Digital wizards age Presidential candidates four years

Think Barack Obama's a spry young guy? Under their digital knives, markers, and airbrushes, the Photoshop wizards at PopPhoto.com are giving us a glimpse at what Obama, along with Hillary Clinton and John McCain, might look like after four hard years of aging and the heavy stress of being the U.S. President.

The results aren't pretty, to put it bluntly. All four candidates, at least as PopPhoto has envisioned them, look considerably older and more ragged than they do today, even at their worst. The results are most striking for Obama and Clinton. Obama's been given some gray hair and his otherwise smooth facial skin has been given substantial wrinkles and age spots. Clinton has been "puffed up" and wrinkled considerably, and her hair turned fully gray. McCain has the benefit of already looking old. Four years of digital age mainly amount to a few more wrinkles and larger ears(!?).

While PopPhoto obviously can't predict exactly what the candidates will look like in four years, their guesses are probably not far from the truth. For evidence, check out the before and after pictures of George Bush at the link below: In 2000 he looks like a wee babe, but in 2008 he's clearly showing his age. I wish they'd included a 2004 picture as well, though.

The aging was done with simple Photoshop tools and a lot of advanced skill in using them. To see the before and "after" pictures (just mouse over each one) and learn exactly how the candidates were aged, check out the full story at the link below!

LINK: The Candidates: How will they look in four years?

photo credit: PopPhoto.com, used with permission