◆ Photoshop · retouch

Two-Page Mockup Prep

I'm building the two-page spread mockup for [deadline=next Wednesday]'s stakeholder walk-through and I want it to demo…

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CDecide — “help me choose”I'm building the two-page spread mockup for [deadline=next Wednesday]'s stakeholder…+
I'm building the two-page spread mockup for [deadline=next Wednesday]'s stakeholder walk-through and I want it to demonstrate the finished rhythm of images and text so marketing stops asking for 'more visual energy.' I'm torn between dialing in a slightly larger headline or rebalancing image crops across the gutter. Diagnose which change gives the impression of finished polish without compromising grid integrity, and give a single rule I can apply across the set so the team doesn't over-adjust later.
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.
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.
ArtboardsIndividual canvases within a single document, useful for designing multiple layouts or pages.ExampleYou might use Artboards to design different versions of a logo within a single document.

The real tasks

1 of them
Preparing a two-page spread mockup for next week's stakeholder walk-through with time to refine tone and precision.

Who does this

1 roles
Desktop Publisher

Questions people actually ask

with the jobs and tasks they touch

Use the Clone Stamp or Healing Brush tools to carefully paint over the person, matching the background. Zoom in for detail and check your work from a distance to avoid obvious edits.

You should do this when the person distracts from the main subject or makes the scene look cluttered. It's best during post-processing before sharing or printing the photo.

Start with the Spot Healing Brush to quickly cover small areas, then refine with the Clone Stamp for more control. Use the Content-Aware Fill for larger gaps, but fine-tune the result afterward.

Over-smoothing the background or leaving obvious clone marks. Always check for consistent textures and details. Using too much of the same tool can cause unnatural flatness.

A photographer or retoucher working on event photos or product shots often removes stray people to focus on the main subject or prevent distractions.

Yes, AI tools can automate parts of this, making it faster. But they might not handle complex backgrounds well. Manual touch-up is often still needed for perfect results.

Removing a person involves deleting an entire figure and blending the background, while cleaning behind a subject focuses on clearing areas like dust or wires. Softening skin adjusts appearance, not background.