◆ Photoshop · retouch

Last-Minute Scan Refresh

I have a scanned brochure with dust and tiny scratches and the client wants it 'fresh' for a morning deck. I don't wan…

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CDecide — “help me choose”I have a scanned brochure with dust and tiny scratches and the client wants it 'fresh' for a…+
I have a scanned brochure with dust and tiny scratches and the client wants it 'fresh' for a morning deck. I don't want to over-retouch and lose the paper texture they expect. Tell me the sequence of fixes (spot healing, frequency separation, grain) that preserves paper texture while removing distractions, and one final check I must make before I export.
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
Artboards

Artboards in Photoshop allow you to design multiple canvases within a single document, perfect for various design iterations or multi-page layouts.

  1. 1

    Select File > New to open the New Document dialog box.

  2. 2

    Select the Artboards checkbox in the New Document dialog box.

  3. 3

    Choose a preset size from the options, or set a custom Width and Height.

    Best practiceConsider your system's RAM; many artboards, especially large ones, can strain performance on systems with less than 16GB RAM.

  4. 4

    Click Create to open your new document with an initial artboard.

  5. 5

    Select the Artboard Tool (V) from the toolbar to add more artboards.

  6. 6

    Click the + icon in the Options bar or drag on the canvas to create a new artboard.

  7. 7

    To duplicate an artboard, right-click a layer in the Layers panel and select Duplicate Layer.

  8. 8

    Choose the target artboard for placement and click OK.

  9. 9

    Select File > Save or File > Save As to save your document.

Think of artboards as individual cropped regions within one large image, allowing for diverse design elements in a single file.

Artboard creation and manipulation can be automated using Photoshop's scripting capabilities, often via JavaScript.

Glossary

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Content-Aware FillA feature that intelligently removes unwanted objects and fills the area with matching content.ExampleYou use Content-Aware Fill to seamlessly remove a person from the background of a photo.
Spot Healing BrushA tool that quickly removes small imperfections and blemishes from an image by blending surrounding pixels.ExampleThe Spot Healing Brush quickly removes a small dust speck from an otherwise clean product photo.
Duplicate LayerCreates an exact copy of a selected layer, useful for non-destructive editing or variations.ExampleYou use Duplicate Layer to create a copy of your edited photo before trying a new color effect.
Options barA contextual bar displaying settings and controls for the currently active tool.ExampleWhen you select the brush tool, the options bar shows its size, hardness, and flow settings.
Lasso toolA selection tool that allows freehand drawing of a selection border around an object.ExampleTo cut out a uniquely shaped cloud, you carefully trace its edges with the Lasso tool.

The real tasks

1 of them
Client emailed at 5pm with a scanned brochure they want refreshed for a morning deck.

Who does this

1 roles
Graphic Designer

Questions people actually ask

with the jobs and tasks they touch

Use the Spot Healing Brush or Clone Stamp tool to carefully paint over the appliance. Match the surrounding textures for a natural look. Zoom in for detail work.

You should remove an appliance if it distracts from the main subject or the overall composition, especially in product or real estate photos. It helps viewers focus on what matters.

Use the Content-Aware Fill feature in Photoshop. Select the appliance with the Lasso tool, then go to Edit > Fill > Content-Aware. Adjust the selection for a smooth result.

Over-smoothing or copying textures that don’t match the surroundings, which makes the edit obvious. Always try to blend edges and use small brush strokes.

A photographer or retoucher often does this during post-processing to improve the composition or remove distractions.

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