EXPLORE YOUR NEXT CHAPTER
Mid-Senior Retoucher
Happy Finish
Source: Headcount Labs · original listing ↗
Job data: Headcount Labs, ODbL 1.0. Job descriptions belong to their employers.
Posted yesterday
About this role
About HF We are HF (Happy Finish), a creative technology studio built on Content Design Thinking: visuals at the speed of culture, narratives that truly resonate and participatory experiences that inspire. Our work spans Hero Visuals, Content Solutions, Immersive XR and Applied R&D. We pair craft with R&D that pushes boundaries and workflows engineered to perform, for global brands. We're a team of versatile experts across strategy, concept, and craft and execution, with studios in London, Portland, Milan and Verona. HF is proud to be part of Different Factory. The role We're hiring a Mid to Senior Retoucher with a creative eye and a technical mind. You'll sit in our Verona studio output, bringing photo, CG and generated image assets to completion for live client projects. It's a full-time, permanent role in our Verona studio. This role combines retouching excellence with an AI-first, future-facing mindset. GenAI capability is not a nice-to-have here: it's foundational. You'll work in hybrid pipelines that blend traditional retouching, 3D and generative AI, alongside our 3D artists, creatives and developers. GenAI doesn't replace those disciplines; it amplifies them. We're looking for someone who wants to explore new ways of approaching the work, test what's possible and turn it into better, faster results. * Location: Verona (hybrid, minimum 4 days a week in the studio) * Reports to: Head of Operation * Contract: Full-time, permanent * Salary: From €32,000 per year (RAL), depending on experience * Language: full professional proficiency in English is required What you'll do *Innovation and hybrid pipeline* * Build and run hybrid workflows that combine retouching, CG and generative AI for stills and motion, within clear product and brand guardrails. * Create, test and refine prompts and node-based workflows (for example in ComfyUI, Flora or Weavy) for AI-generated and AI-assisted imagery. * Judge AI outputs for realism, brand alignment and production readiness: decide what to keep, what to reject and what to push further, and know when to finish with traditional retouching. * Work with 3D artists to integrate AI-generated imagery, textures and assets into CGI and compositing pipelines. * Work alongside developers to test, refine and scale AI-driven workflows, briefing them clearly on what can be automated. * Stay on top of new AI tools and techniques, try them quickly, and share what you learn with the wider studio. *Retouching Craft* * Use Photoshop to perform complex image work: compositing and balancing CG, generated and stock assets, colour grading to a shared look, upscaling, clean-up and removals. * Deliver critical colour matching and true-to-life product representation with a high degree of accuracy. * Apply strong creative judgement so every edit feels natural and convincing and meets the project's standards. * Adapt AI outputs to match brand guidelines and campaign look and feel. *Workflow and quality* * Create and improve workflows that deliver consistent results across batches of images, using Photoshop actions, scripting and AI-driven processes. * Meet production targets and timelines while keeping quality high. * Run quality control on every asset and keep files organised: naming conventions, colour space, crop, file size and other technical specifications. * Flag errors, workflow challenges and bottlenecks early, and suggest fixes. *Team and growth* * Take creative direction from producers, client briefs and senior team members, and respond positively to feedback rounds. * Support junior team members and freelancers where your experience can help. * Own a personal development plan, focused on genAI fluency, cross-disciplinary collaboration and creative excellence, reviewed regularly with your line manager. What you'll bring * 5+ years' commercial retouching experience, with a portfolio showing a range of imagery (product, fashion, beauty or footwear is a strong plus). * Proven experience compositing rendered CG and generative elements into natural, convincing finished images. * Hands-on experience with AI and hybrid pipelines, beyond chatbot prompts: node-based generative workflows, orchestration platforms and a toolkit of creative AI tools for stills and motion. * A future-facing mindset: curiosity about emerging technology, a drive to explore new ways of approaching the work, and a solution-focused attitude to problems. * Mastery of Photoshop: paths, selections and masks; smart objects and smart filters; adjustment layers; frequency separation; blending modes; Camera Raw; non-destructive pixel work. * Strong understanding of RGB colour theory and colour spaces. * An eye for file efficiency: clean, economical and easy-to-follow layers, adjustments, smart objects, folders and masks. * Exceptional attention to detail and consistency. * The ability to work to tight deadlines and manage several projects at once. * Clear communication with creatives, producers, 3D artists and developers, and a positive attitude to feedback. * Full professional proficiency in English, spoken and written. Software Please list the tools you use day to day when you apply. * Essential: Adobe Photoshop (expert level), including creating actions. * Essential: generative AI tools, for example ComfyUI, Flora, Weavy, Google Gemini / Nano Banana, SeeDream, SeeDance or Higgsfield. * Essential: Adobe Bridge and Capture One; comfortable with a Wacom tablet. * Highly valued: Photoshop scripting (JavaScript) or Python to automate tasks. * Highly valued: AI assistants and agentic tools such as Claude or Google Antigravity used in production workflows. * Useful: Cinema 4D with Octane, After Effects, Premiere Pro or the Substance suite. Bonus points * 3D skills in Cinema 4D and Octane, for example to set up simple scenes, light products or render assets for compositing. * Experience bringing AI-generated assets into 3D or CGI pipelines. * AI video and motion work for social and campaign content. * Experience in a high-volume e-commerce or content studio with daily targets. * An appreciation of fashion, photography and contemporary visual trends. Our culture and what we offer At HF we thrive on creative problem-solving, and we treat freedom and responsibility as two sides of the same coin. We encourage initiative and innovation at every level, and we care as much about how you handle a project that doesn't go to plan as about your portfolio. * Time set aside for R&D and creative projects * A studio that invests in AI and hybrid pipeline skills, with a personal development plan reviewed regularly How to apply Send your CV and portfolio, in English, to careers@happyfinish.com. Tell us which images you worked on and what your role was on each, including where you used AI. Come prepared to talk about * A complex composite you're proud of, and how it came together from brief to delivery. * A hybrid retouching and AI workflow you've built or improved, and what it changed for your team. * A time you judged an AI output and decided whether to keep it, push it further or finish it by hand. * New AI tools or techniques you're excited about, and how you'd bring them into production. HF is an equal opportunities employer. We welcome applications from everyone, and we're happy to make reasonable adjustments during the process.