How to Remove Editing from a Photo and See the Original

Attempting to uncover the original version of a photo once editing has been applied can be challenging, particularly if the original is no longer accessible. To understand the complexities and methods involved, we'll discuss how to identify edits, remove unwanted elements, and safeguard your original images.

Understanding the Limitations of Editing Removal

Typically, if your photo has been edited and saved in a single-layer format, such as JPEG, revealing the original unedited version can be nearly impossible. Unlike layered files like Photoshop (PSD), JPEGs (and many other common image formats) do not retain the original image. If your edits have destroyed or altered the underlying layers, the original version is effectively lost. Tools and techniques can help you assess the extent of the edits and even partially restore certain elements, but the full original cannot always be recovered.

Advanced Techniques for Editing Removal

While the original image may not be accessible, there are methods to make your edited photo more authentic or to remove specific unwanted elements. Here’s a detailed guide on how to do so:

Removing People from Photos

If you need to remove a person from a photo, follow these detailed steps:

Select the object or person you wish to remove. Utilize advanced selection tools found in image editing software, such as luminosity mask selection (for advanced users).

Isolate the object to be removed using techniques like quick mask mode for faster editing.

Apply the content-aware fill or a cloning tool to fill in the gaps created by the removal. These tools can help seamlessly integrate the edited area with surrounding elements.

Save a copy of the original unedited photo for future reference, ensuring that you always have a pristine backup to fall back on if needed.

Ensuring You Have the Original Photo

Before you can start any editing removal process, you must have the original photo. Here’s how to ensure you have a clean, unedited version of your image:

Save your edits as a new file instead of overwriting the original. This is crucial to protect your original file. For example, if you save in the JPEG format, its compressed and lossy nature means the changes are permanent.

Always save your original edits in a format that supports layers, such as PSD, to retain the editing history.

Use your phone or camera to capture the original image and store it on your device. If you need to share or post the image, use a screen capture or screenshot directly from the original file.

Example: Photographic Tutorial

To give you a practical example, consider a photo of a pond’s reflection shot in ultra-wide mode with a Samsung S22 Ultra, which has a high pixel density of 109 pixels per square inch. To share this photo on a platform like Quora, you may need to reduce its file size by converting it to JPEG format.

Here’s a step-by-step guide based on my experience with the Samsung S22 Ultra:

Take the original photo in ultra-wide mode, ensuring high-quality details.

For posting on Quora, take a screenshot of the original photo to reduce file size. This step helps comply with Quora’s posting requirements.

Ensure you always have a copy of the original photo, which can be printed in large formats due to its high-resolution qualities.

Save the edited version of the photo as a new file, preserving the original for future reference.

By following these steps, you can ensure that you retain the original version of your photos and can make the necessary edits without losing the master file.