DOWNTOWN-- People make impulsive decisions that they later regret. Men and women get married too soon, teenagers get body parts pierced without regard, and bold individuals get tattoos without considering the consequences. But now, thanks to computer science, at least one of these errors can be undone.

Before Photoshop, tattoos such as this one would have been extremely difficult to remove.

Thanks to comparatively new photo-editing software, tattoos are not as permanent as they once were. Programs such as Adobe's Photoshop, now make it possible to have tattoos safely removed without any risks!

The completely painless procedure involves using precise Photoshopping techniques to remove the tattoo. The result, if done by a professional, is indistinguishable to even the most critical eye.

Sometimes the removal of a tattoo will take more than one session, depending on the location of the tattoo, its size and its resolution. But in most cases a simple ten-minute operation with the clone tool or healing brush is all that is required for the "patient" to be completely restored.

"We offer a service," said Beverly Sanderson, Photoshop tattoo technician. "Laser surgery is a frightening option. I mean lasers can burn a hole right through you--like a death ray! Dyes and skin grafts are no better--we might as well go back to using cheese graters!"

This man's tattoo is completely removed thanks to Photoshop!

Photoshop tattoo removal offers "inked individuals" a chance to restore their bodies to their original unblemished state.

"Our clients are quite satisfied with the results," said Sanderson. "At least now they know there is a solution for tattoo removal. And it's not a permanent solution. We have the ability to undo any of our removal work, up to any level recorded by the history palette."

Sanderson's company is considering branching out into other fields, including the removal of scars, wrinkles, birthmarks, and moles.

Cosmetic surgeons have expressed an interest in the new techniques. They realize that thousands of dollars can be saved by cutting out expensive operating rooms and replacing them with minimum-wage-earning art school students.

"And that's not all! We can also change the hue/colour/saturation of your tattoos, or sharpen/unsharp-mask ones that have become dull with age. We've been experimenting with eye and skin colour too. Nothing is beyond our abilities," boasted Sanderson. "With Photoshop, we can even replace luscious, thick hair that fell out twenty years ago!"

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