Nowadays, almost everyone is obsessed with having a flawless look. Even the advertisements with the influencers on social media have given us an idea, that which one is considered beautiful and which one is not. In this situation, some people spend millions of dollars to keep up their bodies sexier.
Image altering can also use to have a flawless look. If you disagree with your natural beauty to post on social media, go and edit it. But remember accepting your natural beauty is the best thing ever! Behind the “perfect” pictures we see on social media has a huge project of image altering. The correct filter and good editing skills can make someone a top model on Instagram.
By the way, have you ever wondered how your grandparents had that much beauty in their pictures? Even in the XIXth century, most pictures have good quality and perfect looks in their pictures.
This recently resurfaced instructional photography book from 1909 shows how retouching was already a thing before Instagram
It is not a secret anymore. Thanks to who dug up this book named “Complete self-instructing library of practical photography” now we know how the technology was in the era.
This book was first published, in 1868 and it has a huge collection of instructions for black and white photography and this one is a part of a 10-volume collection.
It includes how to shoot, retouch, and the methods of eliminating imperfections of the subject of the photographs.
Also, the book says that, at the early ages, only the photography prints made from the negatives are hand over to the customers. They have not given the photographic negatives to them. And it explains that the prints were made directly from the negatives without altering them. By the time it has improved the quality and the perfectness of the photographs.
And here are some examples made before and after retouching shared in the book
For the retouching, they used many tools. Easel, magnifying glass, lead holder, lead, etching knives, spotting brush, retouching fluid, negative varnish, and etching paste are those.
Pencils were used to erase imperfections and blend highlights, shadows, and halftones, while etching knives reduced highlights and removed the unwanted areas in the photo.
Even they had guides to “reduce the size of stout subjects”! You are no longer a fat lady!
It seems like for a long time, they hated to have freckles!
Even they were able to straighten crossed eyes!
Opening closed eyes? No problem! It says “by the use of knife and pencil, you etch and model, and with these two instruments you can make any alteration you desire on the negative.”
The guide of “How to reduce thick necks?”
Etch a single figure from a group. How is it look natural!
How to add a ‘drapery’ to an outfit?
They made statues from Life! Are we trapped to these tricks!
And this is what people commented
