop CC Classroom in a Book'
Gain a solid foundation in Photoshop by working through guided exercises. This will help you master the tools and techniques used in high-end beauty retouching.
Show steps
  • Obtain a copy of 'Adobe Photoshop CC Classroom in a Book'.
  • Work through the chapters relevant to retouching, such as layers, masking, and color correction.
  • Practice the exercises provided in the book to reinforce your understanding.
Frequency Separation Practice
Master the frequency separation technique through repetitive practice. This will improve your ability to retouch skin texture and tone effectively.
Show steps
  • Find high-resolution portraits with varying skin textures.
  • Apply frequency separation to each image, focusing on removing blemishes and evening skin tone.
  • Compare your results to professional examples and identify areas for improvement.
Four other activities
Expand to see all activities and additional details
Show all seven activities
Retouching Before & After Showcase
Document your retouching progress by creating before-and-after images. This will help you visualize your improvements and identify areas where you need more practice.
Show steps
  • Select several images to retouch, noting the specific issues you want to address.
  • Retouch each image using the techniques learned in the course.
  • Create a side-by-side comparison of the before and after images, highlighting the improvements you made.
  • Share your work online or with peers for feedback.
Read 'Color and Light: A Guide for the Realist Painter'
Deepen your understanding of color and light principles. This will enhance your ability to make subtle and realistic adjustments in your retouching work.
Show steps
  • Obtain a copy of 'Color and Light: A Guide for the Realist Painter'.
  • Focus on the chapters related to color theory, light direction, and shadow formation.
  • Apply the concepts learned to your retouching work, paying attention to how light and color interact with skin tones.
Retouch a Full Magazine Cover
Apply your skills to a comprehensive project that simulates a real-world retouching assignment. This will test your ability to manage complex tasks and deliver high-quality results.
Show steps
  • Find a high-resolution image suitable for a magazine cover.
  • Identify all the areas that need retouching, including skin, hair, makeup, and background.
  • Retouch the image using all the techniques learned in the course, paying attention to detail and overall aesthetics.
  • Present your final retouched image as a mock magazine cover.
Explore Advanced Dodge & Burn Techniques
Refine your Dodge & Burn skills by following advanced tutorials. This will help you achieve more subtle and natural-looking results.
Show steps
  • Search for online tutorials that demonstrate advanced Dodge & Burn techniques, such as using multiple layers or different blending modes.
  • Follow the tutorials step-by-step, applying the techniques to your own images.
  • Experiment with different settings and approaches to find what works best for you.

