(via Software to Rate How Drastically Photos Are Retouched – NYTimes.com)

His tool, Dr. Farid said, would ideally be a vehicle for self-regulation. Information and disclosure, he said, should create incentives that reduce retouching. “Models, for example, might well say, ‘I don’t want to be a 5. I want to be a 1,’ ” he said.

Not a bad idea. It’s getting ridiculous how much retouching is being done these days. But unfortunately, money is the motivator here – people want to see this, want to be like this.

And these art directors and editors know that, so they continue with the facial-kerning and the tummy-smoothing and boob-ballooning. Maybe if people know it’s fake they’ll take a pass, but I’m not sure about that.