Image forgery detection confronts image composition

The field of image composition is constantly trying to improve the ways in which an image can be altered and enhanced. While this is usually done in the name of aesthetics and practicality, it also provides tools that can be used to maliciously alter images. In this sense, the field of digital image forensics has to be prepared to deal with the influx of new technologies, in a constant arms-race. In this paper, the current state of this arms-race is analyzed, surveying the state-of-the-art. We provide a gentle introduction to both fields, along with theoretical grounding to aid the discussion. Experiments were performed to understand the impact of composition techniques on common forensics traces. We show that even though research in forensics is not focused on advanced forms of image composition, it possesses the basic tools to detect it.