Auto-Pretty

New Scientist looks at the future of photography:

Although digital image manipulation – Photoshopping – can improve a person's appearance it takes time and skill. But software being developed at Tel Aviv University in Israel aims to automatically make photographed faces more attractive.

The system uses a set of basic rules about what makes a face attractive, derived by asking volunteers to rate the attractiveness of around 200 photographed faces. Tommer Leyvand's team built software that alters faces to match the facial proportions and distances between features that were agreed to be attractive.

The effect is subtle enough that a person is still recognisable as themselves, but somehow prettier.