Photography Editing Terms

noun a small mark or flaw which spoils the appearance of something

verb to spoil the appearance of something

• The painting had a small blemish on the corner, affecting its overall value.
• She tried to cover up the blemish on her face with makeup.
• I can't believe he pointed out that blemish on her outfit, how rude!
• Despite his many achievements, he felt like his past mistakes were a blemish on his reputation.

verb Clipped is the past tense and past participle form of the verb 'clip', which means to cut or trim something with scissors or shears.

adjective Clipped can also be used as an adjective to describe something that has been cut short or trimmed neatly.

adverb Clipped can also be used as an adverb to describe how something was cut or trimmed, such as 'he clipped the hedges neatly.'

• The hedge in the garden was neatly clipped to maintain its shape.
• I clipped my coupons before heading to the store for some deals.
• She clipped him on the shoulder as a friendly gesture.
• His wings were clipped when he lost his job and had to downsize his lifestyle.

verb to remove something by cutting

adjective removed or separated by cutting

preposition used to indicate removal or separation by cutting

• The artist used a template to carefully cut out the intricate design from the paper.
• I'm going to cut out the magazine article and save it for later.
• Let's cut out of this boring party and go grab some food.
• She decided to cut out toxic people from her life in order to find inner peace.

verb to put upside down or in the opposite position, order, or arrangement

• The scientist used a special lens to invert the image in the microscope.
• Can you invert the colors on this photo before posting it online?
• I accidentally hit the invert button on my phone and now everything looks weird.
• Sometimes it's necessary to invert our perspective in order to see things more clearly.

verb past tense form of 'to layer'

adjective describing something with multiple layers

• The geologist explained how the sedimentary rock was formed through layered deposits over millions of years.
• I love the layered look of this cake - it's so delicious!
• Her outfit is so layered, she always knows how to put together the perfect combination of clothes.
• The novel's plot was layered with complex character relationships and hidden motives.

verb to make or become lighter in weight or color

adjective comparative form of light, meaning having less weight or being less dark

• The new regulations aim to lighten the burden on small businesses.
• Let's add some lemon juice to lighten up the flavor of this dish.
• I need to lighten my workload before the weekend.
• Her laughter never fails to lighten the mood in the room.

verb to make or become lighter in weight or brightness

adjective having decreased in weight or brightness

• The room was lightened by the addition of more windows.
• Adding more windows really lightened up the room.
• The atmosphere totally lightened when everyone started cracking jokes.
• Her mood lightened as she let go of her worries and enjoyed the moment.

noun a process of making small changes to a photograph or image to improve its appearance

verb to make small changes to a photograph or image to improve its appearance

• The photographer spent hours retouching the images to perfection.
• I asked my friend to retouch my profile picture before I posted it online.
• I need to retouch my selfie before I send it to my crush.
• She retouched her past mistakes by apologizing to those she had wronged.

verb to cause something to become thoroughly soaked or filled with a substance

adjective completely filled or soaked with a substance

• It is important to saturate the soil with water before planting seeds.
• Make sure to saturate the sponge with soap before washing the dishes.
• I'm going to saturate my social media feed with pictures from the concert.
• The market is already saturated with similar products, so we need to find a unique selling point.

noun a minor adjustment or improvement

verb to improve or enhance the appearance of something by making small changes or corrections

• The artist spent hours meticulously touching up the details in his painting.
• I need to touch up my makeup before we go out.
• I'm just going to quickly touch up my hair before we head out.
• She decided to touch up her resume before applying for the job.

noun a layer of material that is beneath or below another layer

verb not applicable

adjective not applicable

adverb not applicable

pronoun not applicable

preposition not applicable

conjunction not applicable

interjection not applicable

article not applicable

• The underlayer of the painting was carefully applied before adding the final touches.
• Make sure you put on the underlayer before applying the top coat of paint.
• I forgot to wear my underlayer during the hike and now I'm freezing!
• The underlayer of emotions was hidden beneath her calm exterior.

adjective not processed or treated; in its original state

• The unprocessed data needs to be cleaned and organized before analysis.
• I prefer unprocessed foods because they are healthier.
• I can't stand the taste of unprocessed juice.
• His unprocessed emotions were evident in his reaction to the news.

verb to make or become white in color or to bleach

• The dentist recommended a professional teeth whitening treatment to whiten my smile.
• I bought some whitening toothpaste to help whiten my teeth.
• I heard that lemon juice can whiten your nails naturally.
• The fresh coat of paint helped to whiten up the dingy old walls.

noun a slang term for improving or enhancing something, typically in a stylish or fashionable way

• The interior designer suggested adding some new throw pillows to joosh up the living room.
• Let's joosh up this outfit with a statement necklace.
• I'm going to joosh up my hair before we go out tonight.
• The marketing team decided to joosh up their presentation with some catchy visuals.

noun a view of the sky after sunset

adjective relating to the light in the sky after sunset

• The afterlight of the sunset cast a warm glow over the horizon.
• I love taking photos during the afterlight, the lighting is perfect.
• Let's hang out in the park during the afterlight, it's so peaceful.
• The afterlight of her smile stayed with me long after she had left.