AI Photo Retouching: Revolutionising Digital Imagery

Thankfully, photo retouching has evolved dramatically, thanks to AI. (it used to take forever in the 2000’s)

This video is from a while back, but shows you steps which are helped by AI…

From amateur selfies to professional portraits, AI photo retouching techniques are making waves, providing tools that were once the exclusive domain of skilled retouchers. This blog briefly explores how AI photo editors are transforming the way we enhance and edit our photos online.

Why Choose AI for Photo Retouching?

The Power of AI in Photo Editing

AI photo technology has brought about a paradigm shift in photo editing. With AI-powered tools, users can now retouch their images with unprecedented ease and accuracy. Whether it’s removing wrinkles, smoothing out blemishes, or getting rid of unwanted objects, AI retouching automates what used to be time-consuming manual tasks.

Efficiency and Accessibility

One of the most significant advantages of AI photo retouching is its accessibility. Free AI photo editors are available, which means even those with no professional background in photo editing can achieve professional-looking results. The retouch tool in these applications can handle complex edits with just a few clicks, making photo retouching a breeze for everyone.

However the better ones do tend to come with a price, some are hundreds of pounds, others even use a subscription service where you can get the retouching done remotely on their powerful computers – whilst you wait.

Key Features of AI Photo Retouching Tools

Remove Unwanted Objects with Ease – save your time!

With AI, removing unwanted objects from photos has become significantly simpler. Whether it’s an errant power line in a landscape or an unwanted guest in a family portrait, these tools can pinpoint and eliminate intrusions with remarkable precision.

Photoshop is the king of this of course, the latest version does have the pylon remover tool – so those camera club judges who hate power lines will be happy now!

Wrinkle Remover and Blemish Correction – Like a Pro

AI retouch applications often include specific features like wrinkle remover and blemish correction. Instead of spending 5 minutes with the heal tool, and getting mixed results, these are far more speedy and accurate

These features work by analysing skin texture and tone, then making subtle adjustments to present a more youthful and clear complexion, all while maintaining a natural look. That’s the key – natural rather than “robot”

The tool I use creates a Dodge and Burn layer, which is very time-consuming if you do it manually – it takes around a maximum of 1 minute for a 45 megapixel portrait. And it’s better than I could do

Teeth Whitening and Touch Up Portraits

Applications with AI photo editor capabilities can also perform teeth whitening or touch up portraits to enhance smiles or adjust lighting and contrast to make subjects stand out more effectively.

This has been around for years, portrait professional used to do it, though you’d often get white gums! But finding teeth and removing colour (e.g. yellow!) and maybe brightening them a little gives a quick win on most potrtaits.

Enhancing Portraits and Selfies

Retouch Your Portraits Like a Pro

AI retouching has made it possible to retouch your portraits with tools that were once used only by professionals. Features like portrait retoucher allow for the enhancement of facial features, ensuring that every portrait looks its best.

Selfie Retouching

The rise of selfies has necessitated quick and effective retouching services. AI tools now include functionalities to retouch photo selfies, ensuring that skin looks flawless and every selfie is Instagram-ready.

My current Pixel 9 phone has lots of AI tools embedded into it’s camera, you can “reimagine” or cut out almost anything with ease – change your background, add a light were there was none…

Workflow and Efficiency

One-Click Solutions

AI photo retouching offers one-click solutions for many common editing tasks. This means you can use AI to automatically adjust, enhance, or correct images, saving you time and effort.

Batch processing 100’s of photos is now possible – if you’ve shot 1000 photos on a busy day, maybe a corporate event or wedding, then you can use things like Retouch4Me to process the lot over night! You’ll need a powerful computer or their subscription and fast internet, but it’s very do-able

Workflow Improvements

For professionals, integrating AI tools into their workflow means they can focus more on creativity rather than the technicalities of photo editing.

This is the big one really, rather than agonising for hours over spots or eyes, you can focus more on the look and feel of the shot – maybe learn about colour theory and play with that instead?

Time is money – and also enjoyment. Mundane tasks like sharpness, skin texture, and enhanced clarity, which are crucial for high-quality outputs, can all be taken care of now.

Enhance Your Old Photos

AI technology isn’t just for new images; it can also enhance your old photos, bringing new life to cherished memories by improving image quality with modern techniques.

Photoshop has it’s Neural Filters to help with this, definitely worth a look.

Top AI Tools out there to try

Here’s a list of 10 AI photo retouching tools with hyperlinks to their websites and a brief description of their key AI features:-

1. Luminar Neo – Offers AI Sky Replacement, AI Skin Enhancer, and AI Structure for detailed image enhancement with minimal manual input.
2. Adobe Photoshop – Features AI tools like Content-Aware Fill, Neural Filters, and Sky Replacement for professional-level photo manipulation.
3. VanceAI – Specializes in AI photo restoration, enhancement, and background removal, providing one-click solutions for image quality improvement.
4. Fotor – Includes AI-powered features for portrait retouching, background removal, and enhancing photo quality, all accessible online.
5. Remove.bg – An AI tool specifically designed for background removal from images, offering high precision around complex edges like hair.
6. Pixlr – Provides AI-driven tools for retouching, colour correction, and automatic background removal, suitable for both beginners and professionals.
7. Canva – While known for design, Canva’s AI features help in one-click photo enhancements and background removal, making it user-friendly for all.
8. Topaz Labs – Offers specialized AI tools like DeNoise AI, Sharpen AI, and Gigapixel AI for noise reduction, sharpening, and upscaling images.
9. Retouch4me – Focuses on AI plugins for Photoshop that automate skin retouching, colour correction, and other beauty enhancements while preserving natural skin texture.
10. Aftershoot – Uses AI to speed up culling and editing workflows, learning from your editing style to automatically apply similar edits to new photos.

These tools represent a broad spectrum of AI capabilities, catering to various needs from simple touch-ups to complex image restorations.

Frequently Asked Questions About AI Photo Retouching

Frequently Asked Questions

• How does AI photo retouching work?

• AI uses machine learning algorithms to analyse an image and make edits based on vast amounts of data, learning what humans find visually appealing. Basically, the AI is fed many examples of how to do a retouch, probably a “before” and an “after” image, along with the “data” it used to do the retouch. This will often be a layer in photoshop or something similar

• Can AI completely replace human retouchers?

• While AI can handle many aspects of retouching, the human touch is still essential for nuanced artistic decisions. It’s wise to always check your edits before letting them loose on customers! Sometimes odd things happen… it’s not perfect yet

• Is AI photo retouching ethical?

• This is a debated topic, but the consensus leans towards ethical use as long as transparency about retouching is maintained. For most commercial use, it’s all about efficiency and getting the right look faster. If you are entering competitions then things may be different. I think for tidying up messy backgrounds, removing unwanted objects and things you’d normally do manually, it’s fair game. Creating a brand new item in the shot… maybe going a bit far?

Conclusion

The world of photo retouching has been transformed by AI, making it accessible, efficient, and incredibly potent. Whether you’re looking to retouch your photos for personal use or professional needs, AI photo editors provide a suite of tools that can make anyone feel like a pro. With the continuous evolution of AI technology, the future of photo editing looks bright, promising even more powerful tools to explore the art of visual enhancement.