Being involved early in the retouching process helps coordinate assets and achieve the desired aesthetic.
Organizing layers and naming them appropriately facilitates navigation and clarity during editing.
The initial clean is crucial for removing distractions and setting the foundation for further retouching.
Maintaining a clean and organized layer stack, duplicating the original layer, and utilizing specialized retouching tools are common practices in the workflow.
Deep dives
The importance of being involved at the beginning of a project
Being involved early allows for better coordination and understanding of the assets needed for retouching. This helps ensure that the final image meets the desired aesthetic and includes necessary elements.
The significance of creating organized layer stacks
Organizing layers by separating subjects from backgrounds and naming each layer appropriately helps maintain clarity and makes it easier to navigate the editing process.
The initial clean and its purpose
The initial clean involves removing any distractions or unwanted elements from the image, such as dust, cables, or blemishes. This step sets the foundation for further retouching.
The workflow and techniques in retouching
Each job may require a specific workflow, but duplicating the original layer, separating subjects from backgrounds, and maintaining a clean and organized layer stack are common practices. Additionally, retouchers may utilize tools like selection techniques and software specialized for certain projects, such as VR or stereoscopic retouching.
The importance of reliable software for retouchers and frustrations with software updates
The speaker discusses the importance of having reliable software for retouchers and expresses frustration with certain changes and updates made to editing software like Capture One. They emphasize the need for software that just works and criticizes the removal or alteration of important features without proper communication.
Challenges of managing different versions of software for retouchers
The speaker highlights the challenges of working with photographers using different versions of Capture One software. They explain how having multiple versions of the software can cause compatibility issues and make it difficult to hand back work to clients who may not have the latest version installed.
Importance of organization and communication in the retouching process
The speaker discusses the importance of organization and efficient communication in the retouching workflow. They share their own system for organizing job folders, separating files, and keeping track of work sent to clients. They also emphasize the need for clear communication between photographers and retouchers to avoid potential issues or misunderstandings during the retouching process.
Vahakn Vorperian is a UK based high end visual retoucher that has worked for some of the top names in the industry for many years. We talk to Vahakn about his journey into retouching, his tips and techniques, and his thoughts on the future of the medium.
