Point Black Ltd

What Point Black Ltd does

Point Black Ltd is a London-based creative retouching studio founded in 2009 that provides photographic post-production services to photographers, designers, advertising agencies, and end-brand clients. Its core offering is non-destructive creative retouching, billed on daily or half-day rates or fixed cost per image based on project complexity, with a photography-informed approach across still life, jewellery, interiors, fashion, beauty, automotive, sports, food, beverage, and editorial work. The studio operates a colour-managed digital imaging workflow spanning RAW file processing (via Capture One Pro, Adobe Lightroom, and Adobe Camera RAW), non-destructive retouching, GMG Fogra-certified contract proofing with UGRA/FOGRA MediaWedge certification, and high-quality inkjet (Giclée) printing on photographic papers up to 24x16 inches, with portfolio volume discounts available.

The business runs as a private limited company with 8 employees based at Wenlock Studios in London and is independently owned with no disclosed external investment. Its go-to-market is direct enterprise engagement supported by portfolio-driven marketing through its website and Instagram/LinkedIn presence; there is no evidence of active outbound sales campaigns. The client base spans luxury goods (De Beers, Bulgari, Rolls Royce), fashion and beauty (Nike, Adidas, Levi's, Charlotte Tilbury, Clinique), spirits (Macallan, Johnnie Walker, Bombay Sapphire, Belvedere), automotive (BMW, Mini), retail (IKEA, Lidl, Reebok), and editorial/publishing (Audible, Investec). Revenue mechanics are entirely project-based professional services with publicly disclosed unit pricing for proofs and prints and custom quotes for retouching.

Strategically the firm has been stable: no funding events, acquisitions, or geographic expansions are disclosed in the source material, and the technology stack is built around industry-standard software rather than proprietary IP, with the only differentiated asset being its GMG-certified proofing capability. The principal investment-relevant observation is the unusually broad luxury-brand logo set relative to headcount, which signals strong referenceability but also implies that revenue is concentrated within a small number of repeat enterprise accounts.

Name

Point Black Ltd

Legal name

Point Black Ltd

Website

https://pointblack.co.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

2009

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Point Black Ltd is an 8-person London creative retouching studio offering non-destructive retouching, RAW processing, GMG Fogra-certified proofing, and giclée printing for photographers, agencies, and luxury brands including De Beers, Nike, Rolls Royce, and Bulgari.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Professional Photo Retouching Services

NAICS

Commercial Photography (541922), Photographic Services (54192)

SIC

Services-Photofinishing Laboratories (7384), Services-Mailing, Reproduction, Commercial Art & Photography (7330)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYMPADAGAB

Color Grading & Finishing (DI, HDR, Deliverables)

Media, Entertainment & Sports/Film & Video Production/Distribution/Post-Production (Editing, Color, Sound)

SECONDARYIMALAKAM

Prepress, Plate-Making & Artwork Services

Industrials, Manufacturing & Construction/Packaging & Containers/Labels, Sleeves & Packaging Printing

SECONDARYMPAJALAD

Large-Format & Specialty Printing (Signage, Posters, Displays)

Media, Entertainment & Sports/Publishing (Books, News, Magazines)/Print Production Services (Printing, Binding, Prepress)

Keywords

• Photo retouching services
• Image post-production
• Colour management proofing
• Professional photography retouching
• Giclee photographic printing

Headquarters

HQ city

London

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Professional Retouching Services: Creative retouching services billed on daily or half-day rates, or fixed cost per image calculated based on project brief complexity
2. GMG Certified Proofing: CMYK and RGB proof printing services with various paper sizes and certification levels
3. Giclee Printing: High-quality inkjet printing on photographic papers with portfolio volume discounts available
4. RAW File Processing: RAW file processing and grading as standalone service or part of wider retouching projects

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

Point Black Ltd is a London-based creative retouching studio delivering photographic post-production services including non-destructive creative retouching, RAW file processing and grading, GMG Fogra-certified contract proofing, and high-quality giclee photographic printing. The studio serves photographers, designers, advertising agencies, and consumer brands across still life, jewellery, fashion, beauty, interiors, automotive, and editorial work, operating a colour-managed digital imaging workflow from RAW capture through to certified print output.

