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We Stuck Pimples On Billboards To Make Ads More Realistic
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We Stuck Pimples On Billboards To Make Ads More Realistic

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As a teenager, you look at a magazine and for the first time, it clicks in your head that that girl has no pores, that she smiles but her eyes have no wrinkles… that’s the moment you realize someone behind the scenes is changing how a face looks…as an adult… it gets you angry. It surely did get us angry and we decide to launch @Un.Photoshop

The ongoing effort involves bringing back what’s been erased – sticking stickers of pimples, wrinkles, stretch marks, dark circles and more onto the faces of people in ads who have obviously been photoshopped to an unattainable perfection.

We printed the stickers ourselves, adjusted the size and colors for different skin tones as we went, to make sure that our project was as inclusive and wide-reaching as possible. We want people to see that it’s ok to have pimples, and stretch marks, to point out just how photoshopped and fake ads have become. And most importantly; to start a conversation about moving forward in media, encouraging industries to stop these harmful beauty standards because it’s what their audience needs and wants to see, even if they don’t know it yet.

More info: Instagram

Modern ads tend to create unrealistic expectations

So we stuck pimples on billboards to make ads more realistic

ADVERTISEMENT

We printed the stickers ourselves, adjusted the size and colors for different skin tones

ADVERTISEMENT

We made sure that our project was as inclusive and wide-reaching as possible

We want people to see that it’s ok to have pimples, and stretch marks

And to point out just how photoshopped and fake ads have become

We want to start a conversation about moving forward in media

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT

We are encouraging industries to stop these harmful beauty standards

This is what their audience needs and wants to see

Even if they don’t know it yet

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Un photoshop

Un photoshop

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Un photoshop

Un photoshop

Author, Community member

This lazy panda forgot to write something about itself.

What do you think ?
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Master Markus
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I have objections to the ones on the movies posters, since those aren't supposed to represent real life anyway.

Smiljana Laban
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Yes, especially the Ghost in the Shell one, as she is not an actual human in the movie.

Load More Replies...
.gas.
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I like this idea. I'd like to see more, like stretch marks, skin tags, etc. Wish the advertisers would just leave the photos untouched. They're not fooling anyone, anyway. Everyone knows they're fake.

Annie Williams
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I really don't think that's what people want to see, but I understand what they mean. I think the those images should just not be that much photoshoped. Leave it natural. Obviously cover zits and stuff, bc really who wants to see ads with zits. But minor imperfections, normal body size (by which I mean original dimensions of the photographed person), dark areas due to shaving (probably not hair tho..people are still very much against it) and that kind of stuff should remain. No need to resize thighs and make the hair look more. Show people that perfect doesn't exist.

Talise Snyder
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Those are not super realistic pimples but the project is a pretty good idea! As someone with a lot of acne (I mean COVERING my forehead, chin, and temples) I definately feel like I have to have perfect skin and I think things like this project would help with the issues I have with my skin.

SiYuan
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I see the good will in this one, but meh. I mean, that's how things work, ads will always want to show something unrealistic - something you'd want to achieve - and then make you feel like you'll achieve it by buying their products.

La
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

That swim suit is really not flattering to begin with.

SIRiMAC
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Meh I don't know how I feel about this. Good idea I suppose (?)

John L
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I can just picture this selling more magazines, and bolstering Free Enterprise. Give it a go and see how well it works.

Master Markus
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I have objections to the ones on the movies posters, since those aren't supposed to represent real life anyway.

Smiljana Laban
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Yes, especially the Ghost in the Shell one, as she is not an actual human in the movie.

Load More Replies...
.gas.
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I like this idea. I'd like to see more, like stretch marks, skin tags, etc. Wish the advertisers would just leave the photos untouched. They're not fooling anyone, anyway. Everyone knows they're fake.

Annie Williams
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I really don't think that's what people want to see, but I understand what they mean. I think the those images should just not be that much photoshoped. Leave it natural. Obviously cover zits and stuff, bc really who wants to see ads with zits. But minor imperfections, normal body size (by which I mean original dimensions of the photographed person), dark areas due to shaving (probably not hair tho..people are still very much against it) and that kind of stuff should remain. No need to resize thighs and make the hair look more. Show people that perfect doesn't exist.

Talise Snyder
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Those are not super realistic pimples but the project is a pretty good idea! As someone with a lot of acne (I mean COVERING my forehead, chin, and temples) I definately feel like I have to have perfect skin and I think things like this project would help with the issues I have with my skin.

SiYuan
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I see the good will in this one, but meh. I mean, that's how things work, ads will always want to show something unrealistic - something you'd want to achieve - and then make you feel like you'll achieve it by buying their products.

La
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

That swim suit is really not flattering to begin with.

SIRiMAC
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Meh I don't know how I feel about this. Good idea I suppose (?)

John L
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I can just picture this selling more magazines, and bolstering Free Enterprise. Give it a go and see how well it works.

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