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How to Spot a Photo that’s Been Retouched. Was Hollywood's most devoted husband caught
canoodling with an extra—or is your favorite tabloid faking you out with a Photoshopped
picture? Here’s how to tell. You will need A keen eye and photoshop (optional) (optional)
(optional). Step 1. Look at any square images in the photo, like road signs. Natural photos
don’t contain perfect 90-degree angles--but computers even them out. Step 2. Look for
recurring images--like the same cloud pattern or a group of people that is repeated elsewhere
in the crowd. This indicates that a part of the picture has been replicated to cover up
something else. Step 3. Study shadows to make sure they’re consistent. If two people in
a photo are looking at each other, but the shadows on their faces indicate they’re
both looking directly at the sun--bingo! You’re looking at a composite image. Step 4. Look
closely at where body parts meet. When a head has been placed on someone else’s body,
it often appears at an odd angle and/or at a weird distance from the neck. Step 5. Import
the image and view it in Photoshop, if you have it. Click on “image,” then “adjustments,”
then “hue/saturation.” Set hue to “low” and saturation to “high.” Now scroll the
light bar back and forth. Splotches of discoloration indicate photo tampering. Did you know During
John Kerry’s 2004 presidential bid, someone merged a picture of Kerry at a 1971 peace
rally and Jane Fonda at a political rally one year later to make it seem as though they
were protesting the war together.