Comments on: The Beautification Engine http://www.neatorama.com/2008/10/13/the-beautification-engine/ The Neat Side of the Web Fri, 09 Jan 2009 04:49:02 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.3 By: Ali S. http://www.neatorama.com/2008/10/13/the-beautification-engine/#comment-1087167 Ali S. Thu, 16 Oct 2008 02:31:18 +0000 http://www.neatorama.com/2008/10/13/the-beautification-engine/#comment-1087167 Well, I know for one thing this will make a lot of plastic surgeons a whole lot richer when they use this to convince a client who came in to fix a scar to fix the whole face. Well, I know for one thing this will make a lot of plastic surgeons a whole lot richer when they use this to convince a client who came in to fix a scar to fix the whole face.

]]> By: tominator_66 http://www.neatorama.com/2008/10/13/the-beautification-engine/#comment-1087107 tominator_66 Thu, 16 Oct 2008 00:47:50 +0000 http://www.neatorama.com/2008/10/13/the-beautification-engine/#comment-1087107 Has anyone realised that if symmetry is actually key to beauty, you could take either half of any face image and reflect it, and you would have a beautiful face? This is obviously not the case, and even the most beautiful face put through this procedure gives quite a different result for each side, hence asymmetry. Obviously, the perception of symmetry is an integral part of a beautiful face, but only if the proportions of the features to each other are correct. A beautiful face is close to symmetrical, but a symmetrical face is not necessariy beautiful. If you look on a popular search engine for "beauty mask" you will find reference to a mask for measuring beauty based on the golden ratio which is the basis for all natural beauty as found in trees, flowers, sea shells etc. This is a far more useful and accurate measuring stick than symmetry alone could ever possibly be. Sorry for the long winded response but this attempt to oversimplify the attributes of facial beauty by talking simply about symmetry really annoys me. It's like saying a dog has four legs, therefore if it has four legs, it must be a dog!?? Has anyone realised that if symmetry is actually key to beauty, you could take either half of any face image and reflect it, and you would have a beautiful face? This is obviously not the case, and even the most beautiful face put through this procedure gives quite a different result for each side, hence asymmetry. Obviously, the perception of symmetry is an integral part of a beautiful face, but only if the proportions of the features to each other are correct. A beautiful face is close to symmetrical, but a symmetrical face is not necessariy beautiful. If you look on a popular search engine for “beauty mask” you will find reference to a mask for measuring beauty based on the golden ratio which is the basis for all natural beauty as found in trees, flowers, sea shells etc. This is a far more useful and accurate measuring stick than symmetry alone could ever possibly be. Sorry for the long winded response but this attempt to oversimplify the attributes of facial beauty by talking simply about symmetry really annoys me. It’s like saying a dog has four legs, therefore if it has four legs, it must be a dog!??

]]> By: su.wei http://www.neatorama.com/2008/10/13/the-beautification-engine/#comment-1086764 su.wei Wed, 15 Oct 2008 19:58:34 +0000 http://www.neatorama.com/2008/10/13/the-beautification-engine/#comment-1086764 pretty cool. but it's obvious the program still needs some tweaking. pretty cool. but it’s obvious the program still needs some tweaking.

]]> By: greenmountain http://www.neatorama.com/2008/10/13/the-beautification-engine/#comment-1086022 greenmountain Wed, 15 Oct 2008 05:34:22 +0000 http://www.neatorama.com/2008/10/13/the-beautification-engine/#comment-1086022 eh? On the ones in the link I thought they looked mostly the same, but in the one shown here, I think she looks MUCH better in the after picture. Not sure what everyone saying she looked better in the before are talking about... eh? On the ones in the link I thought they looked mostly the same, but in the one shown here, I think she looks MUCH better in the after picture. Not sure what everyone saying she looked better in the before are talking about…

