Girls creator and star Lena Dunham has no compunctions about her body. She frequently flaunts her wares, daring critics to make comments about her un-Hollywood body.
So when an uncharacteristically flawless Dunham graced the February issue of Vogue, everyone got riled up. Jezebel even offered $10,000 for the untouched images.
No matter where you stand on Dunham's Photoshop-gate, there's no denying that there's something fishy about the photos. Here's how to spot whether a photo has been re-touched by a Photoshop angel.
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The case of the missing leg
Vogue critics have cried foul before, when Claire Danes appeared in an August 2013 seemingly missing her leg. Similarly, in one of Dunham's photos, it looks like her arm has disappeared.
Always scan the picture to see if there are any blatant abnormalities. Not even the best actress is good enough to turn herself into Gumby.
Everything is illuminated
One of the ways to spot a Photoshopped picture is to see how the light hits various objects. Check that all the shadows are facing the same direction and that all the objects have the same side illuminated. There's no way that a photo can be taken in an area with two suns — unless the photographer snapped the pic in a galaxy far, far away.
Blurred lines
While most eyes were on Kim Kardashian's derriere in her recent gym selfie, some people noticed that the tiles behind her were placed in a slightly curved line. Chances are that it's not an all-thumbs construction worker who made the mistake, but that Kim embellished her assets.
Definitely check that fixed objects like roads and tables keep their straight lines, and that no one smudged their way to a better body.
All in the eyes
Ever find yourself lost in someone's eyes? As Lifehacker points out, even the most beautiful pair have some imperfections.
If someone's sclera — the white part of the eye — looks like Wite-out, you can bet that there's some Photoshop manipulation going on. Ditto if the person resembles an Anime character because her peepers are a bit too large.
Background information
As the famous "bae caught me slippin" picture has taught us, you should always check the background for anything amiss. Any reflective surfaces should reveal what's going on behind the scenes.
Proportion control
Barbie's 32-16-29 proportions are physically impossible. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says that the average person is about 5' 4", weights 166 pounds, and has a waist circumference of 37.5 inches.
While stars and models are on average more svelte, they can't be walking bobbleheads. Trust your eyes if something looks off about their waist, or if their heads look too big to be supported by their bodies.
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