image manipulation
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Alphabet’s Jigsaw created a tool that detects doctored images
As image editing software and AI-assisted tool become increasingly powerful, journalists need a way to spot doctored images. Jigsaw, which is owned by Alphabet, forecasts emerging technology-based threats and works to curb their effects. Its latest creation, Assembler, spots the signatures of image manipulation using seven different "detectors," helping reporters to vet the authenticity of the images they publish.
Apple's new iOS 13 feature corrects your gaze during video calls
A video call is a great way to connect with friends and family when you can't physically be together. But even if you're staring directly at your loved one's face, there's still something a little off about the whole process. The way your phone's screen display and camera lens sync up means you're never quite able to look your conversational partner squarely in the eye. Until now, that is. Apple is allegedly working on a new feature that subtly adjusts your gaze during video calls, so it appears as if you're looking into the camera when you're actually looking at the screen.
Adobe trained AI to detect facial manipulation in Photoshop
A team of Adobe and UC Berkeley researchers trained AI to detect facial manipulation in images edited with Adobe Photoshop. The researchers hope the tool will help restore trust in digital media at a time when deepfakes and fake faces are more common and more deceptive. It could also democratize image forensics, making it possible for more people to uncover image manipulation.
Poll: Vote for your favorite Frankengadget!
We had a great time combing through your Frankengadget mash-ups, and while there were many worthy submissions, we sadly had to narrow it down to just five. Our submission deadline has since passed, but now the real fun begins -- it's time to vote! Scroll through the gallery at the bottom of this post, then make your pick in the poll below, selecting just one winner (you can use the thumbs above as your guide). Your top selection's creator will get to take home their very own copy of Adobe Creative Suite 5.5. Voting closes at 12PM ET on Friday, and the winner will be announced on the Engadget Show later that evening, so stay tuned!%Poll-70022%%Gallery-136983%
Did Apple shrink the Samsung Galaxy S in Dutch lawsuit filing?
We haven't had a chance to head on down to The Hague to have a look-see for ourselves, but Dutch tech site Webwereld spotted some more inconsistencies in Apple's Samsung lawsuit filings. This time the culprit is a shrunken Galaxy S, standing side-by-side with an identically tall iPhone 3G -- when in reality the Samsung phone is seven millimeters taller than its Apple counterpart, and slightly wider as well. The image, filed in the Netherlands, is part of an intellectual property suit against Samsung, and came to light just days after accusations that Apple manipulated photos of the Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 that it submitted to a German court. While misleading, this latest error isn't nearly as concerning as last week's shrunken Tab -- which could easily be described as image manipulation, considering that the tablet included in that filing represented an incorrect 4:3 aspect ratio, while the Samsung device has a 16:10 display. Update: The phone pictured above is the Samsung Galaxy S, not the Galaxy S II. [Thanks, Florian]
Did Apple alter photos of the Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 in its injunction filing?
Previously, on Apple Versus Samsung: Cupertino's finest sued Samsung for making "similar" products -- a legal spectacle that most recently culminated with an injunction blocking the sale of the Galaxy Tab 10.1 across Europe (with one exception). The case hinges on Apple's assertion that Samsung is ripping off its designs, but tech site Webwereld spotted signs that perhaps Apple's claims are exaggerated, and that the outfit might have even gone so far as to alter images of the Galaxy Tab 10.1 to suit its case. The comparison shot you see up there is lifted from page 28 of a filing made by Freshfields Bruckhaus Derringer, Apple's European lawyers. Both devices look pretty identical with an aspect ratio of 4:3 -- except in reality, the Tab has a 16:9 16:10 aspect ratio and is far narrower than Steve's magical slate. Of course, we might never know if this was actually a malicious move on Apple's part -- certainly, Samsung's legal team isn't saying anything. For now, though, if you're game to play armchair attorney, head past the break for a comparison shot of the competing tabs as we actually know and love them. [Thanks, Jack]
New image manipulation software results in a skinnier you on film, leaves the real you feeling inadequate
German researchers have developed a new form of image manipulation which really gets to the heart of the matter: we all want to be skinnier and have better looking muscles. The new software, developed at the Max Planck Institute for Informatics, allows both pro and amateur filmmakers to 'dramatically' alter the physical forms of the people on screen -- a process which was previously limited to tedious and time-consuming frame-by-frame techniques. The technique was developed by the team doing full 3D scans of 120 men and women of various shapes and sizes, then merging them into one seriously awesome human form, resulting in a person which can be easily manipulated into pretty much any shape necessary. This malleable form can then be mapped to the actual person on screen, and manipulated for the desired effect in one single frame, and that is then applied to the rest of the film. Video is below.
Make a molehill out of a mountain with Tilt Shift Focus
Got a desire to mess with some pictures you have by controlling blur or making full-sized objects look like miniatures? I've just played with some software called Tilt-Shift-Focus that mimics the way tilt shift lenses work. By artfully applying selective blur, you can make objects look they are part of a train set. There is another effect that duplicates the look of zoom movement in a still photo. There are several modes that let you define where the blur and sharpness is positioned in your image. You can also use a paintbrush tool to draw sharpness onto an image that is pre-blurred. To use the software, you manipulate control points. At first it seems very counter-intuitive, but with a little practice it starts to make sense. Of course, this software is not going to duplicate what an expensive lens can do, but I found it fun to manipulate some photos from my archives and 'miniaturize' parts of the photos. One thing I noticed was that at times loading and saving JPEG images was very slow. I also wish there was some built-in help to get you started, but the developer does have some good tutorials and a helpful videos on his website. If you are looking to do this on an iPhone check out our review here. You can also simulate this effect in Photoshop, and we have you covered there too. The software sells for US$14.99 and requires OS X 10.5 or later. It's worth a spin if you are interested in doing these kinds of effects. Here are some examples I created: %Gallery-88482%
ImageWell 3.5 is available
I love XtraLean Software's ImageWell. In fact, nearly every image I post to TUAW has been edited with ImageWell (we've written about it several times). I think it's the perfect application for when something like Photoshop is overkill. That quick crop, resize, border, etc. can be done in a flash with ImageWell.Version 3.5 became available this week, with a slew of great new features, including New sharpness filter Two new shapes The return key now executes a crop (Yay!) Other minor fixes There's more, of course, and you can get the full run-down here. Among the recent influx of quick-and-dirty image manipulation software, ImageWell is a gem.ImageWell requires Mac OS 10.3.9. Note that version 3.5 will now cost you $19.95US for a single license. Previously, a free version was available as well as a moderately priced "Xtras Pack." This version includes all of the extras and is free for current paid users (A seven-day free trial is available for everyone else). As the day-to-day workhorse it has been for me over the years, twenty bucks is a bargain.