]]> By: ted http://www.neatorama.com/2008/10/13/the-beautification-engine/#comment-1085719 ted Tue, 14 Oct 2008 23:30:13 +0000 http://www.neatorama.com/2008/10/13/the-beautification-engine/#comment-1085719 Christine, you're only saying that because, like most of the other people here, you don't want to appear shallow. You'd like to think that you're above the notions of beauty that society drums into you. And yet, you still try and improve yourself, you diet, wear high heels and makeup, shave your legs, pluck your eyebrows, and do the myriad other things to make yourself more attractive. What's the new black this season? Do I look fat in this? Christine, you’re only saying that because, like most of the other people here, you don’t want to appear shallow. You’d like to think that you’re above the notions of beauty that society drums into you. And yet, you still try and improve yourself, you diet, wear high heels and makeup, shave your legs, pluck your eyebrows, and do the myriad other things to make yourself more attractive.
What’s the new black this season? Do I look fat in this?

]]> By: christine http://www.neatorama.com/2008/10/13/the-beautification-engine/#comment-1085353 christine Tue, 14 Oct 2008 17:34:24 +0000 http://www.neatorama.com/2008/10/13/the-beautification-engine/#comment-1085353 The left image is much more beautiful to me. The left image is much more beautiful to me.

]]> By: Tempscire http://www.neatorama.com/2008/10/13/the-beautification-engine/#comment-1085330 Tempscire Tue, 14 Oct 2008 16:40:00 +0000 http://www.neatorama.com/2008/10/13/the-beautification-engine/#comment-1085330 Mr. Binky, I'd say it provides some insight into human psychology and culture, which can turn be extrapolated into hypotheses about what evolutionary cause made us this way. For instance, a waist-to-hip ratio of 0.7 for women has been considered the ideal proportion for thousands of years. For whatever reason, it confers the most health and presumably fertility of the various proportions. There's gotta be some underlying reason why different cultures at different times in history find it most appealing. Mr. Binky, I’d say it provides some insight into human psychology and culture, which can turn be extrapolated into hypotheses about what evolutionary cause made us this way.

For instance, a waist-to-hip ratio of 0.7 for women has been considered the ideal proportion for thousands of years. For whatever reason, it confers the most health and presumably fertility of the various proportions. There’s gotta be some underlying reason why different cultures at different times in history find it most appealing.

]]> By: Mr. Binky http://www.neatorama.com/2008/10/13/the-beautification-engine/#comment-1085319 Mr. Binky Tue, 14 Oct 2008 16:12:47 +0000 http://www.neatorama.com/2008/10/13/the-beautification-engine/#comment-1085319 You can argue about which version looks better, but in the end, I think this was just a monumental waste of time by whoever did it. I find it a little pathetic that there's still so much effort into these kinds of things. How do people really benefit from this, when all is said in done? People get new ways to feel bad about themselves? Is this research for plastic surgeons? Another way to take your self-esteem and sell it back to you? You can argue about which version looks better, but in the end, I think this was just a monumental waste of time by whoever did it. I find it a little pathetic that there’s still so much effort into these kinds of things.

How do people really benefit from this, when all is said in done? People get new ways to feel bad about themselves? Is this research for plastic surgeons? Another way to take your self-esteem and sell it back to you?

]]> By: ted http://www.neatorama.com/2008/10/13/the-beautification-engine/#comment-1085279 ted Tue, 14 Oct 2008 15:55:58 +0000 http://www.neatorama.com/2008/10/13/the-beautification-engine/#comment-1085279 I think you better lay off the mint juleps, Dorothy. Woman looks bug-eyed in that picture because her eyes are wide open, probably as a result of posing for the camera. I think you better lay off the mint juleps, Dorothy. Woman looks bug-eyed in that picture because her eyes are wide open, probably as a result of posing for the camera.

]]> By: Dorothy http://www.neatorama.com/2008/10/13/the-beautification-engine/#comment-1084976 Dorothy Tue, 14 Oct 2008 13:17:42 +0000 http://www.neatorama.com/2008/10/13/the-beautification-engine/#comment-1084976 And yes, I am very ordinary looking, but I have one thing you don't have, a charcoal etching of a Mississippi riverboat that belonged to my Grandmother. And there's no reason you should be expected to, beautiful. These boys are everso silly Mabel! And yes, I am very ordinary looking, but I have one thing you don’t have, a charcoal etching of a Mississippi riverboat that belonged to my Grandmother. And there’s no reason you should be expected to, beautiful. These boys are everso silly Mabel!

