The Counterfeit Detection Act of 1992 outlines specific legal stipulations regarding the depiction of U.S. currency. This law permits color illustrations of money under certain size and dimensionality constraints, and with the mandate that all tools used to create these illustrations are destroyed after use. However, a user named Jeff, from money-central.com, raises a critical question about the practical application of these regulations within Adobe Photoshop. He believes Adobe is misinterpreting or over-applying these rules through its Counterfeit Deterrence System (CDS).
Jeff’s primary concern isn’t about creating counterfeit money, but about the inability to even open and edit legitimate Images Of Money within Photoshop. The legal text of the Counterfeit Detection Act focuses on the creation of illustrations, not the manipulation of photographic images of money for various purposes. The core issue, as Jeff sees it, is that Adobe’s CDS seems to be preventing users from working with any image that contains currency, regardless of the context.
The frustration stems from the apparent overreach of the CDS. Jeff points out that the law doesn’t forbid editing photos that happen to contain money. He suggests that if the system were limited to preventing the creation of isolated, full-scan images of money resembling actual bills, it would be understandable. However, the current implementation seems to block editing even when money is just a minor element within a photograph, like a bill partially visible in a wallet.
This poses a significant problem for professionals. Jeff, who runs a leather goods brand, uses product photography featuring his wallets, which may naturally include a glimpse of currency. If Adobe’s CDS prevents editing such images, it directly impacts his ability to conduct essential business tasks. The core issue isn’t about illegal counterfeiting, but the legitimate use of images of money in everyday commercial and creative contexts.
Jeff’s plea is to reach Adobe decision-makers – the engineers and policy executives – who can reassess how the CDS is implemented. He highlights the disconnect between the legal intent of the Counterfeit Detection Act and the practical limitations imposed by Photoshop’s current system. The current approach appears to be overly broad, hindering legitimate workflows involving images of money and impacting users who are far from intending to create counterfeit currency. A more nuanced approach is needed to balance legal compliance with the practical needs of creative professionals who legitimately work with images of money.
