Retouch a consistent photo series

What you will do

Configure one local retouching tool, save the setup as a preset, and apply that preset to two photographs from the same shoot. You will also copy current image settings from one photograph to two selected targets, change one target without changing the others, and export full-size JPEG copies. The preset and copied-settings procedures were verified separately, so each keeps its own result checks below.

This workflow was verified on Windows in Arams 1.10.2 with the English interface. The example uses Heal at Sensitivity 75. It demonstrates a repeatable setup for a small series; it does not promise that one preset will suit every photograph or produce visually identical corrections on different faces.

Before you start

• Sign in and use Local processing. The verified account already had Heal installed, activated, and available; this chapter does not cover downloading, purchasing, or activating it.
• Create a practice project and import the authorized, full-resolution maxine-01.jpg and maxine-02.jpg files. Both are 6064 × 4040 JPEG photographs from the same shoot. Do not resize them.
• Work with disposable copies in a new project. Keep the original files unchanged and export to a new subfolder.
• Make sure the two filenames and decoded thumbnails are visible before configuring retouching.

The copied-settings procedure uses a separate practice project with three varied, authorized full-resolution JPEGs: maxine-01.jpg at 6064 × 4040, plus monica-6301.jpg and richard-6433.jpg at 4040 × 6064. Keep all three originals unchanged.

For a detailed explanation of the controls used here, see Choose retouching tools and settings, Use retouching presets, and Understand and verify local processing.

Steps

Prepare the series and apply one preset

1. Select maxine-01.jpg, open the retouching controls, and choose Local.
2. In All, turn off any enabled tools that are not part of this example.
3. Enable Heal and set Sensitivity to 75.
4. Under Presets, choose Create preset, enter Series Heal 75, and accept the name.
5. Select maxine-02.jpg.
6. Choose Series Heal 75 from Presets. Check that Heal is enabled and Sensitivity reads 75 instead of assuming that the preset was applied from its name alone.

The saved Series Heal 75 preset applies the same verified Heal setting to the second photograph in the series. Arams 1.10.2 · Windows · English

The tested preset contained only the verified Heal setting. If you include more tools in your own preset, check every enabled tool before processing the series.

Copy current image settings to selected targets

This procedure copies the settings currently attached to a source photograph. It does not create or apply a named preset.

1. In the three-photo practice project, select maxine-01.jpg by itself.
2. Choose Local, enable Heal, set Sensitivity to 75, and enable RGB Curves. The verified source used a non-default RGB curve.
3. Right-click the source and choose Copy image settings.

Copy image settings copies the photograph's current settings; the menu provides separate commands for crop. Arams 1.10.2 · Windows · English

The same menu showed separate Copy crop and Paste crop commands. Crop transfer was not tested, so do not assume that Copy image settings includes it.

4. Select both monica-6301.jpg and richard-6433.jpg, right-click the selection, and choose Paste image settings.
5. Select each target separately. Confirm that Heal is enabled, Sensitivity reads 75, and RGB Curves remains enabled.

After pasting to two selected targets, Monica shows the copied Heal setting at Sensitivity 75. Arams 1.10.2 · Windows · English

Before the paste, the verified targets had different settings: Monica had Heal 25 with RGB Curves off, while Richard had Heal off, Sensitivity 35, and RGB Curves off. After one paste to the two-photo selection, both matched the source values. This demonstrates the observed transfer of these settings only; it does not establish that every retouching, color, or crop control is copied.

Adjust one target without changing the others

1. Select monica-6301.jpg by itself and change Sensitivity from 75 to 45.

Monica's Sensitivity was changed independently from 75 to 45. Arams 1.10.2 · Windows · English

2. Switch to maxine-01.jpg and confirm that its Sensitivity is still 75.

The individual target adjustment did not change the source photograph's Maxine setting. Arams 1.10.2 · Windows · English

3. Switch to richard-6433.jpg and confirm that its Sensitivity is still 75.

The individual Monica adjustment did not change Richard's copied setting. Arams 1.10.2 · Windows · English

4. Return to monica-6301.jpg and confirm that 45 is still shown.

The verified values persisted while switching among the three photographs in the open project. Copying creates independent settings on the targets; it does not keep them synchronized with the source or with each other. Persistence after restarting Arams was not tested.

Render and inspect each photograph

1. Return to the gallery and select maxine-01.jpg by itself.
2. Check Heal and Sensitivity 75, then choose Retouch preview.
3. Wait for processing to finish. Open the photograph in the larger viewer and inspect the face, hairline, clothing edges, and background for unwanted changes.

