Create my book
How do I choose the best photos for the characters?
A simple, sharp, well-lit photo helps more than a professional shot taken from far away.
The right choice
Choose a recent, sharp, well-lit photo. The whole face should be visible, with the forehead, chin and ideally the shoulders. Go for someone facing the camera, close enough to make out their features. An ordinary photo taken in daylight can work beautifully.
Photos to avoid
Avoid blurry or pixelated photos, faces that are too small or cropped, dark photos, filters and accessories that hide the face. Remove sunglasses and caps. If the person is wearing sunglasses or a cap in the photo, the illustrated character may keep them: these accessories hide the eyes or hair, so we can't faithfully recreate the hidden details. Regular prescription glasses can stay on as long as the eyes are clearly visible.
Keep the original photo
Use the original file rather than a screenshot or a small image that's been enlarged. Enlarging a blurry photo doesn't make it sharper. For several characters, use an individual photo in each one's card to avoid any mix-up.
A good photo doesn't guarantee an exact copy
The characters are illustrations inspired by your photos. Our technology can struggle with certain faces, even when the photo is a good one. Check the preview you're shown, and keep in mind that a perfect likeness and consistency in every tiny detail can't be guaranteed. A likeness that you feel isn't close enough isn't grounds for changing the book.