]]> By: Dorothy http://www.neatorama.com/2008/10/13/the-beautification-engine/#comment-1084975 Dorothy Tue, 14 Oct 2008 13:13:24 +0000 http://www.neatorama.com/2008/10/13/the-beautification-engine/#comment-1084975 Ted, I'll pass that on, and maybe she will get it sorted out for you. God knows we can't go around with you not liking our eye size. Ted, I’ll pass that on, and maybe she will get it sorted out for you. God knows we can’t go around with you not liking our eye size.

]]> By: ted http://www.neatorama.com/2008/10/13/the-beautification-engine/#comment-1084966 ted Tue, 14 Oct 2008 11:45:48 +0000 http://www.neatorama.com/2008/10/13/the-beautification-engine/#comment-1084966 No, the After is more "beautiful". The Before picture is more natural, but she's too damn bug-eyed. No, the After is more “beautiful”. The Before picture is more natural, but she’s too damn bug-eyed.

]]> By: Pol x http://www.neatorama.com/2008/10/13/the-beautification-engine/#comment-1084952 Pol x Tue, 14 Oct 2008 10:44:18 +0000 http://www.neatorama.com/2008/10/13/the-beautification-engine/#comment-1084952 Nope the symmetry thing is true dermot. And it is in no way like phrenology, which said that you could ascertain the character of a person from the lumps on their head. The idea that people are attracted to symmetrical faces says nothing about the character of that face or draws any other meaning aside from it's level of ...symmetrery. Nope the symmetry thing is true dermot.

And it is in no way like phrenology, which said that you could ascertain the character of a person from the lumps on their head.

The idea that people are attracted to symmetrical faces says nothing about the character of that face or draws any other meaning aside from it’s level of …symmetrery.

]]> By: dermot http://www.neatorama.com/2008/10/13/the-beautification-engine/#comment-1084716 dermot Tue, 14 Oct 2008 08:09:59 +0000 http://www.neatorama.com/2008/10/13/the-beautification-engine/#comment-1084716 Oh for the love of... This symmetry thing is utter bunkum. There is no such thing as a symmetrical face. This is a latter day version of Phrenology. What kind of washed up, second rate hack "scientist" spends his life investigating "beauty" in any event? One would think that there were more urgent questions facing the species... Oh for the love of…

This symmetry thing is utter bunkum. There is no such thing as a symmetrical face. This is a latter day version of Phrenology.

What kind of washed up, second rate hack “scientist” spends his life investigating “beauty” in any event?

One would think that there were more urgent questions facing the species…

]]> By: Pol x http://www.neatorama.com/2008/10/13/the-beautification-engine/#comment-1084703 Pol x Tue, 14 Oct 2008 07:32:09 +0000 http://www.neatorama.com/2008/10/13/the-beautification-engine/#comment-1084703 I must be in denial then as I find the before pic far more attractive than the after. I like the peculiarities that make faces much more than the blandly perfect. Humans respond to symmettry not Barbie. If there is symmetry it is attractive irrespective. The media have decided that thin is most attractive when it is actually the ratio of hip to waist that is most attractive regardless of weight. I find this homogenisation of people sort of loathesome I must be in denial then as I find the before pic far more attractive than the after.

I like the peculiarities that make faces much more than the blandly perfect.

Humans respond to symmettry not Barbie.

If there is symmetry it is attractive irrespective.

The media have decided that thin is most attractive when it is actually the ratio of hip to waist that is most attractive regardless of weight.

