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“All that is gold does not glitter,”—J.R.R.Tolkien wrote in The Lord of the Rings. The opposite is also true: not everything that shines is gold. And it’s something that we should keep in mind in our modern world which is dominated by the internet and social media.

We’re constantly bombarded by seemingly ‘perfect’ photos of people on Instagram but a lot of the images are heavily photoshopped. The Instagram Reality subreddit is dedicated to collecting the most retouched IG photos and we’ve collected some of the freshest examples of what not to do to your pics. Scroll down, upvote your faves, and read on for our earlier in-depth interviews with the subreddit’s moderators.

When you’re done looking through this list and if you want to see more examples of mindblowing Instagram photoshops, check out Bored Panda's previous articles about the Instagram Reality subreddit right here, here, and here.

#1

I'm So Glad This Greek TV Host Has Her Own Personal Cloud That Follows Her Everywhere She Goes

I'm So Glad This Greek TV Host Has Her Own Personal Cloud That Follows Her Everywhere She Goes

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Marcellus the Third
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Maybe the cloud is the actual star, and the fact that the girls all look similar is a coincidence? IDK don't watch Greek tv.

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#3

Damn He's Ripped

Damn He's Ripped

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RaroaRaroa
Community Member
3 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Ripped all right. Ripped his arm straight out of a magazine page.

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The Instagram Reality moderators previously told Bored Panda that the coronavirus quarantine had slightly increased the subreddit’s membership but the amount of edited and photoshopped photos that people upload hasn’t decreased much during the pandemic.

The mods told Bored Panda that what people want to see are natural photos of influencers and celebrities, not done up and “edited to hell” images. “The influencer is going to realize that, I’m sure," the mods said about how they expected popular IG users to react to being stuck at home during the lockdowns which are now being eased or ended all over the world.

#5

Half Person Half Cartoon?!

Half Person Half Cartoon?!

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Damon Gates
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

It's probably to cover up the blood from when they cut off her left leg and positioned it partially behind her.

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Christine
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Photographer here! Most likely the retoucher did a layer of color over the skin to even out the tone, but forgot to change the blending mode so it looked natural. Oopsie.

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Rabbit Carrot
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Somebody was photoshop tanning this woman and forgot to press the blend button on her lower half.

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chiizkake
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Looks like it’s from a Bangladeshi catalog (the BD currency...). I’m guessing it was an intentional body cover up to meet societal modesty expectations.

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Malicity D'Obscuro
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I hate when that happens. Excuse me, I need to change out of my Sponge Bob pants....

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Ema Sklepic
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

It could be that the Graphic designer left the wrong layer on xD maybe that was supposed to be a faded layer to enrich the skin colour, but he turned on the wrong layer xPPP

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Lydia Reaves
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

How? Why? Was there alcahol involved? I mean if you were drunk, then it would make some kind of sense.

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Diana Murtaugh
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

It's a cardboard cutout! Couldn' even be bothered to use filters!! Lol

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Monika Soffronow
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

It looks like it is from a swimwear catalogue done on the cheap & quick.

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AnnieLaurie Burke
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

She must have been in a terrible accident. The docs had to reconstruct half her body with cardboard.

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SF Angel
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

She’s half woman. She’s half cardboard. She’s a new superhero! ... just keep her away from open flames

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eddy edward
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

The currency looks like Bahraini Dinar. Maybe the original pic was too saucy for a Gulf country.

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Wenche Johnsen
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

mest-up the layers in the edit, this is probably the layer to make the model more tanned or even in skin tone...

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Kanga9ine
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Some Assembly Required - just stick it there, no one will ever notice. I'm going to bed.

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Shelby McClain
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

What could possibly be wrong with that portion of the body that they felt the need to animate it lol

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#6

Found One In The Wild. I Bet She’s Never Late With Those Legs

Found One In The Wild. I Bet She’s Never Late With Those Legs

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According to the Instagram Reality team, “insecurity, envy, and money” are the forces driving some people to photoshop their pictures so heavily before uploading them on social media. That and wanting to avoid embarrassment because of real or imagined imperfections.

What can start out as a few simple edits or adding some minor filters can eventually lead to major photoshopping. And that creates a huge difference between how the person looks in real life and how they present themselves online.

