The quality of your source photo directly impacts the quality of your age progression results. A clear, well-lit photo with proper framing gives our AI the best information to work with, resulting in more realistic and accurate aging effects.
✓ What Makes a Great Photo
Lighting is Everything: Natural, even lighting is ideal. Shoot near a window during daytime, or use soft indoor lighting that illuminates the face evenly. Avoid harsh shadows under the eyes, nose, or chin, as these can confuse the aging algorithm and create artifacts.
Face Forward, Eyes Open: The subject should be looking directly at the camera with their face fully visible. Both eyes should be open and clearly visible. A straight-on angle (or very slight turn) works best—profile shots or extreme angles make it difficult to accurately project aging patterns.
Clear Focus and Resolution: Use your phone or camera's highest quality setting. The face should be sharp and in focus, with visible skin texture and details. Blurry photos, heavily filtered images, or low-resolution pictures will produce poor results.
Neutral Expression: A relaxed, neutral expression or gentle smile works best. Extreme expressions (wide grins, raised eyebrows, puckered lips) can distort facial features and make aging projection less accurate.
Distance and Framing: The face should fill most of the frame—think passport photo or professional headshot. If the face is too small in the photo, fine details are lost. Get close enough that facial features are clear, but not so close that parts of the face are cut off.
✓ GOOD EXAMPLE
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- Even, natural lighting
- Face forward, eyes open
- Clear focus on facial features
- Neutral or gentle expression
- Proper distance (headshot style)
- Plain or simple background
✗ AVOID THESE
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- Dark, shadowy, or backlit photos
- Profile or extreme angle shots
- Blurry or out-of-focus images
- Exaggerated facial expressions
- Face too small or too close
- Sunglasses or face coverings
- Heavy filters or effects
🚫 Common Mistakes to Avoid
Filters and Heavy Editing: Beauty filters, Instagram effects, and heavy editing (especially skin smoothing) remove the natural texture and detail the AI needs. Upload the original, unfiltered photo whenever possible.
Accessories Covering the Face: Sunglasses, hats with shadows, large earrings, or anything that obscures facial features should be removed or minimized. Hair covering half the face can also cause issues.
Busy or Distracting Backgrounds: While not critical, a plain or simple background helps the AI focus on the face. Extremely busy backgrounds can sometimes interfere with edge detection.
Group Photos: Always upload a photo with just one person. If you're working from a group photo, crop it first so only your subject's face is visible.
💡 Pro Tips for Best Results
- For babies and young children: Capture them during a calm moment when they're looking at the camera. Natural window light during nap time often works well.
- For older subjects: Good lighting is even more important to capture existing texture and details that will inform the aging process.
- Multiple photos? If you're unsure which photo is best, choose the one with the clearest focus and most even lighting.
- Phone camera tips: Tap on the face on your screen to ensure it's in focus before taking the shot. Use portrait mode if available, but avoid heavy beauty filters.
Remember: Taking an extra minute to get a good quality source photo will dramatically improve your results. When in doubt, good lighting and clear focus are your best friends!