Affinity Photo: Beyond the Basics – Retouching Skills

Overview

Want to create flawless photos without making them look over-edited? This course, with Ally the creator of Affinity Revolution, will teach you how to master the retouching tools in Affinity Photo so you can enhance your images naturally and professionally. Designed for learners who already understand the basics of Affinity Photo, this course builds on that foundation with focused lessons on skin smoothing, blemish removal, object cleanup, frequency separation, dodging and burning, and more. You’ll follow along with real-world projects using downloadable files, so you can apply everything you learn right away. By the end of this course, you’ll be able to: * Retouch portraits while keeping skin texture intact * Remove unwanted objects or distractions from any photo * Brighten eyes, whiten teeth, and enhance details subtly * Use professional techniques like frequency separation and dodge & burn This course is perfect for photographers, hobbyists, or anyone who wants to polish their photos to a high standard. If you're ready to transform your photos without losing their natural beauty, this class is for you! Instructor bio: Ally, the creator of Affinity Revolution, has been teaching people how to use the Affinity creative suite since 2016. Through her easy-to-follow tutorials on Affinity Photo, Designer, and Publisher, she focuses on delivering maximum value in minimal time—making complex tools feel simple and approachable. Ally knows that learning Affinity can feel overwhelming at first, but with her step-by-step guidance, you’ll quickly gain confidence and master the skills to bring your creative projects to life.

Syllabus

Essential Clean-Up Techniques

This module introduces foundational retouching skills in Affinity Photo. Learners will explore the Clone Brush and practice using it on various types of cleanup tasks including edges, clothing, and removing visual distractions. These essential techniques serve as the building blocks for more complex retouching work later in the course.

Advanced Cloning and Object Manipulation

This module expands on the foundational cloning tools, introducing more sophisticated methods for manipulating cloned areas. Learners will work with masks and movement tools to reposition content and complete a structured clean-up project, reinforcing learned skills through practical application.

Core Retouching Foundations

In this module, learners explore foundational retouching strategies used to enhance photo quality and composition. Techniques like dodging and burning, shadow removal, and background modifications provide the essential tools needed to prepare an image for professional-level refinement.

Professional Finishing Touches

This module focuses on high-level finishing details that take images from good to great. Learners will tackle defringing, refine skin textures, and apply everything learned through targeted practice projects. This stage bridges the gap between technical know-how and polished final results.

Real-World Retouching Projects

This capstone module gives learners the opportunity to apply all their acquired skills to real-world retouching challenges. Each project represents a different scenario—portrait, landscape, and fashion—allowing learners to adapt and optimize their workflow while building confidence in their professional editing ability.