Can you tell if an image has been photoshopped?

Question

Is there someway (software or otherwise) that you can tell if an image was photoshopped or modified using some software?
Thanks

Answer 1

Well, I don't know if there's any software out there that can do that, but if you have a good eye you can tell if an image has been altered in Photoshop. Basically, you have to have an artist's eye. For instance, let's say you're trying to figure out if a person has been photoshopped into another image. Look for things like color differences (i.e. - the image of one person consists of warm colors while the rest of the photo has a cool tint), lighting differences (i.e. - the image of one person has "top-down" lighting while the objects in the rest of the photo are lit from "top-right"), missing shadows or exaggerated shadows, differences in sharpness, differences in contrast, etc.

Most good Photoshop artists will make sure to coordinate all those things as best they can so the image will look authentic, but a lot of amateurs aren't that meticulous about those kinds of subtle details.

Answer 2

The suggestions about examining the image closely is good advice, but, as noted, not scientific. One other possibility, depending upon the content of the image, is to look at the date the file was modified and/or created. You can do this by right-clicking on the file and selecting "properties". If, for example, the picture was to have been taken last christmas, but has a date modified of 2 weeks ago, then you will know something is fishy.

Answer 3

You just have to look at it. Look for differences in color, and places where the image doesn't line up.

Sometimes it's the subject matter. Any photo that shows a celebrity without underwear is photoshopped.

Answer 4

I don't know, but it seems as if I've seen a few photoshopped images or "fake" ones on here.