Photo Editing vs Photo Retouching

Photo editing and retouching are both important aspects of photo post-processing, but they differ in their purpose and level of complexity.

Photo editing refers to the process of making general changes to the appearance of a photo, such as adjusting color, brightness, contrast, and sharpness; cropping or resizing the image; or applying filters and effects to achieve a desired aesthetic. Photo editing can be done using basic editing tools in programs such as Adobe Photoshop, Adobe Lightroom, or GIMP.

Photo retouching, on the other hand, involves more precise and detailed adjustments to a photo, typically to improve its overall quality, remove unwanted elements or blemishes, or enhance specific features. Retouching involves techniques such as spot healing, clone stamping, frequency separation, and dodge and burn, and requires a higher level of skill and experience than basic editing.

In summary, photo editing is a more general term that encompasses basic adjustments to the appearance of a photo, while photo retouching is a more specialized process that involves more precise and detailed adjustments to the quality and appearance of a photo.