In our first Photoshop exposé, we showed you the wonders of the liquify tool for sculpting those stubborn bulges into flesh so taut it squeaks. You saw firsthand how the brush, eraser, and blur tools are the equivalent of Michelangelo’s hammer and chisel. Because airbrushed images are so convincing, we peel Photoshop back layer by layer to reveal how celebrities get that post-production je ne sais quoi, all without having to go under the knife! If, however, you are a truly ambitious woman undaunted by the scalpel, you are just a few steps away from completing the successful transformation from average American to flawless celebrity! Everyone, play along at home! It goes something like this:
Blessed genetic state + personal trainer + vegan chef + gay makeup artist + flamboyant hair guru + anorexic stylist + designer wardrobe + Spanx + plastic surgery + Photoshop = Barbie!
Phew! I’m tired just typing all that. It’s a wonder that Hollywood agents let celebrities get popular before they’ve completely morphed them from a wrinkly larvae to a brand new butterfly. What if the larvae is exposed prematurely? Exhibit A: The pre-operative Megan Fox who shot into orbit with that killer body, but less-than-perfect skin and nose by Hollywood standards. At left, Fox is shown at the Transformers premiere in 2007 before she became a transformer herself by means of a nose job, lip injections, and cheek implants. Why, Meg, why?
Even InStyle.com would not run the original unretouched photo from Fox’s Transformers premiere. In fact, the photo (left) appears in the InStyle “Transformations” feature. Her teeth are positively radioactive in this after photo. Subtle, guys!
Lady mags would have you believe this look is attainable — in fact, easy. It’s as if there’s no army of image consultants necessary. Anyone can look this gorgeous in just 10 minutes if she will follow these four easy steps to glamming up her look. Yeah, right.
So, how is the celebrity transformed? Take a look as the Photoshop layers are peeled off one by one. As they say on those telling makeup ads: Maybe she’s born with it, maybe it’s Maybelline.
FINAL: This is the minimum amount of “correction” that Fox would receive were this image for a glossy magazine spread complete with fawning celebrity interview. We call it the “faux natural.”
THAT PANTENE SHINE: Fox’s hair has been gussied up for chrome-like shine.
HAIR: The nerve of Fox to allow natural forces such as wind to displace hair strands! Flyaways contained.
HEALTHY GLOW: Because her pores have been painted over, a dewy perspiration was simulated with another lacquer of Photoshop paint.
SKIN: Fox’s skin was airbrushed in four shades of flesh tones for that poreless matte finish. Say goodbye pimples, birth marks, freckles, and scars. Pores are so highly overrated!
EYES: How dare any celebrity show up to a movie premiere with blood shot eyes? Remove those veins!
PART REPTILE PART FOX: Celebrity eyes often glow a supernatural aquamarine. Really, they’re born with it!
FOX ORIGINAL: Darn natural light! The sun’s too bright here, but Photoshop color correcting tools can give us that crisp contrast to make the celebrity look like God is smiling on her (but not too much).
NEWSFLASH: Celebrities have pores too.