Retouch Academy Panel Page

Developed by professional photographers and retouchers Julia Kuzmenko McKim and Michael Woloszynowicz, the panels represent decades of distilled industry experience. They serve as a bridge between raw Photoshop capability and efficient professional execution, helping creatives move from simply "applying tools" to truly .

"I do feel like it made my retouching better. To me, retouching is about spending as little time as possible in front of my computer and getting the best result possible within that time. So yes, the panel definitely made me a better retoucher because I can retouch faster than before... If you are wondering if the panel will make your images better, I think you should rethink what retouching is. Though it might help you get better results, as it will force you to stay organized, it will not teach you how to retouch nor will it do the retouching job for you. The panel's functionalities will create layers for you. But unlike many of us, the panel is not lazy and will name the layers as they should be!"

Frequency Separation is the cornerstone of modern skin retouching. It splits an image into two distinct layers:

Dodge and Burn (D&B) is the art of sculpting light locally. It creates volume and shape but is notoriously time-consuming to set up. The panel typically offers buttons to generate "Dodge" (lightening) and "Burn" (darkening) curve adjustment layers, complete with pre-set blend modes (usually Soft Light) and inverted layer masks. This allows the retoucher to instantly grab a brush and begin painting light onto specific areas without stopping to calculate blend modes. Some advanced iterations even include "Visualize Layers"—temporary high-contrast overlays that help spot uneven skin tones that are invisible to the naked eye. retouch academy panel

Replicates techniques used by top commercial retouchers.

Cleans up local skin inconsistencies like micro-shadows, blemishes, and tonal patches.

To help you get the most out of your post-production setup, tell me: Which are you currently running? To me, retouching is about spending as little

Option 1: The "Efficiency" Post (Best for LinkedIn or Professional Communities)

It is easy to get caught in "pixel-peeping"—zooming in to 200% and over-retouching. Regularly zoom out to fit the screen to ensure your adjustments look natural from a normal viewing distance. Conclusion: The Ultimate Workflow Accelerator

The Retouch Academy panels are . The Beauty Retouch v5 panel comes with a 30‑day money‑back guarantee , reflecting the creators' confidence in the product. For photographers and retouchers looking to maximize efficiency, the Beauty & Makeup Retouching SuperPack combines both the Beauty Retouch and MUA Retouch panels at a discounted rate, with a discount code (SUPERPACK) offering $50+ off. Though it might help you get better results,

Manually setting up specialized adjustment layers, empty layers, and blending modes for a single portrait can take several minutes. Multiplying that by a gallery of 50 images results in hours of lost time. The panel condenses these setups into single clicks, allowing you to focus entirely on the creative brushwork. Consistency Across Projects

A: No. The Retouching Academy Panel is a premium Photoshop extension that requires a purchase to unlock its full set of features. However, the creators occasionally offer promotions, discounts, or bundle packages that make it more affordable.

Contains fine details like pores, hairs, and skin texture.

The D&B section is one of the most comprehensive available. It offers multiple methods for Dodging and Burning, including:

Operates seamlessly on both Windows and macOS systems.