Entry Fees & Prizes
Retouching is global. So is this competition.
But we know: what feels fair in London won’t feel the same in Lagos, Dhaka, or São Paulo.
While artists compete within regional competitions, entry fees are still based on the country you live in — reflecting local economic realities, not the structure of the competition.
That’s why we’ve created a tiered entry system — designed to make participation accessible, while holding every artist to the same international standard.
Every participant receives the same images, the same brief, and is judged by the same jury.
Within each region, all participants work on identical image sets under the same conditions.
This retouching contest is not just about prizes. This is about recognition.
Across every region, we celebrate:
Beauty Retoucher of the Year | Product Retoucher of the Year | Fashion Retoucher of the Year | Composite Retoucher of the Year | Fashion Retoucher of the Year | Rising Star of the Year (Beauty & Product) | Colour Grader of the Year.
Alongside the winners, each region will feature a Top 50 list — recognising the most outstanding artists across all categories, and bringing visibility to a wider group of exceptional work.
TIER 1 - £65 Entry
Established Creative Hubs
Economically developed markets with strong creative industries and higher living costs.
Examples include regions such as Western and Northern Europe, North Americas, Oceanias, Middle-East, East Asia
£500
£400
£300£500£400£300£450£300£200£450£300£200£200£150£100£500£400£300£500£400£300Tier 2－ £45 ENTRY
Emerging but Thriving Markets
Regions with growing creative industries and mid-range living costs.
Examples include regions such as Central & Eastern Europe, Central America, South America, South Africa
£300£200£150£300£200£150£200£150£100£200£150£100£100£70£50£300£200£150£300£200£150Tier 3－ £19 Entry
Fast－Growing Creative Economies
Emerging markets where digital artistry is rapidly expanding and accessibility is key.
Examples include regions such as North Africa, South Asia
£150£100£70£150£100£70£90£70£50£90£70£50£70£50£30£150£100£70£150£100£70Why Tiers?
Because this is a global competition — not a local one.
Our mission is to make retouching recognised and celebrated everywhere. That means creating a fair entry point whether you live in Copenhagen or Kolkata.
- Same brief. Same jury. Same standards.
- Different entry fees and prize pools — balanced to your region’s economy.
- Every winner, no matter where they are from, gets global visibility through our website, social media, and press outreach.
This is not about dividing artists.
It’s about removing barriers — so talent can rise anywhere.
Because retouching is not just a job title. It is responsibility for the final image. And that responsibility is shared — between photographers, retouchers, and graphic designers.
Retouch League™ isn’t just about who wins.
It’s about proving that retouching is a craft worthy of recognition — from Dhaka to Dubai, from Budapest to Berlin.
Some categories test pure technical skill (Rising Star, Supernova).
Some celebrate colour and mood (Luminist).
Some are about subtle storytelling (Halo).
And some demand full Photoshop mastery (Alchemist).