Sometimes retouchers remove distracting objects in the background or totally remove the background from the image. Removing a blemish, adjusting hair covering the face, covering up a scar or lightening the skin are sometimes acceptable depending on the situation. This is why a retoucher should always be careful with what they alter when using Photoshop. Such altering can affect a celebrity or model’s image. Retouching in brands and products is not as big of a deal since it is part of the promotion and marketing. When it comes to shooting people there is a more ethical issue to it because we are dealing with people and their personal appearance. In my opinion, minor retouching is acceptable if it doesn’t alter too much of the subject’s appearance. We get it, Incredible BULK (Source Daily Doze YouTube) What Amount Of Retouching Is Acceptable? It is all good if the results turn out great, otherwise get ready for some comedy.

It seems some smartphones have a sort of feature that can do image retouching that creates a similar result. From large round eyes, to unusually long necks, plastic smooth skin and even shorter chins, the software can change the way one looks in many different ways. When this happens the results can be hilarious and obviously “faked”. The problem is that anyone can use this software and most of the time, amateurs are not aware of what they are altering. When used correctly it can be quite impressive, speeding up the time to retouch beauty images. There is a software for image editing called Portrait Professional which is like Photoshop, but focuses more on the face. The bottom photo was for a Polish ad (Source ListsWorld) Portrait Professional, Right? The retoucher forgot to replace the black man’s hand.

This Microsoft ad shows the original photo at top of a black man being replaced with a caucasian face in the bottom photo.

Photoshop fails