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Description

Photoshop — Advanced Photo Retouching: Cut-Outs, Compositing and Batch Automation

Three days to move from rough cut-outs to composites that hold up when enlarged

  • 3 days — 21 h
  • In-person or virtual
  • Intermediate
  • Up to 6 participants

Quick cut-outs leave a halo around hair. Edits are applied directly to the image and there is no way back. Every product photography series calls for the same thirty operations, repeated one by one. The final file is too heavy and the colour shifts in print.

These 21 hours take image retouching further for users who are already self-sufficient with everyday functions. Participants work on complex selections, masks and non-destructive adjustments. They build layered composites, then automate repetitive processing before addressing colour management and output formats.

Learning objectives

  • Produce a clean cut-out on a subject with complex edges
  • Build a non-destructive retouch based on masks and adjustment layers
  • Assemble a composite that is consistent in lighting and perspective
  • Automate a series of operations applied to a batch of images
  • Control colour and file size according to the intended output

What makes this programme different

A hair cut-out reworked until the halo disappears completely
A batch process built and then applied to a photography series
Retouching carried out without ever altering the original pixels

Programme

1Complex Selections and Cut-Outs

Isolating cleanly

  • Precision selection tools and edge refinement
  • Selection using channels and colour ranges
  • Cutting out a subject with soft or hair-like edges
  • Converting a selection into a reusable mask

2Masks, Layers and Non-Destructive Adjustments

Staying in control of the image

  • Layer masks and clipping masks
  • Adjustment layers and smart objects
  • Blending modes that matter in retouching
  • Organising and naming a layer stack

3Retouching and Correction

Repairing without distorting

  • Localised correction and object removal
  • Skin retouching while preserving texture
  • Working light and contrast zone by zone
  • Correcting perspective and distortion

4Compositing and Composition

Making several images work together

  • Consistent lighting across assembled elements
  • Drop shadows and realistic integration
  • Colour harmonisation across a composite
  • Effects and filters applied with restraint

5Automation and Output Files

Processing in series

  • Recording and replaying a sequence of operations
  • Processing a full batch of files
  • Colour management according to the output
  • Formats and compression for print and for web

Who is it for

Graphic designers, communication officers, photographers and users already self-sufficient with everyday image retouching functions.

Prerequisites

Regular use of an image retouching application and a solid command of layers and simple selections.

Dates & locations

36 scheduled dates between November 2026 and December 2027. Seats are confirmed in the order enquiries are received.

November 2026

December 2026

January 2027

February 2027

March 2027

April 2027

May 2027

June 2027

September 2027

October 2027

November 2027

December 2027

None of these dates suit you? We open additional sessions on request, and any programme can be run privately for your team.

Practical details

Before the programme
Online positioning questionnaire. Your development objectives are shared with the trainer, who tailors the practical case studies to your context.
Teaching methods
Theoretical input, workshops and practical case studies. Digital course materials and method sheets provided.
Assessment
Multiple-choice tests and role-play exercises. Assessment of learning at the start and end of the programme, with immediate and 60-day follow-up evaluations.
After the programme
One year of access to the e-learning platform. Self-assessment of the skills acquired and a 30-day follow-up session with your trainer.
How to register
Registration online or on the basis of a quotation.
Lead time
11 working days after confirmation of registration.
Accessibility
Accessible to people of determination. Contact our accessibility coordinator to design a suitable solution: contact@mpf-academy.ae
Start dates
Rolling intake: in addition to the scheduled sessions, this programme can start on request.