I updated my OS on 10/31/24 to the lates update (Sequoia 15.1) and now the photos app on my Mac no longer contains the retouch tool. WTH!! Does anyone else have this issue? Apple, what gives??
iMac 24″, macOS 15.1
Well I found it ... Apple removed it from the side bar tool menu to make it extra-inconvenient and created a new tab on the top next to the CROP tab called CLEAN UP. WHY oh WHY doesn't Apple focus on things that make workflow EASIER rather than HARDER ??????? THis is another useless change that makes workflow in Apple Photos harder and more inconvenient.
SO DISAPPOINTED with Apple for doing this.
There should have been mention in the so called upgrade to Sequoia that the Retouch function was going to be replaced by a lesser quality/less useful 'cleanup' function.
Retouch was one of the most useful tools in the iPhoto platform!!
If I had known I would not have installed the Sequoia software.
BRING IT BACK PLEASE Apple !!!!!!!
Well, now it makes sense why Apple removed the retouch tool. They want us to purchase a subscription to their new Pixelmator Pro. I only saw it when I clicked the circle for the markup and saw it listed (see attached) It states you get a free trial, but as you can see, when I clicked on it, it said my trial expired. Don't understand how something expires when you haven't activated it. Whatever! So we have choices, use their new Pixelmator Pro or another app. Either way, you have to pay. They must have found out how useful the touch up tool has been and decided to capitalize on it. It's all about the money. Don't bother to ask them to bring back the tool, not gonna happen.
Leonie, Here's what I did, unaware that there was a change. First you need to download Sequoia 15.4.1.
I meant to edit a photo using the horrible Clean Up, but when I clicked Clean Up it began to download a new system. There are now two bars, one labeled Erase, and the other one Retouch. You can adjust the circle size of either one but with Retouch we're now back to a simple click on the trackpad or mouse to remove imperfections.
So it looks like there finally heard our complaints !
ive just given feedback too..... PLEASE EVERYBODY DO THIS!!!! what a blunder taking away the retouch tool
Is the Luminar Neo plug-in still working in Photos 15.1 (or 15.2)?
Trixie Stardust, what IKRUPP said. Please copy your message and paste to Apple Feedback.
I presume you mean the Retouch tool in Photos; I never had one called the Healing brush ...
I'm surprised as well, I didn't realize it was back. I just went back into "cleanup" and found it - thank goodness!!!
The reason it was moved and name changed because it now, with the newer Macs, works with AI.
After using it for a while I COMPLETLY agree!! The AI tool is great as an add-on, but it DOES NOT replace a brush tool. The AI tool completely distorts and ruins all pictures where only a touch-up is needed. Apple PLEASE bring back the brush tool !!!!!!!
This is an absolutely crazy move by Apple. That brush is one of the most useful and important tools in Photos. If anything, it needed enhancing with clone options, not removing entirely. The Clean Up tab is cumbersome and not the same tool. If I need to remove a spec, I can't do that with Clean Up.
Apple, please bring back the brush!!!!
One of my friends said Apple is responsive and surely they will have a software update to restore retouch because the change makes no sense and Clean Up is an ineffective and inefficient mess. I hope he’s right. But how nobody stopped this from happening is mind-boggling. Retouch needs to be restored in Photos. Also, the fact they support people don’t seem to know it’s gone is also very telling.
I just received this after I posted here agreeing with everyone what a mistake Apple made removing the essential feature in Photos: Retouch.
"We’ve removed your post Apple retouch tool gone after update to Sequioa 15.1because it contained either feedback or a feature request that was not constructive."
There was nothing I wrote that was different, offensive or triggering than the other posts here. Perhaps because I used the words d*mb*st and j*ke and an all caps wh*. Apple is watching.
Completely agree with the consensus: the new "clean up" function is awful. Might be OK as an add on, but in no way is it a viable replacement for retouch. Bad AI BS. I'm sure their tech guys think it's brilliant, but clearly none of them ever work with photographs.
DOES ANY ONE KNOW OF AN EXTENSION that is more or less equivalent to the old retouch function?
If I can't regain my "retouch," it will mean months of work relegated to "trash." Why is Apple so annoying in this way. Great tech. A lot of really lousy decisions like this.
Just updated Sequoia to 15.1.1 and the issue still remains. No retouch on Photos. Seems like Apple will keep acting like Apple again: knowing what users need more than them and insist on their own visionary fantasy.
Luckily I did not yet update my MacBook Pro and I won't do that so I can manage my fixes there. I am not confient Apple will bring the touch-up tool back. Apple simply doesn't care about user utility. I don't know if anyone here remembers when Apple shut down Aperture cold. This was a disaster for thousands and thousands of hobby and semi-pro photographers like me with huge libraries and thousands of hours editing in Aperture. It resulted in a huge uproar online and in the press .. but Apple just said GFY and Aperture were gone. Here, they decided AI is the future so these tools are no longer needed. So ... GFY users.
Apple retouch tool gone after update to Sequioa 15.1
