Retouched or not? Tool spots photos' too-flawless features

Models have long been in the spotlight for promoting unrealistic standards of beauty. But digital retouching tools now allow not just models, but also celebrities and everyday people to look impossibly flawless in photos. Viewing these images is tied to eating disorders and body image dissatisfaction, say the Dartmouth College scientists behind a new study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

The researchers decided to test just how much images are retouched. How? They created a photo analysis tool that highlights areas of photographs that have been retouched by comparing originals with published versions. They then tested the tool on over 400 before-and-after photos from magazines, advertisements, and various websites.

Keep clicking to see the images used in the study, provided by lead researcher Dr. Hany Farid, to see heatmap overlays showing how much photos have been altered. Then, take a look at some before-and-afters so you can judge for yourself...

Credit: Dr. Hany Farid