When someone tells you an ad has been PhotoShopped, the natural reaction is “Well, yeah, duh.” What you don’t think about is that the manipulation goes far beyond messing with shading and cleaning up blotches. We asked our readers to enlighten us about the interesting, hands-on tricks ad makers still use. Advertising is a double-edged sword: it informs, entertains, and persuades. But when it manipulates rather than informs, it becomes a tool for deception. Awareness is the key to making informed purchasing decisions.
Burgers, pizzas, and sandwiches in commercials often look far larger and fresher than in reality. Condiments are strategically applied, lighting is perfect, and sometimes items are even glued or painted for visual appeal. Products labeled as “low-fat” or “natural” can be misleading. Some “low-fat” snacks compensate with high sugar or sodium content, while “natural” can be a vague term with no strict regulation.