I find this homogenisation of people sort of loathesome

]]> By: S. http://www.neatorama.com/2008/10/13/the-beautification-engine/#comment-1084689 S. Tue, 14 Oct 2008 06:32:33 +0000 http://www.neatorama.com/2008/10/13/the-beautification-engine/#comment-1084689 I don't know about the rest of you all, but for the most part it seems like the "beautified" faces just mooshed the features closer to the center of the face and lengthened the distances between the nose and mouth and that the result kind of looked like their faces had been squashed in a vise while leaving the head intact, and that the originals looked a hell of a lot better. All the faces seemed too small and Michael Cera ended up looking like some freakish cave troll with tiny eyeballs. I don’t know about the rest of you all, but for the most part it seems like the “beautified” faces just mooshed the features closer to the center of the face and lengthened the distances between the nose and mouth and that the result kind of looked like their faces had been squashed in a vise while leaving the head intact, and that the originals looked a hell of a lot better. All the faces seemed too small and Michael Cera ended up looking like some freakish cave troll with tiny eyeballs.

]]> By: Martha Allen http://www.neatorama.com/2008/10/13/the-beautification-engine/#comment-1084673 Martha Allen Tue, 14 Oct 2008 05:24:46 +0000 http://www.neatorama.com/2008/10/13/the-beautification-engine/#comment-1084673 The girl's picture on the left looks like she's going to shoot ICBM's out of her eyes The girl’s picture on the left looks like she’s going to shoot ICBM’s out of her eyes

]]> By: just a guy http://www.neatorama.com/2008/10/13/the-beautification-engine/#comment-1084654 just a guy Tue, 14 Oct 2008 03:47:37 +0000 http://www.neatorama.com/2008/10/13/the-beautification-engine/#comment-1084654 "psychologists, philosophers and feminists" ah, yes, the three pilliars on which society relies. :P “psychologists, philosophers and feminists”

ah, yes, the three pilliars on which society relies. :P

]]> By: zeytoun http://www.neatorama.com/2008/10/13/the-beautification-engine/#comment-1084647 zeytoun Tue, 14 Oct 2008 03:38:55 +0000 http://www.neatorama.com/2008/10/13/the-beautification-engine/#comment-1084647 I thought the left image was the beautified version. (Left = wow, Right = meh) Actually, studies show that we find faces that are just slightly off of "perfect" symmetry to be the most beautiful. Completely "perfect" symmetry seems a little boring and forgettable to us... (probably something to do with wanting enough symmetry to indicate health, with a little variation to indicate genetic variation) I thought the left image was the beautified version. (Left = wow, Right = meh)

Actually, studies show that we find faces that are just slightly off of “perfect” symmetry to be the most beautiful. Completely “perfect” symmetry seems a little boring and forgettable to us… (probably something to do with wanting enough symmetry to indicate health, with a little variation to indicate genetic variation)

]]> By: Tempscire http://www.neatorama.com/2008/10/13/the-beautification-engine/#comment-1084641 Tempscire Tue, 14 Oct 2008 03:08:35 +0000 http://www.neatorama.com/2008/10/13/the-beautification-engine/#comment-1084641 Neat concept. Looking at most of the before/after pictures was like looking at those "spot 6 differences" comics, though. Very, very subtle for most of them. The woman pictured above was the most dramatically changed, and I'd say that the after is indeed an improvement. Neat concept. Looking at most of the before/after pictures was like looking at those “spot 6 differences” comics, though. Very, very subtle for most of them. The woman pictured above was the most dramatically changed, and I’d say that the after is indeed an improvement.

]]> By: Louisa http://www.neatorama.com/2008/10/13/the-beautification-engine/#comment-1084636 Louisa Tue, 14 Oct 2008 02:49:13 +0000 http://www.neatorama.com/2008/10/13/the-beautification-engine/#comment-1084636 I just looked in the mirror and realized I am soooo beautiful. You would think so too if you could see me. I just looked in the mirror and realized I am soooo beautiful. You would think so too if you could see me.

]]> By: ted http://www.neatorama.com/2008/10/13/the-beautification-engine/#comment-1084606 ted Tue, 14 Oct 2008 01:17:54 +0000 http://www.neatorama.com/2008/10/13/the-beautification-engine/#comment-1084606 The only thing it really seemed to do was make the faces look much slimmer and longer. Not earth-shattering. But if you can't see the improvement in this woman's picture here, you're in denial. The only thing it really seemed to do was make the faces look much slimmer and longer. Not earth-shattering.

