TTG Key: Surface flaws

What are considered “surface” flaws?

Allowed by TTG:

Fixing “surface” flaws on the photograph that were NOT part of the scene photographed

Surface flaws that were NOT part of the scene that was photographed may be left as is, may be partially corrected, or may be fully corrected.

Examples of correctable “surface” flaws include the effects of dirt on the camera’s sensor, a scratch on a negative, or a piece of lint on a scanned slide.

(Obviously if the flaw or the fix would keep the image from meeting rinairs, the image could not meet P7 and could not qualify for the TTG label.)

Disqualified by TTG:

Fixing “surface” flaws that WERE part of the scene photographed

Apart from the effects of TTG’s Allowable Changes, correcting any surface flaws that ARE “part of the scene that was photographed” always disqualifies the result from P2 and from TTG.

For example, a photograph is disqualified from TTG if it undergoes (apart from the effects of TTG’s Allowable Changes) removal of the depiction of a pimple, freckle, mole, tattoo, or wrinkle on skin*; reflections on a portrait subject’s eyeglasses*; a piece of lint on a portrait subject’s shirt or sweater*; the depiction of a scratch, flaw, or piece of dirt or litter in the scene; the depiction of graffiti; or removal of any other “surface” aspects in the scene.