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May 17, 2008 11:41 am US/Mountain
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Yearbook Company Admits To Altering Photos
DALLAS, Texas (CBS) ―
Yearbook staffers at a Texas high school will spend the weekend rebuilding the year's book of memories after they discovered altered photos when yearbooks were distributed this week.
Lifetouch National School Studios Inc., the photo company the school used, takes full responsibility for the altered pictures, which went beyond color correction, covering blemishes or re-sizing.
Students said the shocking results included swapped heads and bodies, altered clothing, and even stretched photos that resulted in one female student appearing to be topless.
The company said they will pay to have the publication reprinted before the seniors graduate on June 6 in Plano. The school's last day of school is June 5.
In a faxed statement, Lifetouch officials acknowledged the school's high marks in previous publications.
"McKinney High School enjoys a well-earned reputation in excellence in yearbook design and presentation with many local and national awards. Unfortunately, Lifetouch misinterpreted the specifications and guidelines requested and an error in judgment was made to alter and adjust some photos. It is not the Lifetouch standard practice to alter images for yearbook publications."
On the school's Web site this weekend, officials said about 600 underclass students' photos were altered "without any permission or notification from MHS."
In the unsigned notice, the official added: "I would emphasize the fact that no one at this school, no one on the yearbook staff, or anyone at the yearbook publishing company had anything to do with the alterations."
"This was an unfortunate and unprecedented incident and we sincerely apologize to students, parents and the school for the error. We are pleased we have come to a joint solution to rectify the situation," the Lifetouch response continued.
Lifetouch is based in Eden Prairie, Minn. and takes photos for 28,000 schools. A company spokesman told the Associated Press they have never run into this kind of problem.
"What's different in this case is that Lifetouch staff altered the images they sent to the yearbook company," spokeswoman Sara Thurin Rollin said. "That doesn't happen."
Rollin declined to say if the company fired or reprimanded the employee who altered the images. She said the alterations were "an unfortunate lapse in judgment" but didn't believe it was malicious.
The school has an enrollment of 1,732, it's not known if every student ordered or will receive a yearbook. The reprint will cost about $75,000.
(© 2008 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)