But if you can’t see the improvement in this woman’s picture here, you’re in denial.

]]> By: Chakolate http://www.neatorama.com/2008/10/13/the-beautification-engine/#comment-1084565 Chakolate Mon, 13 Oct 2008 23:41:53 +0000 http://www.neatorama.com/2008/10/13/the-beautification-engine/#comment-1084565 These pics remind me of a plastic surgeon who was a guest on The View a few days ago. He'd had so much botox and filler that he looked incredibly scary - I'd cast him in a Halloween thriller in a heartbeat. The unaltered pictures all looked either better than or the same as the altered ones, IMO. These pics remind me of a plastic surgeon who was a guest on The View a few days ago. He’d had so much botox and filler that he looked incredibly scary - I’d cast him in a Halloween thriller in a heartbeat.

The unaltered pictures all looked either better than or the same as the altered ones, IMO.

]]> By: Anise http://www.neatorama.com/2008/10/13/the-beautification-engine/#comment-1084511 Anise Mon, 13 Oct 2008 22:08:44 +0000 http://www.neatorama.com/2008/10/13/the-beautification-engine/#comment-1084511 An update after actually visiting the site: Only one person looked better afterwards than before, and it was only because her double chin was slimmed down. This could be accomplished just by losing weight. Every other person looked quite a bit better before. An update after actually visiting the site: Only one person looked better afterwards than before, and it was only because her double chin was slimmed down. This could be accomplished just by losing weight. Every other person looked quite a bit better before.

]]> By: Anise http://www.neatorama.com/2008/10/13/the-beautification-engine/#comment-1084510 Anise Mon, 13 Oct 2008 22:05:59 +0000 http://www.neatorama.com/2008/10/13/the-beautification-engine/#comment-1084510 Whoever this woman is, she looked much better before the weird digital makeover. Whoever this woman is, she looked much better before the weird digital makeover.

]]> By: Sofar http://www.neatorama.com/2008/10/13/the-beautification-engine/#comment-1084501 Sofar Mon, 13 Oct 2008 21:53:33 +0000 http://www.neatorama.com/2008/10/13/the-beautification-engine/#comment-1084501 I can't tell which is the before picture. I can’t tell which is the before picture.

]]> By: Matt http://www.neatorama.com/2008/10/13/the-beautification-engine/#comment-1084485 Matt Mon, 13 Oct 2008 21:03:09 +0000 http://www.neatorama.com/2008/10/13/the-beautification-engine/#comment-1084485 Not bad but i think her right eye still needs to move in a little and her face needs to be smooshed horizontally. Not bad but i think her right eye still needs to move in a little and her face needs to be smooshed horizontally.

]]> By: sparge http://www.neatorama.com/2008/10/13/the-beautification-engine/#comment-1084477 sparge Mon, 13 Oct 2008 20:34:15 +0000 http://www.neatorama.com/2008/10/13/the-beautification-engine/#comment-1084477 MightyCow - true, the altered images may have looked worse due to limitations in image alteration (imperfect CGI, if you will), but the symmetry and proportions improved in most cases. Then again, I thought the before picture posted here looked just as fake as the after picture, so what do I know? MightyCow - true, the altered images may have looked worse due to limitations in image alteration (imperfect CGI, if you will), but the symmetry and proportions improved in most cases.

Then again, I thought the before picture posted here looked just as fake as the after picture, so what do I know?

]]> By: MightyCow http://www.neatorama.com/2008/10/13/the-beautification-engine/#comment-1084464 MightyCow Mon, 13 Oct 2008 20:08:32 +0000 http://www.neatorama.com/2008/10/13/the-beautification-engine/#comment-1084464 A couple of those faces actually looked better after, but most of them turned into mutant freaks. Software failure. A couple of those faces actually looked better after, but most of them turned into mutant freaks. Software failure.

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