Jewelry photos should look perfect. A great photo sells the product. A bad photo can make even an expensive piece look cheap. That is why editing is so important. Taking the photo is just half the job.The other section is creating them look good in Photoshop.
In this tutorial, you’ll know how to retouch jewelry in photoshop. We’ll make it easy. Soon, you will get great results.
Why Jewelry Retouching Matters
Jewelry is small and shiny naturally. But while you take a closer shot, little flaws appear. You may see scratches, dust, or uneven colors. The customer does not want to see this. They want a perfect piece.
That is why retouching is needed. But be careful. Do not make it look fake. The goal is to make it real. Make the jewelry look clean and bright. Keep the natural lighting and details.
A good photo makes editing easy. If the real image is clear and sharp, you will find the perfect outcomes.
How to retouch jewelry in photoshop: Step-by-Step Guide
Step 1: Combine Multiple Shots
Sometimes, one photo is not enough. You may have two shots of the same jewelry. One has good lighting on the main body. The other shows the small beads better. We will combine them.
- Open both images in Photoshop.
- Drag the second image onto the first. Hold Shift while dragging. This keeps the position correct.
- Lower the opacity of the top image. Check if they align.
- If not, press Ctrl + T to transform and fix the position.
- When it looks good, set the opacity back to 100%.
- Add a Layer Mask to the top image.
- Use the Brush Tool with white color. Paint on the mask to show the beads only where needed.
Great! Now both images work as one.
Step 2: Cut Out the Jewelry
Next, we need a clean background. To do this, we cut out the jewelry.
- Select the Pen Tool (P)
- Zoom in and click around the jewelry edges. Make smooth curves.
- When you finish, save the path.
- Press Ctrl + Click on the path to make a point.
- Add a Layer Mask to keep only the jewelry visible.
- Make a new layer with a white background. Set it under the jewelry layer.
Now the jewelry looks clean on white.
Step 3: Add a Reflection
A reflection makes the photo look more natural. It adds depth
- Make a new path for the top reflection area.
- Make a selection and copy it to a new layer.
- Move this layer under the jewelry.
- Use the Gradient Tool on a mask to fade it slowly.
- Lower the opacity. Keep it soft. Do not create it too strong.
Step 4: Remove Dust and Imperfections
Jewelry often has tiny marks. These can ruin the photo. Let’s fix them.
First Pass: Spot Healing Brush
- Create a new blank layer. Clip it to the jewelry.
- Select the Spot Healing Brush Tool (J).
- Zoom in. Click on each dust spot or scratch.
- The tool will blend the area.
Second Pass: Clone Stamp Tool
- Create another blank layer.
- Select the Clone Stamp Tool (S).
- Set Hardness to 0% and Opacity to 30%.
- Hold Alt and click to section a clean spot.
- Paint gently over bad areas.
- Sample new areas often.
This keeps the original shine and details.
Step 5: Fix Broken or Bad Beads
Sometimes a bead looks bad. We can replace it.
- Duplicate the jewelry layer.
- Use the Marquee Tool to select a good bead.
- Copy and paste it.
- Press Ctrl + T and flip it horizontally.
- Move it over the bad bead.
- Add a mask and paint to blend it.
- Use Clone Stamp for a natural finish.
Step 6: Center and Resize the Photo
The jewelry should look neat in the frame.
- Merge all sections into one new layer (Shift + Ctrl + E).
- Select the Crop Tool (C).
- Center the jewelry.
- Convert the canvas size to a square such as 3500 x 3500 px.
Step 7: Make It Shine
Time to enhance the details.
- Add a Hue/Saturation Layer. Lower yellow tones in beads.
- Add a Curves Layer for contrast. Make highlights brighter and shadows deeper.
- Add a soft shadow under the ring. Use a soft black brush.
Step 8: Sharpen and Sav
Merge all layers.
- Go to Filter > Sharpen > Unsharp Mask.
- Use these settings: Amount: 100% &Radius: 1px
- Save as PSD for future edits. Export as JPEG for clients.
Final Result
Your jewelry should now look:
- Clean
- Bright
- Realistic
The before and after will amaze you. The jewelry will look natural and perfect at the same time.
Pro Tips for Best Results
- Always work on duplicate layers.
- Do not over-edit. Keep it real.
- Be patient. Jewelry retouching takes time.
Conclusion
Jewelry photo retouching is easy if you continue the correct steps. Clean the background. Remove dust. Fix broken parts. Adjust colors and lighting. Make it sharp.
Perfect images sell jewelry. While your pictures look great and shiny, everyone will love them. Try these steps, and soon you will edit like an expert. For more tips and insights, visit UK Clipping Path.
