Product Photography Photo Editing and Retouching 4

Question 1

When retouching a reflective product like a watch, what technique is used to clean up unwanted reflections while keeping desired ones?

Accepted Answer

Careful cloning and healing on a separate layer, painting in or removing reflections selectively

Answer

Reflections on shiny products must be handled manually—cloning, healing, or painting gradients on a new layer to control exactly what the surface shows.

Question 2

What does increasing the 'Clarity' slider in Lightroom do to a product image?

Accepted Answer

Adds contrast in the midtone edges, enhancing perceived sharpness and texture

Answer

Clarity adds local contrast around midtone edges, making textures and details appear crisper without affecting highlights or shadows as much.

Question 3

A product image has specular highlights that are blown out (pure white with no detail). Which editing step can recover this?

Accepted Answer

Nothing—blown highlights are unrecoverable; prevention during shooting is required

Answer

Once pixels clip to pure white, there is no tonal data to recover; exposure must be controlled at capture to preserve highlight detail.

Question 4

What is the purpose of the 'Selective Color' adjustment layer in product photo editing?

Accepted Answer

To adjust the CMYK ink percentages within individual color ranges for precise color control

Answer

Selective Color adjusts Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, and Black values within defined color ranges (Reds, Yellows, etc.) for fine color correction.

Question 5

In product retouching, what does 'compositing' mean?

Accepted Answer

Combining multiple exposures or elements into one final image

Answer

Compositing layers multiple photographs or graphical elements—such as separate background, product, and shadow shots—into a single cohesive image.

Product Photography Practice Test

Product Photography Practice Test

Product Photography Photo Editing and Retouching 4