Meaning & use
retouched photos
Last updated
Meanings
phraseplural
Photographs that have been edited to improve or change their appearance, often to make people look better.
Grammar: Plural noun phrase; use a plural verb: 'The retouched photos were published.' For one photo, say 'a retouched photo'.
Patterns
- retouched photos of someone
- heavily retouched photos
- digitally retouched photos
The magazine was criticized for using heavily retouched photos of the actress.
She posted retouched photos on social media, and her friends didn't recognize her.
The photographer delivered both the original and the retouched photos to the client.
phraseplural
Photographs that have been slightly changed to remove small marks or improve details, not necessarily to change a person's appearance.
Grammar: Same plural noun phrase; the context often makes clear whether the editing was for appearance or for technical quality.
Patterns
- retouched photos for a brochure
- professionally retouched photos
- retouched photos of a product
The catalog used retouched photos to make the furniture look flawless.
He submitted retouched photos of the landscape after removing a few dust spots.
For the real estate listing, they used retouched photos to brighten the rooms.
Common combinations
- heavily retouched photos
- The tabloid was accused of publishing heavily retouched photos.
- digitally retouched photos
- All the images in the advertisement were digitally retouched photos.
- professionally retouched photos
- The wedding album contained professionally retouched photos.
- retouched photos of someone
- The article included retouched photos of the singer.
- use retouched photos
- Many magazines use retouched photos on their covers.
Synonyms and how they differ
- edited photos
- Broader term; 'edited' can mean any change, including cropping or color correction, while 'retouched' suggests careful improvement of details or appearance.
- airbrushed photos
- Specifically refers to photos where flaws are smoothed out with an airbrush tool or digital equivalent; often implies heavy cosmetic editing.
- enhanced photos
- Focuses on making the photo better or clearer, not necessarily changing how someone looks.
Opposites
Word family
- retouch verb
- To improve a photo by making small changes.
- retoucher noun
- A person whose job is to retouch photos.
- retouching noun
- The act or process of editing photos.
Commonly confused: retouched photos or touched-up photos? retouched photos or photoshopped photos?
retouched photos vs touched-up photos
Similar meaning but more informal; 'touched up' often implies quick, minor improvements.
retouched photos vs photoshopped photos
Refers specifically to editing with Adobe Photoshop, but often used generally for any digital manipulation.
Practice
Which sentence uses 'retouched photos' correctly?
Choose one answer.
Option 0 is correct because 'retouched photos' is a plural noun phrase and does not need an article. Option 1 is wrong because 'photo' is singular and needs a determiner like 'a'. Option 2 is wrong because 'a' cannot be used with a plural noun. Option 3 is wrong because the possessive 'celebrity's' is not needed here.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “retouched photos”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.