Where do you belong?
That's why Retoucher of the Year has multiple categories — to give everyone a fair stage.
No matter where you enter, the rules are the same:
- Follow the brief
- Respect the image
- Show your craft
- Surprise us with your eye
This isn't about software. It's about mastery.
Rising Star
beauty
photoshop 0–3 years
For Photoshop users with 0–3 years of experience.
What you'll retouch:
- Beauty category - 4 images
“Welcome to the beginning of brilliance.”
Ignoring the brief = lost points, no matter how good the retouch looks. In Rising Star, we're more forgiving — but don't skip instructions if you want to stand out.
Rising Star
Product
photoshop 0–3 years
For Photoshop users with 0–3 years of experience.
What you'll retouch:
- Product category - 4 images
“Welcome to the beginning of brilliance.”
Ignoring the brief = lost points, no matter how good the retouch looks. In Rising Star, we're more forgiving — but don't skip instructions if you want to stand out.
Supernova
beauty
Photoshop 3+ years
For Photoshop users with 3+ years of experience.
What you'll retouch:
- Beauty category - 4 images
“Experience ignites here.”
Ignoring the brief = automatic points loss. In Supernova, there are no excuses — you’re judged as a professional.
Supernova
PRODUCT
Photoshop 3+ years
For Photoshop users with 3+ years of experience.
What you'll retouch:
- Product category - 4 images
“Experience ignites here.”
Ignoring the brief = automatic points loss. In Supernova, there are no excuses — you’re judged as a professional.
Luminist
LIGHTROOM / CAPTURE ONE
For Lightroom / Capture One creators.
What you'll retouch:
- 8 Lifestyle images
“Light is your language.”
Ignoring the brief = lost points. In Luminist, following instructions is the only way to prove you can work professionally inside Lightroom or Capture One.
Alchemist
Composites
For Photoshop artists with compositional skill.
What you'll create:
- 1 original composition based on a provided shots.
“This is where imagination meets precision.”
Here, there is no strict brief — your only limit is imagination. But freedom requires discipline: the jury will reward composites that are daring yet technically flawless.
Ignoring realism (light, perspective, shadow, scale, colours) will cost points. The best Alchemists don’t just “create” — they prove they’ve mastered every part of Photoshop.
Halo
EDITORIAL FASHION RETOUCHING
For fashion photographers and retouchers working with editorial stories.
Editorial retouching is about consistency and narrative. The challenge is not only to perfect a single image, but to maintain visual harmony across an entire series while preserving the mood and character of the shoot.
Judges will look for subtlety, cohesion, and respect for the photographic intent.
What you'll create:
- Editorial fashion story – 8 images
“Where fashion becomes a story.”
Ignoring the brief = lost points. In editorial work, consistency across the full story is essential.
The Bigger
Picture
This competition doesn’t just celebrate retouching — it recognises the different faces of the craft.
- Some categories are pure retouching → Rising Star, Supernova.
- Some are colour-focused → Luminist.
- Some are storytelling → Halo.
- And one demands full Photoshop mastery → Alchemist.
Together, they form a complete picture of the industry — from the subtle to the spectacular. And this is just the beginning.
Next year, the challenge grows with a range of exciting new categories, including Jewellery.