The Pros and Cons of Digital Photo Enhancement

Wed Sep 13, 2006 2:12PM EDT

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Did you catch the story about Katie Couric's slimmed-down look in an airbrushed photo in a CBS promotional magazine before she took the helm at CBS Evening News? Lots of folks were upset by it, and Katie and CBS execs mostly laughed it off.

But reader Lisa K. had a different take. The story inspired her to have a recent photo of her taken on the beach touched up to slim and shape her arms. She sent it off to PhotoChop.com (screenshot), and for $5 she has a digitally enhanced photo more to her liking. She's gone back with some more business, once to remove a fresh scrape from her son's nose.  

Lisa writes: One could argue that we are misrepresenting ourselves through these modified pictures, but the reality is that it can change a picture from something you dislike to something enjoyable. I have no moral hang-up in giving myself a little "enhancing" on my personal photos while celebrities every day are portraying themselves to the public this way.

Good point, Lisa. But I've got two girls, and I don't want them getting more messages that women should be thinner, wrinkle-free, and perfect—whatever that is. (PhotoChop's motto: With PhotoChop, you can be flawless.) So I'm not going to be spreading that message by altering my suspect photos. But, hey, there are lots of times a little blemish removal, stray hair fixing, and other enhancements just plain make a photo better. And the tools are available, so go for it.

Lisa asks if there are other services besides PhotoChop that digitally enhance photos. Do birds fly? Sure there are. Local camera stores can do the work. You can also try some basic photo editing tips and techniques with whatever photo editor you prefer.

But if you want to make finer enhancements, more advanced photo editing software such as Adobe Photoshop or Paint Shop Pro may be the way to go. Here are some tips for using Paint Shop Pro, and a PhotoShop help site. I also found this popular step-by-step "How to Airbrush Your Photos in Photoshop" tutorial on Digg, though the result is a bit too plastic and unreal for me.

Got more tips for online or do-it-yourself photo enhancing? Please share.

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Comments on The Pros and Cons of Digital Photo Enhancement

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  • 26 Posted by kevinagren on Thu Sep 3, 2009 4:50PM EDT Report Abuse

    Retouching saves images. You could obviously go way over the top but simple things make sense. www.layersmagazine.com for free tips.

  • 27 Posted by nbtirace on Thu Sep 3, 2009 7:34PM EDT Report Abuse

    If you see a well taken photo at the same time you understand it's not the the same Cartier Bresson or Bourke White, that snaps we've got with our simplest cameras and our little professionality. Yes better light and shadows can enhance artistically our portraits, but to change our bodys it's simply a lie, to others and shows little respect for ourselves.

  • 29 Posted by londonobelin on Thu Sep 3, 2009 6:56PM EDT Report Abuse

    yellow teeth? use lazo tool or magic wand in photoshop to select area. lower the saturation for yellow plus add brightness and contrast until desired effect is achieved.

  • 30 Posted by jenenesh on Thu Sep 3, 2009 4:32PM EDT Report Abuse

    I dont think its fair to put these free photo editing on here, its not fair to those who spend hundreds of dollars for photoshop so we can restore peoples photos for business. We will be out of jobs because of this, dont you think?

  • 31 Posted by sid_e_boyz on Thu Sep 3, 2009 9:21PM EDT Report Abuse

    Anything can be done to the extreme, but minor touch-ups are ok. I use PhotoShop and Microsoft Picture It (the easier of the 2) frequently. They come in handy for those "This is a good picture of me but I wish...." moments. I have straightened wrinkled clothing, removed the bathroom from the backround, and more than anything gotten rid of quite a few shiny foreheads and noses. The main thing is to enhance the picture and not re-create the subject.

  • 32 Posted by shedbesopretty on Thu Sep 3, 2009 9:18PM EDT Report Abuse

    Our priorities are so screwed up. I find myself falling into this trap. I've always worried about my appearance, because I've overweight (she'dbesopretty comes from having had people say it to me all my life) and at the same time I hate myself for being so shallow. I volunteer, I work hard, I have good friends, I have strong political opinions, I'm talented, and some days my whole outlook on life can be ruined because I'm feeling "ugly" that day. Something's got to change. Does it seem ridiculous to anyone else that we pay people millions of dollars just for looking gorgeous? And I know teachers and policemen who are barely scraping by on 40k a year. Why can't we be okay with being beautiful on the inside? Why is it necessary that we all look like some paper cut-out one-dimensial indeal of beauty? I know, beauty gives pleasure. For that, there is art, the ocean, the moutains, poetry and beautiful thinking. Human beauty is supposed to be imperfect. It's supposed to be unique. And it's supposed to fade in time, changing to a beauty born of experience and wisdom. Beauty is the strength that it takes to work with what you've got, the love it takes to tell people with missing teeth and wrinkled skin they're beautiful too, and the courage it takes to stand up to a world that revolves around the inane.

  • 33 Posted by ben44ny on Thu Sep 3, 2009 3:05PM EDT Report Abuse

    Personally, I think a tool like this would be better used to remove phone lines and cell towers from my Fall leaves pictures or pictures from the beach. I think that the pictures of my son after he'd cut his own hair are perfect! Ten years from now, they will be our memory, not the touched up vision of perfection some people look for. Life is messy. Enjoy the beauty of it.

