Photo retouching
Photographer · Product Photography
“Photo retouching” (Photographer) was largely replaced by AI in 2024, after AI entered in 2016.
AI enters
2016
Largely replaced
2024
Replacement progress
100%
Technology / key factor
AI retouching
What this task is
Retouching product photos after the shoot: adjusting exposure, correcting color and removing dust and scratches so that items look both accurate and appealing to online shoppers.
How AI replaces it
From around 2016, AI retouching began auto-correcting color and blemishes and batch-processing whole sets, and image editors added smart repair tools. By 2024, routine product retouching was largely automated.
What stays human
Retouchers handle only premium images where material and texture are critical, and set the consistent color style and quality standards that whole product sets should follow.