Photoshop is where I feel most at home, my natural creative space.
I don’t know if it’s the layers, masks, brushes, or the infinite possibilities, but this program feels like an extension of my brain. Whether it’s meticulous retouching, digital painting, or crafting complex compositions, Photoshop is the tool I turn to instinctively.
I first learned it over 14 years ago, and ever since, it has remained my absolute favorite, allowing me to bring ideas to life with both precision and creative freedom.
Every image presents a unique challenge, requiring a different approach to bring out its full potential. Up next, I’ll walk through two retouching examples—briefly explaining the specific needs of each image and showcasing the transformation through a before & after comparison.
The Power of Lightpainting in Retouching
This image had various challenges to solve—from generating new elements and textures to fixing modeling errors in the render, as well as correcting lighting and texture issues that came directly from the Cinema 4D file.
My fine arts background allows me to bring drawing skills into retouching, helping refine details in a natural way. I like combining different techniques to seamlessly integrate all elements while preserving the original textures.
One of my favorites is lightpainting—a method mostly used for skin retouching, but one I love applying more broadly. It works by shaping the image purely with light and shadow, enhancing depth and balance without altering the details. It’s a subtle but powerful way to refine an image while keeping its essence intact.
Bringing a Legend to Life – Real Madrid Retouching Challenge
This project for Real Madrid never made it to final execution, but it was still an exciting challenge from a retouching perspective. The 4D model of Raúl—a club legend—had very little resemblance to the real player, making it my main focus to bridge that gap.
Using a reference image and a combination of Photoshop techniques (including lightpainting :) ), I worked on refining both the overall structure and the more sculptural details—adjusting facial features, reshaping proportions, and adding characteristic marble-like wrinkles and textures to bring the piece closer to reality.