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This Time-Lapse Video Shows How Much Photoshop Is Used in High Fashion Photography

1 minute read

Rare Digital Art, a New York City-based retouching company, created a series of videos showing how much work (and time) can go into Photoshopping a fashion campaign.

In the above video, you’ll see the company’s head retoucher, Elizabeth Moss, spending six hours smoothing, shaping, and contouring a woman’s skin, nails, lips and more. (You can see the other videos in the series here and here.)

“With all the talk about photoshop use or overuse, I thought it would be interesting for people to see how we actually add pores to skin (we do this in the 2nd and 3rd videos, sampled from the girl in the first video),” Moss told PetaPixel.

Read next: Watch a Fitness Blogger Photoshop Herself In Real Time

See How Photoshop Has Altered the Way We See the World

Luxury fashion brand Moschino erased one of its models’ left legs, belonging to Sasha Luss, in its latest Spring 2015 campaign. Moschino
Ferguson protester sign photoshop
This photo, shot by the Riverfront Times in St. Louis, Mo., was reportedly photoshopped by Imgur user Bdawgid. Jermell Hasson’s sign (middle) was altered, the original image read: “No mother should have to fear for her son’s life every time he leaves home.”Imgur
Kim Jong Il photoshopped photograph
This photograph from the funeral procession of Kim Jong Il, taken by the Korean Central News Agency was proven to be digitally altered. Korean Central News Agency
Kim Jong Il photoshopped photograph
This is the unmanipulated photograph from the funeral procession of Kim Jong Il, taken by Kyodo News. an independent Japanese news agency.Kyodo News
This photograph from a military exercise in North Korea, released by the Korean Central News Agency, was digitally altered to add extra hovercrafts.
This photograph from a military exercise in North Korea, released by the Korean Central News Agency, was digitally altered to add extra hovercrafts.Korean Central News Agency
This photograph shows the various hovercrafts that were replicated.Korean Central News Agency
In this digitally altered handout picture released by the public relations arm of Iran’s Revolutionary Guards, Sepah News, a fourth missile (second from the right) has been added to cover a grounded missile that failed during the test.
In this digitally altered handout picture released by the public relations arm of Iran’s Revolutionary Guards, Sepah News, a fourth missile (second from the right) has been added to cover a grounded missile that failed during the test.AFP/Getty Images
This is the original photograph with the grounded missile. AFP/Getty Images
In the summer of 2006, Reuters photographer Adnan Hajj was caught doctoring some of his images of the aftermath of an Israeli airstrike in Beirut. In this photo, he added more smoke.Adnan Hajj—Reuters
This is Adnan Hajj’s original photo of Beirut. Following the incident, Reuters cut ties with Hajj and removed all of his images from its archives. Adnan Hajj—Reuters
In March 2003, Los Angeles Times photographer Brian Walski combined two photos of a British soldier gesturing at Iraqi civilians to create this image. Brian Walski—Los Angeles Times
These are the original photographs Brian Walski combined. He was fired from the Los Angeles Times on April 1, 2003.
Bashar Assad, Anas Abdul-Razzaq Naem
The Syrian government doctored this image of the governor of the central city of Hama Anas Abdul-Razzaq Naem, left, being sworn in in front of Syrian President Bashar Assad, right, in Damascus on July 11, 2011. SANA
Altered Photo
A Syrian opposition fighter takes cover during an exchange of fire with government forces in Telata village, Syria on Sept. 29, 2013. This manipulated photo was caught by the Associated Press which then severed ties with the freelance photographer, who it says violated its ethical standards by altering the photo. Narciso Contreras—AP
Altered Photo
A Syrian opposition fighter takes cover during an exchange of fire with government forces in Telata village, Syria on Sept. 29, 2013. This original photo shows a journalist's video camera on the ground in the left corner of the frame, which was later removed by the photographer. Narciso Contreras—AP
Photographer Edgar Martins digitally altered photos in a series on unfinished or unoccupied construction projects around the United States that ran in The New York Times Magazine in 2009. Edgar Martins
Spanish artist Víctor Enrich used photoshop to digitally alter Munich’s Deutscher Kaiser hotel in an artistic fashion. Víctor Enrich
Nathen Steffel put out a call on Reddit after his daughter passed away at just six weeks old for a portrait of her without hospital tubes attached to her body. Nathen Steffel
Reddit user Funkybrewster responded to Nathen's call among other artists and illustrators with this image of Sophia. Funkybrewster/Reddit
An American Apparel advertisement shows the head of a horse with no body. American Apparel
This photoshopped image of a Scuba Diver swimming through Times Square in New York City gained attention during Hurricane Sandy.
This Ralph Lauren advertisement appeared in a department store in Japan featuring model Filippa Hamilton-Palmstierna. Ralph Lauren
Obama, Mideast Leaders Deliver Statements On Peace Process
The unaltered image of Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, U.S. President Barack Obama, Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas, and King Abdullah II of Jordan walk toward the East Room of the White House for statements on the first day of the Middle East peace talks on Sept. 1, 2010 in Washington, D.C. Alex Wong—Getty Images
Al-Ahram's doctored image of Egyptian president Hosni Mubarak and other leaders at the Middle East peace talks in Washington D.C.
Al-Ahram's doctored image of Egyptian president Hosni Mubarak and other leaders at the Middle East peace talks in Washington, D.C. Al-Ahram
Hillary Clinton, Joe Biden, Barack Obama, Robert Gates
President Barack Obama, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and other members of the national security team watch an update of the mission against Osama bin Laden in the White House Situation Room in Washington, D.C. on May 1, 2011. Pete Souza—The White House
The Brooklyn-based Hasidic newspaper, Der Tzitung, removed Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and another woman from a photo of the Obama national security team in the White House Situation Room in Washington, D.C.Der Tzitung
The office of Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) photoshopped several female members into a photograph intended in order to include all of the women in the House Democratic Caucus.
The office of Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) photoshopped several female members into a photograph in order to include all of the women in the House Democratic Caucus. Nancy Pelosi Flickr

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