From left to right, photographs show the five levels of retouching in a system by Hany Farid of Dartmouth. The effect, from slight to drastic, may discourage retouching. “Models, for example, might well say, 'I don't want to be a 5. I want to be a 1,' ” he said. from NYTimes.com
A new software tool being designed by Dr. Hany Farid and Ph.D. student, Eric Kee, both of Dartmouth, will rate how much retouching has been done to photographs, 1 being the least 5 being the most.
Software to Rate How Drastically Photos Are Retouched – NYTimes.com by Steve Lohr
Having worked in a retouching house and with images everyday, I understand both the good and bad of retouching. I have seen it do some amazing things and have also seen it transform a model (or parts of a model) to the point of misrepresentation. This is, and will be an, on going debate in our field, how much is too much? With our desire for perfection, especially when it comes to selling a product, it is easy to see why photo retouching is pushed so far. However, it is not always the retouchers fault. It may be an over zealous art director or the model them-self pushing the image beyond what is natural. A little clean up, just to put someone in their best light, never hurts. But when it is a major make over, it bring in to question the validity of photography as a whole. This new software will help keep it honest and allow for the non-seasoned viewer to know how ‘re-worked’ images may be.