The first photograph in the series is open after Retouch preview finishes and is inspected separately. Arams 1.10.2 · Windows · English

4. Return to the gallery and select maxine-02.jpg by itself.
5. Check the same preset values, choose Retouch preview, and wait for processing to finish.
6. Open the second photograph in the larger viewer and inspect it independently. A shared preset keeps the configuration consistent, but each pose still needs its own visual review.

The second photograph uses the same preset, but its result is inspected independently before the combined export. Arams 1.10.2 · Windows · English

The verified previews were recognizable and uncorrupted. This check confirms that both photographs rendered with the recorded setup; it is not a general judgment of retouching quality for other photographs.

Export and verify the series

1. Return to the gallery and select both original photographs. Confirm that the counter reads 2 photos / 2 selected.
2. Open Export settings and choose Hard drive.
3. Set Photos to Export to the two selected photographs and choose Original Files Folder.
4. Enable Put in Subfolder and enter a new, unique subfolder name.
5. Under Naming and Overwriting, add -retouched to the filename. Enable Add to Current Project.
6. Leave Resize to fit off and choose JPEG.
7. Choose Export and wait until the export history reports Completed at 100%.
8. Open All Folders. Confirm that maxine-01-retouched.jpg and maxine-02-retouched.jpg appear beside the two originals. In the verified run, the green message reported two exported photographs.

The combined export added two full-size JPEG copies to the project while preserving both originals beside them. Arams 1.10.2 · Windows · English

9. Open both saved JPEGs outside Arams. Confirm that each file is recognizable, uncorrupted, and 6064 × 4040.
10. Confirm that the original maxine-01.jpg and maxine-02.jpg files still exist and have not changed. Adding exported copies to the project does not replace the originals.

Export the copied-settings examples directly

The verified copied-settings run used direct export because a separate Retouch preview attempt stalled. Do not treat this procedure as evidence that Local preview completed.

1. Select the three original photographs: maxine-01.jpg, monica-6301.jpg, and richard-6433.jpg.
2. Open Export settings, choose Hard drive, and set Photos to Export to the three selected photographs.
3. Choose Original Files Folder, enable Put in Subfolder, and enter a new unique subfolder name.
4. Add -retouched to the filenames, enable Add to Current Project, leave Resize to fit off, and choose JPEG.
5. Choose Export and wait until the export history reports Completed at 100% for three photographs.
6. In All Folders, confirm that three new files appear beside the originals and that the green message reports All Photos Exported with a count of 3.

Direct export added three full-resolution JPEG copies to the project while preserving the three originals beside them. Arams 1.10.2 · Windows · English

7. Open all three saved JPEGs outside Arams. Confirm that each is recognizable and uncorrupted, and that its dimensions match its source: 6064 × 4040 for Maxine and 4040 × 6064 for Monica and Richard.
8. Confirm that the three source files remain byte-for-byte unchanged.

Check the result

The two source photographs should use the same named preset, Series Heal 75, with Heal enabled at Sensitivity 75. Each rendered preview should show the correct pose and remain visually intact. The export should create two distinct JPEG files named with the -retouched suffix at the original 6064 × 4040 dimensions.

For the verified run, the two source SHA-256 hashes were unchanged after preview rendering and export. Arams created new output files rather than overwriting either source. Always verify your own filenames, dimensions, and originals before delivering a series.

For the copied-settings run, Maxine and Richard remained at Sensitivity 75 after Monica was changed to 45 and revisited. Direct export created three distinct full-resolution JPEGs, and the three original source hashes were unchanged. This verifies the observed settings transfer and independent edit in the open project; it does not verify Local preview for these three photographs, crop transfer, every settings category, cross-session persistence, or live synchronization.

If it does not work

• Heal is missing or unavailable: stop and confirm that the tool is already installed and activated for local processing. Do not purchase or change the account as part of this workflow.
• The second photograph has different settings: select Series Heal 75 again, then check both the Heal checkbox and the 75 value before rendering.
• Paste changes the wrong photographs: undo or restore their recorded values, then select only the intended targets before choosing Paste image settings. Verify every target separately after the paste.
• Changing one target appears to change another: switch among the source and both targets and record the value shown for each. Do not assume the photographs remain linked after a paste.
• A preview does not finish: open the processing history and preserve the exact status or error. Do not export that photograph as though the preview succeeded.
• Too few photographs are exported: return to the gallery, select every original intended for this export, and confirm that the selected counter matches that number before opening Export settings again.
• An output has unexpected dimensions: check that Resize to fit is off and repeat the export to a new subfolder. Do not overwrite or delete the originals while troubleshooting.
• The result looks inconsistent: inspect the two photographs separately. Adjust the preset only after deciding which setting needs to change, and rerender every affected photograph.

Related topics

• Use retouching presets
• Understand and verify local processing
• Review processing tasks
• Prepare files for delivery