  • 34 Posted by carmandave2002 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 3:18PM EDT Report Abuse

    My wife has been worried about the way she looks ever since she gave birth to our son in '97. I absolutelt LOVE the way she looks. I wouldn't want to change a thing about her, I married her for who she is and not what some "photoshop" can make her. She is the most beautiful woman that i know. So "NO" i dont agree with airbrushing photos, you are loved for who you are not what you look like!

  • 35 Posted by pretzelgirl52 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 8:18PM EDT Report Abuse

    I had my photo taken with my two granddaughters. Even though the photographer didn't tell me I had lipstick on my teeth, he was kind enough to edit it off the photo so we didn't have to do re-takes with two little wiggly preschoolers. To edit or not to edit? The photo may lie, but the real body is there for the whole world to see!

  • 36 Posted by rollie_fingers_23 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 8:49PM EDT Report Abuse

    I think it is not a bad idea. Why not, if your not happy with the way you look in a photo to enhance it a bit is not a bad thing. Stars do it all the time!!

  • 37 Posted by fablespinner479 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 3:57PM EDT Report Abuse

    I suppose the technology may have its benefits, but I strongly disagree with the idea of "magically" changing your appearance to hide unsightly scars, freckles, pimples, birthmarks, and what have you. No one was born with "perfect" skin, hair or teeth. I use a wheelchair to get around; imagine how absurd it would be to try and hide that?

  • 38 Posted by nithinthaha2003 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 7:39PM EDT Report Abuse

    In the end, it comes down to self confidence. If it gives them a lift in self confidence, then why not. It isn't like we live in a society where everybody isn't shallow and only show true deep emotions. We all care about it some way or the other. Using a program to modify a picture isn't really a big deal if it helps the person. However i do think its going too far reporting ppl over the fact that some of their pictures have been airbrushed. Simple fact remains, they are professionals paid to do a job and since in today's world, imagery and perception is everything, airbrushing is bound to be used somewhere or the other.

  • 39 Posted by maururunana on Thu Sep 3, 2009 7:12PM EDT Report Abuse

    Geez, all these comments are sick! Who cares what people think about enhancing photo's? Do whatever makes you happy and comfortable. Nobody is talking about changing your features, just enhancing them.This isn't plastic surgery here!! Besides, everyone you know know's what you look like in real life anyhow. And what's up with "what we are saying to our children" thing? Children learn true and good values at home and not some stupid magazine photo shots. Teach your children well and you won't have to worry about them feeling insecure about themselves! I say the best way to predict the future, is to invent it! I love today's technology!!I used Photoshop to remove an ugly tattoo from a beautiful wedding picture plus added lip color. The results were incredible! The happy bride and groom were very impressed and satisfied. I just wished you could see it. More power to Technology!

  • 41 Posted by lorris_email on Thu Sep 3, 2009 6:57PM EDT Report Abuse

    I for one am a Photographer and an avid Photoshop junkie. I take thousands of photos a year and I see all shapes and sizes. The thing I dont see when Im taking a photo or showing the proofs is the rude attitude that I have seen here from a few people. Mostly what I come across are people that want for just that moment to be Beautiful. Beauty is after all in the eye of the beholder and the beholder is holding the check book! They are spending a small fortune on prints so why should they not get a Caddy over a POS? I am also the mother of 3 and the youngest has quite a few health issues. He wont have his photo taken with us if I do not touch them up. To Me its not worth missing a moment with him so I do edit them. It does not make him taller or thinner or short or anything. It makes how his brain sees the image easier to digest. I say GO to those beautiful people. I also say GO to those that are like Me prettier on the inside than out! Go find a good Photographer and someone who can use Photoshop!

  • 42 Posted by bebenceto on Thu Sep 3, 2009 3:04PM EDT Report Abuse

    Yeah yeah go ahead be fony! u see something incredible on the picture, you meet the girl/guy it looks liek a vampire! hellnawh dont tuch up nothing!

  • 43 Posted by angtle on Thu Sep 3, 2009 2:55PM EDT Report Abuse

    Augmentatio by surgery or digital means is nothing more than evidence of how twisted we as a society have become. Why do we allow Revlon, Hollywood, and fashion to define beauty? Because it excuses our own responsibility in the matter.

  • 44 Posted by firehawk1951 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 4:00PM EDT Report Abuse

    I'm disappointed and very upset with Yahoo. I went to lookwow.com after reading about it in the text, and upon arrival, it tried to instantly install 4 ( count 'em 4 ) viruses to my computer. Fortunately my anti-virus software stopped them. I'll NEVER click another Yahoo off-site link, nor should anyone else!! Yahoo was always a site I trusted . . . until now.

  • 45 Posted by peenchme on Thu Sep 3, 2009 8:05PM EDT Report Abuse

    You can airbrush all the pictures of your loved ones that you want, but when that person is gone you will regret not having a picture of their true form. Get rid of red eyes, and fly away hairs, just make sure when your finished you photos look like the people you love most (even if that's yourself).

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