We were invited to try out a new service called Pixoo that takes a copy of your profile portrait and photoshops it to make you look better. Naturally, I chose to submit a picture of our dear editor Michael Arrington and asked Pixoo’s stylists to tan his skin, lighten his hair, broaden his chin, and make him look “cheery”. Since we also have an awards ceremony coming up, it seemed perfectly appropriate to dress him in a tuxedo as well. And I must say, I’m extremely impressed with Pixoo’s results, aren’t you?
When Pixoo comes out of private beta at the end of this month, you’ll be able to get your profile picture touched up like Michael’s for $20 a pop. You can specify just what you want done to your photo, and we’re told that the average portrait is improved in about 15-20 ways. Their stylists can complete the photo upgrade in less than 24 hours, but they will keep working on it until you’re satisfied with the new you.
OMFG
Wow, Mike. That picture’s sure to get you a date to the Crunchies.
…and how many revisions are included? Your post suggests their is no limit. I see this as a problem, unless pixoo’s designers are interns.
Mark, you are no longer allowed to post without clearing it with me first.
refuckingdiculous
Whew, that’s fine – I thought I was fired.
You have a tan George Hamilton would envy.
COOL but i wish it was free and you can do it on your own.
They make him look like he is made of plastic. Not cool.
I can’t imagine a free product could do a worse job.
This is not the best sell for this service. I much prefer the before photo. The after looks like Eddie Haskell on glue.
Anyway, Mike, you deserve this. Didn’t you once ask readers to Photoshop photos of me? Payback is a bad thing.
so… they… photoshop your picture…. for $20?
Tell you what, I’ll do it for $15. I have a degree in it and everything.
easy on mark Mike… its funny in a good way.
@#1 – Four letters and possibly the funniest thing I’ve ever read on TechCrunch.
Eh… looks like a 3D render…
You could get even better results with FaceGen 3D – a software package that generates 3D models of faces based on a couple of photos. With that you could not only make him look cheery, but whatever you want, even animate
omg. i cannot stop laughing.
he doesn’t just look “cheery”…he glows gold.
nice highlights. actually, not bad.
Hey Mike will you be using some of that largess you possess to perhaps get a facial, chemical peel, and some good men’s skin care products now that you’ve seen the after?
And here I thought Natali would have said “that you cleaned up well”!
$20 to have your profile picture photoshopped is a waste of money.
For something as simple as a profile picture, there are thousands upon thousands of people on the internet that could touch one up for free. There are plenty of people that would do it for free just to be nice or even just to get their names out there.
Simple face reconstruction/retouching should be one of the easiest and first things a photoshopper knows how to do, and should not be valued at $20 a piece.
In my opinion.
Man, Mike looks like a Solid Gold Dancer!!!!
Lookin’ pretty bronze there, Mikey.
It looks like someone has colorized a 1940’s B&W picture.
this is so Superficial.
just be proud to be your old, ugly, natural self.
What has this fake world come to…”f’n bitch”
those teeth are beaming white with that bronze complexion.
lol – the wax mueseum called, they want their statue back.
Can’t believe I used to think Nick was the attractive one at the office!
I need sunglasses to look at this picture.
Pixoo is not the first to off this service. For instance, there is this wicked creepy site: http://www.natu...om/retouch.html
I am particularly impressed with this retouching. I think it gives Mike a run for his money: http://www.natu...m/retoucha.html
It ain’t pretty. But maybe they swapped the before and after images?
dumbest. idea. ever.
Definitely a shoo-in for the wax museum.
Forget Mike’s pic, think of the business model: since this is not self-serve, they have to have “stylists”, how the hell will this be scalable?
>.
And we shall see a stream of myspacers flocking to it! or borrowing their friends macs….or asking in photoshop forums for someone to do it for free or teach them how….I’d personally go with the latter two, less expensive.
Zoli – it depends on how much money each Stylist makes per touch-up job and how long it takes them on average, but if its profitable enough then Pixoo shouldn’t have the hardest time finding stylists to meet demand. They can always raise prices to quell submissions, too.
Mark – you’re wrong. It’s stupid. Zoli’s right. And why did we use my picture again?
Because…..you’re the public face of TC?….
I just realized that I’m wrong. Zoli, you’re right. And because we love you, that’s why.
Ben, I’m flattered, but WTF?
How many porn websites do you think his pic was posted on by now??
I LOL’d…great post MH! …kidding….
I’m deadpooling Pixoo.
Nnnnnnooooooo
this will ruin myspace…there is a term myspace angle for a reason…and stuff like this can definitely see demand
Premature deadpool prediction… damn Michael, you really hate what they did to your pic, huh.
anontroll – no of course not, it was a completely objective opinion, untainted by the hack job they did to my face.
Mark, you in trouuuuuuuuuuuuuble. Best you submit your own pic to Pixoo for mutilation and update this post.
I hate to break Pixoo’s home page claim, but they are certainly not the first profile picture enhancement service. We have been around for quite a while, and you can try us out, not in Private Beta, for just $7. There are certainly others around as well… Also, we won’t make you look like a robot.
http://www.picwash.com/
-Daniel
PicWash, Inc
You won’t look like that again until the Mortician has a go at you!:)
WOWWWWWWW
Hmmm…It is pretty impressive. Not sure if it is a sustainable business model though.
lol – the Ventriloquist called, he wants his doll back.