To be fair, most of us try to show the best sides of ourselves to people. But there’s a rather obvious line between that and turning yourself into a completely different individual online.

#8

Such A Pretty Sunset :)

Such A Pretty Sunset :)

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#9

This Is... A Lot To Take In

This Is... A Lot To Take In

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#11

Where's The Nose?

Where's The Nose?

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#12

Well That's Something New

Well That's Something New

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Lynn Donovan
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I used to admire this lifestyle. Beauty gurus in their big mansions, youtubers turned millionaires, "influencers" with their pretty hair and make-up always on point. And then I realized how tiresome their lives were. All the fakeness of it. I don't want to live a life where it takes me 20mn to post a photo so people I don't know and I don't care about click a button that magically makes me "worthy". The lack of self-esteem, the level of body dismorphia they suffer, the sadness they must feel every morning looking in the mirror and failing to see the true beauty in themselves. I'll pass, thanks. I left this world of consumerism and found myself a new dream: owning a piece of land to grow my own vegetable garden. It was truly a breath of fresh air.

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#13

She Looks Better Without It Though....

She Looks Better Without It Though....

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#14

The Face Of A Ps3 Character

The Face Of A Ps3 Character

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#16

Turns Out Those Organs Did Exist After All

Turns Out Those Organs Did Exist After All

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#19

Post vs. Profile Picture.

Post vs. Profile Picture.

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RaroaRaroa
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

She looks so much better in reality. Do some people go for the extra large, square forehead look?

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#21

This Fake Influencer Likes To Pretend She’s Rich, Constantly Posting Pictures Like That With Captions Like „short Trip To Clear My Mind“.

This Fake Influencer Likes To Pretend She’s Rich, Constantly Posting Pictures Like That With Captions Like „short Trip To Clear My Mind“.

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#22

This Girl Has A Disney-Themed Account, For Her ‘Travels’... Most Of The Pics Are Like This

This Girl Has A Disney-Themed Account, For Her ‘Travels’... Most Of The Pics Are Like This

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#23

A$$ So Phat Even The Car Had To Make Space

A$$ So Phat Even The Car Had To Make Space

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#24

Why Do Women Want To Look Like This??

Why Do Women Want To Look Like This??

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#25

Who Needs Organs Anyway?

Who Needs Organs Anyway?

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Tracey Hirt
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Why do people do this? Do they think anyone finds a 12-inch waist attractive?

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#26

I Think We've All Wondered What She Really Looks Like

I Think We've All Wondered What She Really Looks Like

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Lauren Caswell
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I have always wondered (I saw this person on another panda thread) she actually has really nice real life proportions it must be so hard for people with body dysmorphia and or low self esteem (I mean my self esteem isn't great as I'm a heavily scarred from various surgeries etc and im not exactly fit, but i can own it)

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#27

Profile Pic On Twitter vs. Still From Interview

Profile Pic On Twitter vs. Still From Interview

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#29

Such A Beautiful Home

Such A Beautiful Home

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#30

This Can't Be Just "Angles"

This Can't Be Just "Angles"

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EA
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3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Her eyes are at different levels! What on earth happened to the original photo

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#31

Literally A Different Person Every Single Photo

Literally A Different Person Every Single Photo

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EA
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

She’s paid all that money on plastic surgery, completely altering her body. And still not happy, otherwise why would you photoshop every picture to oblivion

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#32

Armpit? I Don’t Know Her

Armpit? I Don’t Know Her

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Gilda
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I didn't know my armpits were a source of shame now they are coming for earlobes next

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#33

I’m Sorry But His Edited Nose On The Left Literally Looks Like It’s Going To Collapse

I’m Sorry But His Edited Nose On The Left Literally Looks Like It’s Going To Collapse

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#34

I Posted The Left One Yesterday And People Were Not Believing That The Hair Don’t Belongs To Her

I Posted The Left One Yesterday And People Were Not Believing That The Hair Don’t Belongs To Her

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.gas.
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I were not believing that Bored Panda don't thinks grammar check is important.

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Note: this post originally had 61 images. It’s been shortened to the top 34 images based on user votes.