Career center

Learners who complete High End Beauty Retouching in Photoshop 2.0 will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:
Retoucher
A retoucher enhances digital images, often for commercial or artistic purposes. A retoucher may work on photographs, illustrations, or other visual content to improve its overall appearance. This course provides skills in high-end beauty retouching, focusing on non-destructive techniques to maintain detail while enhancing images. The course covers essential areas such as cleaning up images, dodge and burn techniques, and advanced color grading. This is exactly what a Retoucher does. The RAW processing techniques taught in the softwares like Camera Raw, Lightroom, or Capture One can help you with any image.
Photographic Editor
A photographic editor is responsible for selecting, editing, and preparing photographs for publication. They work to ensure that images meet quality standards and effectively communicate the intended message. The course's focus on high-end beauty retouching helps improve the aesthetic quality of photos, with non-destructive methods to enhance images while preserving details. Lessons on RAW processing, clean-up techniques, and color grading ensure that a photographic editor can polish images. Additionally, the course's introduction to color harmonies ensures images are visually balanced and appealing.
Digital Artist
Digital artists create artwork using digital tools and software. The role often involves manipulating images, creating illustrations, or designing visual effects. A digital artist's work can be found in advertising, media, and entertainment. This course focuses on high-end retouching techniques applicable to digital art. The course covers important subjects such as RAW processing, clean up, dodge and burn, lights, shadows, contrasts and color grading. Furthermore, the final touch ups can help digital artists to add noise in a non destructive way.
Commercial Photographer
Commercial photographers take photos for use in various commercial venues, such as advertisements and product placements. A Commercial photographer needs to deal with RAW conversions, clean up & skin retouching, dodge & burn, lights, shadows and contrasts, color grading, and final steps. This course on high-end beauty retouching in Photoshop covers all of these to an expert level. The course features high-quality images to practice on taken by fashion and beauty photographer Dominika Jarczyńska. These images were shot in a professional studio, with professional model and make up artist.
Beauty Photographer
Beauty photographers specialize in capturing stunning images for the beauty and fashion industries. Mastery of retouching is crucial. This course covers essential techniques: RAW processing, clean-up, frequency separation, dodge and burn, and color grading. Specifically, the course teaches you how to clean up background, how to retouch skin, hair, eyes, lips and every other part of the beauty image you could think of. This is how beauty photographers create images found in magazines, lookbooks and fashion campaigns.
Fashion Photographer
Fashion photographers capture images of clothing and accessories for magazines, advertising campaigns, and catalogs. This course provides skills in high-end beauty retouching, focusing on non-destructive techniques to maintain detail while enhancing images. The course covers essential areas such as cleaning up images, dodge and burn techniques, and advanced color grading. This is exactly what a fashion photographer needs to accomplish. The RAW processing techniques taught in the softwares like Camera Raw, Lightroom, or Capture One can help you with any image.
Image Consultant
An image consultant advises clients on how to improve their personal appearances, often involving fashion, makeup, and grooming. This course may be useful, as it teaches high-end beauty retouching techniques that enhance image quality and aesthetics. The course covers methods for cleaning, enhancing, and color-grading photos, skills that can help an image consultant advise on how to present visually appealing images. The final touch up skills will also be very useful.
Graphic Designer
Graphic designers create visual concepts, using computer software or by hand, to communicate ideas that inspire, inform, and captivate consumers. The course's focus on high-end beauty retouching may be useful for graphic designers, as it teaches techniques to enhance images with non-destructive methods. The RAW processing, clean-up, and color grading lessons give the graphic designer the skills to polish images for advertising and media. The digital knowledge gained from the course is very valuable.
Makeup Artist
Makeup artists enhance appearance through cosmetics. While not directly related, the course may be useful by providing insights into how makeup translates in digital images. Understanding retouching techniques, such as those taught for cleaning up skin, enhancing features, and correcting color may help a makeup artist to better understand how their work will be perceived in photographs. The retouching knowledge gained from the course is valuable.
Web Designer
Web designers plan, create, and code internet sites and web pages, many of which incorporate photos. While this course is not directly related, it may be useful to web designers as it teaches valuable skills in high-end beauty retouching in Photoshop. Designers can improve images to create a more professional and eye-catching website. This course provides skills in RAW processing, clean up, dodge and burn, lights, shadows, contrasts and color grading.
Multimedia Artist
Multimedia artists create animation and visual effects for various media, including movies, television, and video games. While this course is not directly applicable, it may be useful by providing skills in high-end beauty retouching in Photoshop. The course's teachings in cleaning up images, enhancing features, and correcting color may help a multimedia artist to create more polished and visually appealing digital content. The digital knowledge gained from the course is valuable.
Printmaker
Printmakers create original prints using various techniques. Printmaking typically involves physical mediums. Therefore this course may be useful by providing a Printmaker with digital skills. Furthermore, this course provides skills in high-end beauty retouching in Photoshop . The course's teachings in cleaning up images, enhancing features, and correcting color may help a Printmaker to create more polished and visually appealing digital content.
Art Director
Art directors are responsible for the visual style and images in magazines, newspapers, product packaging, and movie and television productions. This course on high-end beauty retouching in Photoshop may be useful. It teaches you how to use best possible retouching techiniques, how to do a High End Beauty Retouch, how to work fluently with photoshop and retouching tools, and how to use Advanced techniques on every kind of image. These skills are all invaluable.
Fashion Designer
Fashion designers create clothing and accessories. This course may be useful as it provides a Fashion designer with a greater appreciation of the digital work that may be needed to professionally photograph their designs. Furthermore, this course provides skills in high-end beauty retouching in Photoshop . The course's teachings in cleaning up images, enhancing features, and correcting color may help a Fashion Designer to create more polished and visually appealing digital content.
Illustrator
Illustrators create drawings or other artwork for books, magazines, and other media. While this course is not directly related, it may be useful to illustrators as it teaches valuable skills in high-end beauty retouching in Photoshop . Illustrators can improve images to create a more professional. This course provides skills in RAW processing, clean up, dodge and burn, lights, shadows, contrasts and color grading.

Reading list

We've selected two books that we think will supplement your learning. Use these to develop background knowledge, enrich your coursework, and gain a deeper understanding of the topics covered in High End Beauty Retouching in Photoshop 2.0.
Provides a comprehensive introduction to Photoshop's features and workflows. It's a great resource for beginners and intermediate users looking to solidify their understanding of the software. The book covers a wide range of topics, including image editing, retouching, and compositing. It is commonly used as a textbook in academic institutions.
While focused on painting, this book provides invaluable insights into color theory and light behavior. Understanding these principles is crucial for effective color grading and Dodge & Burn techniques in retouching. is more valuable as additional reading than it is as a current reference.

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