The Image Editing Split: Why Compression Compounds and Retouching Does Not

Image editing splits into two economically opposite workflows: automated optimization that compounds margin through volume, and creative retouching that resists automation because visual nuance carries brand risk. Agencies that blend the two into one billable line item underprice the pipeline work and overpromise on the creative work. Separating them turns a recurring operational cost into a defensible retainer line.