◆ Photoshop · retouch

Live Poster Review

I have one hour before the pitch to lay out a poster so the headline, hero image and body copy read instantly across a…

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The same job, four prompts

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CDecide — “help me choose”I have one hour before the pitch to lay out a poster so the headline, hero image and body copy…+
I have one hour before the pitch to lay out a poster so the headline, hero image and body copy read instantly across a noisy wall at the agency. The art director will notice if the headline competes with the image and the account lead will notice if the client can't read the date. I can't tell whether to scale the photo down or pull the headline up. Diagnose which of those two moves wins legibility without wrecking the image, and tell me the single line I can lock before anyone walks in — and one thing I won't do under pressure.
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

words on this page
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.
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.
Healing BrushA tool used to correct imperfections in an image by sampling surrounding pixels and blending them.ExampleYou use the Healing Brush to effortlessly remove a small blemish from a portrait by sampling nearby skin.
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.
Brush ToolPaints custom strokes of color or applies adjustments directly onto an image or mask.ExampleYou can use the brush tool to paint a red stripe across a white background.

The real tasks

1 of them
Poster due at 3pm for Monday's pitch; CD and the junior designer will both look at this live.

Who does this

1 roles
Graphic Designer

Questions people actually ask

with the jobs and tasks they touch

Use the Clone Stamp or Healing Brush tool carefully, sampling nearby clean areas. Work in small sections and zoom in for precision to avoid noticeable repeats or mismatched textures.

Content-aware fill works best when removing larger objects with a uniform background, like a passerby on a runway. For fine details or complex backgrounds, manual cloning or healing gives more control and cleaner results.

Zoom in and select a small area with the Lasso tool, then use the Healing Brush or Clone Stamp to blend pixels. Check the result often to ensure textures match and no repeating patterns appear.

They often overuse the healing or clone tools, creating obvious repeats or mismatched textures. It's better to work gradually, sample from different areas, and use soft brushes for smooth blending.

A fashion retoucher removes distractions like passersby from runway shots to keep focus on the clothing. They also often restore archival photos or soften skin tones.

see alsoRestore Archival Photo →Soften Skin Tone →

AI can quickly fill large areas or remove simple objects, saving time. However, for fine details, complex backgrounds, or high-quality results, manual cloning and blending are still necessary.

Artifact removal targets specific objects or flaws, like a passerby, while skin softening smooths the person's skin for a natural look. They are related but involve different tools and techniques.