November 27, 2010 - Brah, I've got a wager-rager!

"Bubblemasking", also called "Mormon Porn" is a technique for making mostly-safe-for-work (depending on where you work) images into probably-not-safe-for-work images by using Photoshop or similar to mask a subject's scanty clothing (often a swimsuit) with a wall of solid color covered in transparent holes that deliver titillating views of naked skin. The implication of the resulting image is that the subject is in fact entirely naked, but that the photograph has been censored. In this day and age where we are so accustomed to censorship that we all but ignore it, mentally interpolating the censored pieces of a photograph (or a soundtrack) is a process that happens almost automatically.

The lulzy part of this whole bubblemasking thing is, as usual, the internet community's reception of it. Some people, presumably many of whom have lively imaginations, think of it as an amazingly easy-to-do "Midas Touch" that turns their classmates' innocent Facebook pictures into raunchy fap fodder. To others, it's a largely underwhelming ruse that doesn't fool their keen eyes for a second. Presumably many of these people may be porn "purists", instantly turned off by any suggestion of censorship or even image-doctoring. And then there are those who don't know and don't care. But because of the great divide between those who do care and either hate it or love it, bubblemasking is an issue fraught with controversy. (I would've just linked to ED's article about it, but they don't have one and there's probably a reason for that, so I won't contribute one.)

So anyway, I thought, "What if Becky and Psymantha got bubblemasked?" And now you know. Also, you can see the unmasked picture here if you're interested.

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NSFW will be updated again next week.
NEXT TIME: Another Super Power!