Digital manipulation also feeds political humour. Since September 11th, the Internet has been flooded with digitally enhanced parodies -- most often at Osama Bin Laden's expense. Images like "Dr. Evil and Mini Bin" and George Bush as "The Turbanator" are just a few of the hundreds of digitally enhanced images that have been making the rounds via e-mail.

Digital manipulation can have serious social ramifications. Presently law makers in Canada and the United States are grappling with the legal issues surrounding the possession and creation of "virtual child pornography" -- computer-generated pornographic images that do not use actual children.

During the trial of O.J. Simpson, Time magazine received widespread criticism for manipulating a cover photograph of O.J. Simpson's police mug shot -- intentionally altered to make Simpson look darker and more menacing. Not only were there concerns regarding Simpson's right to a fair trial, but these images also fed public debate about racial stereotyping.

Source: National Press Photographers Association

Digital manipulation is the foundation of the fashion and beauty industry, where air-brushed and digitally enhanced portrayals of ideal male and female beauty promote standards of attractiveness that are impossible to achieve. The image on the left is a studio photograph of Keira Knightley, taken for use in material promoting her recent film, 'King Arthur'. On the right the same photo is incorporated into a poster.

The media manipulates images in order the create a scandal. For instance, the following photo-shopped image of Prince Harry for Radar Magazine caused quite a stir around the world, when he was portrayed as a lazy, drinking and no-good prince. Again, this picture had huge ramifications for the Royal family.

Most distorted images are used solely for entertainment and to get a laugh. Take the following photo-shopped image for example, the American politician is seen driving straight into the pit of a volcano.