Retouching Workflow: From RAW to Final Image
A consistent workflow isn’t just about efficiency — it’s about never forgetting a step and delivering consistent quality across every image. Here’s the exact workflow I use for every portrait retouching job, from opening the RAW file to exporting the final image. Phase 1: RAW Processing (Camera Raw / Lightroom) Before Photoshop even opens, I handle: White balance — get this right first, everything else depends on it Exposure and contrast — basic tonal corrections Highlight and shadow recovery — pull back blown highlights, open up shadows Lens corrections — profile corrections, chromatic aberration removal Noise reduction — if needed, especially for high-ISO images Basic crop — rough composition, I’ll fine-tune later I do NOT do color grading in RAW.