Elvis: To Photoshop or Not to Photoshop

So … Elvis was a Rebel fan. That much is clear when looking at this viral photo; one that has been shared for years across social media and across the world.

Elvis was clearly an Ole Miss fan back in the early to -mid 50s. Or was he?

Or was he?

According to a Tupelo resident whose name we will withhold until the mystery is solved; Elvis was indeed a true Rebel fan … and she can prove it.

“The photo belongs to my uncle,” she said in a phone interview this morning. “He’s my mother’s brother and he’s in his 80s. We think it (the photo) was made in my grandmother’s backyard and Elvis was a friend of my family. It was taken around 1950 in Mill Village (south Tupelo).”

Great … mystery solved. Or, maybe not.

The same photo (shown below) has also been shared extensively and it shows the exact same shot of Elvis in the exact same pick-up football game; the only difference – the Ole Miss text across his chest is missing.

Maybe not!

It doesn’t take a graphic designer to know that the image has indeed been Photoshopped to an extent. The question now transforms into which direction the Photoshopping occurred; from Elvis in Ole Miss sweats to Elvis in a blank sweat suit; or was it the other way around?

Again, according to our unnamed source, Elvis was most definitely wearing Ole Miss sweats that long ago, vintage day back in 1950 … or whenever it was. And, this comes from a lady whose family was allegedly friends with Elvis – a family that has supported Mississippi State for God knows how long. Why would such a group lean toward an Elvis-Ole Miss connection?

I’m not sure what to think. As a graphic designer for over 20 years, I can most assuredly testify that removing digital data from an image is way easier – exponentially easier – than adding vector data to an image (like text). Not only that; when adding vector data to a vintage photo, only an expert can give it the seamless appearance required to make it look authentic – to make it work. When adding data to an image from the same image, however, there’s usually no problem at all because you are using pixels with the exact same tone and smoothness seen throughout the original.

All of the above is designer gibberish to say that the easiest route would be to take pixels from the bottom of Elvis’ sweats and place (clone) them over the top of the Ole Miss text and … Voila … Elvis instantly becomes a generic football player; or even worse, a Mississippi State Bulldog fan. There’s no way to positively tell without examination of the original photo.

How does HottyToddy.com even know of this situation or our unnamed source for that matter?

Turns out, the “source” wants her family credited with the use of the photo since, in their opinion, it’s their property after all.

“I put that photo on Facebook a few years ago, and all of a sudden, we lost control of it because it went viral,” she said. “They went crazy with it.”

Only time will tell, I guess, since the original has “turned up missing after the tornado.” If and when it’s located – if ever, I plan on taking my graphic eye to the source and figuring it out for myself. At that point, I’ll happily credit whoever the photo belongs to and castigate whoever has been messing with Elvis. Shame on you!

Regardless; everyone LAY OFF ELVIS’ SWEATS! Have some respect (that’s right; we’re looking at you Bulldog and Tiger fans)!

In the meantime; decide for yourself and be sure to let us know what you think.

HOTTY TODDY and happy Photoshopping!

Jeff McVay is a staff writer and graphic designer for Hottytoddy.com. He can be reached at jeff.mcvay@hottytoddy.com

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