Fashion retouching on a dress isn't just about the Photoshop capabilities, it's about maintaining the dress's integrity and elegance. My aim with editing is to enhance, not change. I'm not trying to turn fabrics into something that is unattainable. I enhance the photograph to maintain the dress looking clean, polished, and professional. This example shows my workflow in detail from beginning to end.
- Camera Raw base. I start in Camera Raw. I expose so the dress looks bright but not blown out. I neutralize whites to keep them neutral, I don't want any yellow/grey in the whites. I lower highlights to keep the detail in the embroidery. I apply a small amount of noise reduction but will save sharpening for a later stage.
- The global tones. Now I can start to shape the overall mood. I create a slightly soft S-curve for some contrast without making the folds sharper. I lift the shadows just a bit so the fabric feels velvety. I leave color neutral; bridal whites must be true. I apply a small vignette to help bring the viewer's attention to the bodice.
- Fabric clean-up. At this point, I zoom in and work on detail. I take out wrinkles that are awkward and distract from the overall silhouette. I healing any type of lint, dust, or stray threads. If seams pull in funny ways, I soften them. I use only a small Healing Brush or Clone at a very low-flow to ensure the fabric texture reads correctly.
- Toning out. Studio lights drive whites to uneven color. I am careful in evening this out. I work to balance cooler shadows tones with warmer highlight tones. The straps need to match the bodice of the dress so that they create an even flow. I brighten embroidery very delicately keeping the detail sharp.
- The background and the mannequin. The background should disappear. I clean up marks and folds in the backdrop. I soften the backdrop so nothing else distracts from the dress. The mannequin is nice because I can smooth the tone and sharpen the edges to create a clear outline.
- Final contrast, sharpening, and crop. I finish with contrast deep within the mid-tone range to create shape. I sharpen only the areas where I want to draw attention: the straps, the embroidery, and neckline. The body of the fabric stays soft. I crop thoughtfully creating balance and leaving plenty of clean background space around the dress for a catalog or print.
Before and after: the difference is evident. Wrinkles and folds gone. The straps are shinier and neater. The bodice feels smooth and even. The background is no longer distracting from the dress. The gown reads clean, elegant, and true to its original design. If that's the kind of editing you are looking for, I would be happy to help you with it, whether you are a designer presenting a collection, or a photographer assembling professional work.
