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The differences between retouchers and digital retouchers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a digital retoucher has an average salary of $51,547, which is higher than the $51,538 average annual salary of a retoucher.
The top three skills for a retoucher include color correction, adobe photoshop and product photography. The most important skills for a digital retoucher are adobe photoshop, retouch, and photography services.
Retouchers are skilled professionals who use advanced computer imaging software to change or modify the appearance of a photo or other digital image. These professionals must interface directly with clients to perform multiple image composition, color correction, and image manipulation. They are required to use Photoshop to carry out editing tasks such as masking, rebuilding, and cleaning of images. Retouchers must work exclusively with photographers and manage high volumes of photo organization. They must also maintain an organized electronic database of digital images.
A digital retoucher specializes in altering or enhancing images using special computer software. Their responsibilities usually include assessing photos to identify which areas need retouching, accepting requests from the clients, removing blemishes, adjusting the brightness or sharpness, cropping or re-sizing the images, and changing color temperatures. In some establishments, a digital retoucher may also restore old photos, change backgrounds, and take the clients' photos. When it comes to employment, a digital retoucher may work for shops offering photography services or as an independent contractor working remotely.
Retouchers and digital retouchers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Retoucher | Digital Retoucher | |
| Average salary | $51,538 | $51,547 |
| Salary range | Between $24,000 And $107,000 | Between $24,000 And $107,000 |
| Highest paying City | - | - |
| Highest paying state | - | - |
| Best paying company | - | - |
| Best paying industry | - | - |
There are a few differences between a retoucher and a digital retoucher in terms of educational background:
| Retoucher | Digital Retoucher | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 76% | Bachelor's Degree, 67% |
| Most common major | Photography | Photography |
| Most common college | - | - |
Here are the differences between retouchers' and digital retouchers' demographics:
| Retoucher | Digital Retoucher | |
| Average age | 42 | 42 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 57.8% Female, 42.2% | Male, 63.2% Female, 36.8% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 6.5% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 17.2% Asian, 14.2% White, 56.9% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.6% | Black or African American, 7.1% Unknown, 4.8% Hispanic or Latino, 15.1% Asian, 13.5% White, 59.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.6% |
| LGBT Percentage | 15% | 15% |