Post-Processing and Retouching Flashcards
7 cards from real Product Photography practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Post-Processing and Retouching flashcards as text
What is 'focus stacking' and when is it used in product post-processing?
Answer: Combining multiple images focused at different depths to produce a fully sharp composite
Focus stacking merges images with different focus points to create a single image with front-to-back sharpness beyond what a single shot can achieve.
In Photoshop, what does converting a layer to a Smart Object accomplish during product retouching?
Answer: It allows filters and transformations to be applied non-destructively and re-edited at any time
Smart Objects preserve the original pixel data, making all applied filters and transformations editable and reversible.
Which masking technique in Photoshop is best for isolating a product with fine transparent edges, such as a glass bottle?
Answer: Channels-based masking using the high-contrast channel as a selection base
Channels-based masking leverages natural luminance contrast to preserve semi-transparent areas like glass edges that other tools miss.
What is the purpose of a 'clipping mask' in a Photoshop product retouch workflow?
Answer: It restricts an adjustment layer or texture to affect only the layer directly below it
A clipping mask confines the effect of one layer to the shape and transparency of the layer beneath it, enabling targeted adjustments.
When retouching jewelry product images, what technique is commonly used to enhance the sparkle of diamonds or gemstones?
Answer: Painting star-shaped catch lights on a new layer using a sparkle brush set to Screen or Add mode
Painting sparkle catch lights on a Screen-mode layer adds controlled glints that mimic real light reflection without destructively altering the gem.
In Lightroom, the 'Texture' slider primarily affects which type of detail compared to 'Clarity'?
Answer: Fine surface texture in the mid-frequency range without affecting large-scale contrast
Texture targets medium-fine surface detail without boosting overall contrast, making it ideal for enhancing fabric grain or skin texture.
What is 'highlight recovery' in RAW editing, and what is its limitation?
Answer: It retrieves detail from overexposed areas using data from less-saturated channels, but cannot recover fully clipped channels with no data
Highlight recovery pulls detail from channels that still hold data, but if all three RGB channels are fully clipped to 255, no detail can be recovered.