The photo retouching technique is usual associated with glossy magazine covers, superstars and top models print presentations or with photo restoration. Even today it is used often in an extreme way, the digital retouchers can cover poorly shot photographs and provide effects for a scene with a minimum of costs and therefore it is a cheap way to deceive the viewers.

Before to take a look over the following examples, try to put aside the fashion influence and the overall impression created by all the “perfect faces” from covers and life stars magazines. Beyond the visual exaggerations, the human desire to look good or more better then in reality is not something new. Think at all famous royal paintings. How many of the subjects were not “retouched”? In those times it was actually a “paint retouching” technique, other wise the painter head get close to the feet.

After all, we can thank them for their legacy. We wasn’t more happy if we knew the true look of some of most ugly peoples who have ever lived and became characters in famous painting just because of the blue blood. In same way, we don’t buy magazines to see models with same acne disease like the 15 years old boy from neighbors or  photo shoots like we can take with an ordinary camera and no setup. Being serious now, are so many situations when what remain from an event is just a photo. Nobody remember over years all the good details, but a good shot, yes. What if in your wedding day your face skin isn’t in a better shape? Or maybe you need some photos for your design / advertising projects. You have the models and the idea, but not and a large budget to hire the a top photographer. You need to retain yourself from obtaining the maximum from what you have?

The next photo retouching images show and extreme (bad) way and the natural way. Is not necessary to define the “natural” term when is talk about digital retouches, because your common sens and the good taste will tell you from first sight. Spend few seconds more then usual over each image, compare the original with the result and try to see the lights and shadow enhancement, the color filters, effects, the over all treatment what make an ordinary photo to look more then proper.