One of the most common points of confusion in portrait retouching is directional terminology—when a client says, “Fix the left side of my face,” do they mean their left (which is on the right side of the image), or do they mean the actual left side of the image?
To eliminate misunderstandings, I ask all clients to communicate using “Image Left” and “Image Right.”
Why This Matters
The subject’s left is different from the viewer’s left in a standard image.
Retouchers and photographers typically work based on Image Left (IL) and Image Right (IR) for clarity.
Using this system prevents revisions caused by misinterpretation.
How to Communicate Clearly
When requesting retouching on a specific side of the face, please refer to:
✅ Image Left (IL) – The left side of the image as you see it.
✅ Image Right (IR) – The right side of the image as you see it.
For example:
🚫 “Fix the left side of my face.” (Unclear)
✅ “Soften the lines on Image Right near my mouth.” (Clear)
This small adjustment in communication can save time, avoid unnecessary revisions, and ensure you get exactly what you want in your final image.
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