◆ Photoshop · retouch

Damaged Brochure Reuse

I'm torn between an aggressive repair that will lose the antique feel and a conservative fix that leaves a faint crack…

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See the prompt↓More retouch workflows

The same job, four prompts

do it · improve it · decide · become
CDecide — “help me choose”I'm torn between an aggressive repair that will lose the antique feel and a conservative fix…+
I'm torn between an aggressive repair that will lose the antique feel and a conservative fix that leaves a faint crack visible. Tell me which to choose for an online reuse where the owner wants it 'whole but still old'. Describe the single retouch step to start with and the one final check I must do before publishing so I don't destroy authenticity.
when the reply comes backPush once: ask it to sharpen the weakest part, and to say what it assumed.

How to do it

the tool · the steps · what to avoid
The tool
Smart Objects

Smart Objects preserve an image's source content with all its original characteristics, enabling non-destructive editing.

  1. 1

    Select one or more layers in the Layers panel.

  2. 2

    Choose Layer > Smart Objects > Convert to Smart Object.

    NoteThis embeds the selected layers into a new Smart Object.

  3. 3

    Alternatively, right-click the selected layer(s) and choose Convert to Smart Object.

  4. 4

    To place a new file as a Smart Object, choose File > Place Embedded.

  5. 5

    Select the desired file and click Place.

  6. 6

    To edit a Smart Object, double-click its thumbnail in the Layers panel.

    NoteThis opens the Smart Object's content in a new window.

  7. 7

    Make your desired edits to the content in the new window.

  8. 8

    Choose File > Save to apply changes to the Smart Object.

    Best practiceUsing Smart Objects from the start saves edits and time by preserving original image data.

  9. 9

    Close the Smart Object window to return to your main document.

Smart Objects allow you to apply transformations, filters, and other edits non-destructively, always preserving the original image data.

Photoshop's scripting capabilities can automate the creation and placement of Smart Objects, especially for templated workflows.

Glossary

words on this page
Convert to Smart ObjectEmbeds layer content as a non-destructive object, allowing scalable transformations without losing quality.ExampleYou Convert to Smart Object before resizing a logo multiple times to avoid pixelation.
Hue/SaturationAn adjustment layer that modifies the colors and intensity of an image.ExampleUsing Hue/Saturation, you can change all the red flowers in a photo to blue without affecting other colors.
Place EmbeddedTo insert an image file directly into the current document, making it part of the file.ExampleYou insert a client's image directly into your poster design, making it part of the file.
Color BalanceAdjusts the overall mixture of colors in an image to correct color casts or create artistic effects.ExampleAdjusting the color balance can remove an unwanted green tint from an old photograph.
Smart ObjectsLayers that contain raster or vector image data, preserving source content with all its original characteristics.ExampleScaling a Smart Object up and down multiple times won't degrade its image quality.

The real tasks

1 of them
I found a scan of an old brochure with a scratch and I promised the client I'd reuse it on the site today; I can't make it look overworked under deadline.

Who does this

1 roles
Small Business Owner

Questions people actually ask

with the jobs and tasks they touch

Select the teeth with the Lasso Tool, then use the Hue/Saturation adjustment to brighten. For red-eye, select the pupils and reduce the red color with the Color Balance or Hue/Saturation. This smooths the flaws and improves the portrait's look without making it obvious.

A photojournalist often does this after basic adjustments like cropping and exposure. Fixing red-eye and whitening teeth happens early enough so the face looks natural in the final version, especially before printing or publishing.

see alsoPhotojournalist →

Use a soft brush with low opacity to gently lighten teeth for a natural look. For red-eye, carefully select the pupils and reduce redness without losing the eye's sparkle. Overdoing can make the subject look fake or tired.

Over-brightening teeth or removing all red in pupils can look unnatural. It's better to subtly enhance teeth and only reduce red-eye to a natural level. This keeps the portrait realistic and professional.

A portrait retoucher often handles this when preparing images for publication or print, ensuring subjects look their best without obvious edits, especially in high-quality portraits.

AI can help with quick adjustments, like automatic red-eye removal or whitening suggestions, but fine-tuning usually requires a human touch. A photojournalist or retoucher still needs to check and adjust for natural results.

see alsoPhotojournalist →

Teeth whitening focuses on brightening the teeth, while softening skin tone smooths the face, and cleaning behind the subject removes distracting elements or background flaws. Each task targets a different aspect of portrait retouching.