The Pros and Cons of Digital Photo Enhancement

Wed Sep 13, 2006 2:12PM EDT

See Comments (155)

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.

Top 5 Posts

Comments on The Pros and Cons of Digital Photo Enhancement

Post a Comment

Join in the discussion. Here you'll see the comments in the order they were posted.

  • 69 Posted by tlw0506 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 10:12PM EDT Report Abuse

    Use the Dodge tool in photoshop in the white area of peoples eyes. They really pop! Teresa, KC

  • 70 Posted by glenn.flanagan@sbcglobal.net on Thu Sep 3, 2009 4:10PM EDT Report Abuse

    Is there such a thing as a program that allows you to point at something in the photo and have the computer prominently outline it to draw attention to it? Thanks

  • 71 Posted by efrydendall on Thu Sep 3, 2009 3:52PM EDT Report Abuse

    Unless your someone whose livelihood depends on the photos that are taken of you, doctoring your photos is just plain and simple narcissism. Remember, no matter how much you touch up your photo, it doesn't change the real you.

  • 72 Posted by john_kahl@sbcglobal.net on Thu Sep 3, 2009 4:39PM EDT Report Abuse

    I touched up a photo of my sister-in-law to replace a front tooth that had been lost. She loved the result but doesn't display the photo. She said it "doesn't look like me."

  • 73 Posted by coymcdaniel@sbcglobal.net on Thu Sep 3, 2009 3:30PM EDT Report Abuse

    I agree with 'Imfrakenberger.' We no longer are becoming but actually have achieved the status of being a society that is solely concerned with perpetuating falsehoods in order to further buffer ourselves from the things that really matter in life, locally and globally. My stomach turned when I read this article. How one could be more fond of a known lie is beyond me. And people wonder why Americans are "...hated for our lifestyle."

  • 74 Posted by ewao.30@sbcglobal.net on Thu Sep 3, 2009 3:56PM EDT Report Abuse

    I completely agree with mikewofsey. All the scrapes and scars tell a story. What is there to talk about if you see a "perfect" picture of yourself? Oh, look this is when I faked my beauty......

  • 76 Posted by vjmono@sbcglobal.net on Thu Sep 3, 2009 10:36PM EDT Report Abuse

    We are fast becoming a society of artificial, robotic people, who all look alike. Frankenstein used to be a horror story; it is now reality. Quit it !!!!!

  • 77 Posted by gadfly2100 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 4:05PM EDT Report Abuse

    This is not completely shallow. I have some photos of my son at about 1 year old that I would love to use in my screensaver. I just cant because the snot or drool showing up in them is just too much on a 19 inch monitor.

  • 78 Posted by jennagrzehowiak@sbcglobal.net on Thu Sep 3, 2009 4:32PM EDT Report Abuse

    whatever yall all know you want to look flawless in your pictures especially with the holidays coming up! im all ears for any tips anyone has!

  • 79 Posted by t1m15c00l on Thu Sep 3, 2009 9:53PM EDT Report Abuse

    why not just post someone else's photo that you like and say that its you. Misrepresentation is misrepresentation, right.

  • 81 Posted by ranger_pough on Thu Sep 3, 2009 8:29PM EDT Report Abuse

    Wow, I don't believe people actually do this. Just another degree of "fake" we as a society charish so much.

  • 82 Posted by sonyaw2@sbcglobal.net on Thu Sep 3, 2009 9:33PM EDT Report Abuse

    When did we not want to look better? Granted, it's a bit deceptive but not unlike the painters of old who drew aristocrats in the best light,often omitting the pock marks of disease and unflattering hooked noses! And in 100 years, will anyone really care?

  • 83 Posted by texasmic1 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 10:01PM EDT Report Abuse

    My professor in photography in college said one thing at the beginning of the class I will never forget. "Photographs are NOT reality." This was in the days before photoshop or any other computer program to manipulate photos. This whole thing is a tempest in a teapot. Who cares if someone manipulates his or her photos? Do it if you want, don't do it if you don't want. It is no different from wearing makeup, or combing you hair. If you are concerned that you will get fooled on a personals site because someone has manipulated his or her photo then consider that you may both be shallow and are "made for each other"... ;)

  • 85 Posted by daveclause@sbcglobal.net on Thu Sep 3, 2009 3:37PM EDT Report Abuse

    I have nothing to say. Absolutely nothing to say. If I had something to say, I would say it right now. But, since I have absolutely nothing to say, I won't say anything. Did I spell "absolutely", properly? I don't know if I spelled "absolutely", right or not. I have 2729 characters left. There is a limit of 3000 characters for this post. But,I have nothing to say. So, I guess I'll go for now. I might be back later. I don't know yet because I have nothing to say. But if I had something to say, you can bet your first born gold fish that I would say it.

More Posts: First Prev … 3 4 5 6 7 … Next Last

Post a Comment

Sign In to Post a Comment

My Tech

Please enable your browser's cookies to activate the My Tech column.

Also on Yahoo! Tech

Computers Home Office Wi-Fi & Networking Phones & PDAs Cameras & Camcorders TV & Home Theater Portable Audio
 

Site Map | Tour | Subscribe to Yahoo! Tech

Question and Answer content at Yahoo! Tech is written by Yahoo! users at Yahoo! Answers. Yahoo! does not evaluate or guarantee the accuracy of any Yahoo! Answers content. For more information, read the Full Disclaimer.

Opinions expressed by the Advisors are their own and do not necessarily reflect the views of Yahoo! Inc. Yahoo! receives no compensation from any manufacturer or distributor nor does it compensate any Advisor for the coverage of any product or service in any Advisor's content.