Product overview

Point Black Ltd is a London-based creative retouching studio offering a unified suite of photographic post-production services. The core offering centres on Creative Retouching, supported by RAW File Processing and Grading using industry-standard software (Capture One Pro, Adobe Lightroom, Adobe Camera RAW). The studio complements its retouching with GMG Fogra Certified Proofing for print colour accuracy and Giclee Full Colour Printing for portfolio and display prints. The workflow is colour-managed end-to-end, from RAW processing through retouching to final print output.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Creative Retouching Creative photographic retouching service using non-destructive editing techniques, colour management, and CMYK conversion for print verification, delivered to photographers, designers, advertising agencies, and consumer brands for still life, jewellery, interiors, fashion, beauty, and campaign imagery.
• RAW File Processing and Grading Non-destructive RAW file processing using Capture One Pro, Adobe Lightroom, or Adobe Camera RAW, including dusting, spotting, tonal adjustments, lens correction, and colour grading, available as a standalone service or as part of broader retouching projects for photographers and creative agencies.
• GMG Fogra Certified Proofing Contract proof printing using the GMG ColorProof system with UGRA/FOGRA MediaWedge certification, providing ISO-spec colour-accurate proofing on coated, uncoated (OBA and non-OBA), and newsprint stocks. Available in CMYK certified proofs (A4 from £35, A3 from £40, A3+ from £45, A2 from £55) and RGB match prints (A3 from £30, A2 from £45).
• Giclee Full Colour Printing High-quality inkjet (giclee) printing on photographic papers — Gloss, Semi Gloss, and Lustre (260gsm) — in sizes up to 24x16 inches (12x10 from £20, 16x12 from £25, 24x16 from £40). Portfolio service available with 25% volume discount for orders of 10 or more images.

Quantifiable outcome

• Return client relationships maintained over many years demonstrating consistent quality delivery

Named customers20 records

Segments7 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Two partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• GMG (GMG ColorProof)coreTechnology or IntegrationGMG ColorProof is the worldwide recognized professional solution for contract proofing, providing maximum colour accuracy, consistency and repeatability. Point Black uses this system for their certified proofing services, ensuring industry-standard colour verification.
• Fogra / UGRAcoreTechnology or IntegrationFogra and UGRA are industry-standard certification bodies for print colour accuracy. Point Black's proofing includes UGRA/FOGRA MediaWedge certification for scientific verification of colour accuracy.

Scale indicators1 record

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights3 records

Broad incumbents

• The Mill: Globally scaled London-headquartered post-production and VFX studio with colour grading, retouching and finishing for advertising and film. A larger incumbent offering overlapping colour and finishing capabilities across many of Point Black's verticals.
• MPC (Moving Picture Company): Global advertising and film post-production house headquartered in London. Competes with Point Black for premium advertising colour grading and finishing work, though at significantly larger scale and broader service scope.
• Framestore: London-founded global creative studio with advertising post-production, colour grading and finishing alongside its VFX business. A broad incumbent competing for the same high-end advertising colour and finishing budgets.
• Cheil Worldwide (post-production arm): Large agency-group-affiliated post-production capability with in-house retouching and finishing serving global brand clients. Less boutique than Point Black but competes for the same enterprise brand budgets on integrated post.

Direct peers

• Smoke & Mirrors: London post-production house providing colour grading, finishing and VFX for advertising and brand content. Comparable premium post-production offering for the same UK agency and brand client base.
• The Lab London: London-based photographic retouching and post-production studio serving luxury, fashion and advertising clients with a similar still-life, beauty and editorial focus. Closest comparable in size, service mix and London client base to Point Black.
• Stitch Editing: London-based creative post-production and editing house serving advertising, fashion and brand content. Similar agency/brand client base with overlapping retouching and finishing services.
• Absolute Post: London post-production facility offering colour grading, finishing and VFX for advertising, broadcast and film. Comparable colour-managed, high-end finishing capability targeted at premium UK agency and brand clients.
• Glassworks: London post-production and VFX house providing colour grading, retouching and finishing for advertising and brand campaigns. Comparable workflow offering, although typically serving bigger-budget production work.
• Lustre Studios: London creative retouching studio working on fashion, beauty, advertising and editorial campaigns. Competes for the same high-end UK photographer and agency clients as Point Black.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/point-black-ltd
• Instagraminstagram.com/pointblackretouch

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Point Black Ltd