Face Close-Up - Photo Guide

Your portrait is hand-cut from the photo you send, so a clear photo of the face matters most. Here is what works, and what does not.

The green marked areas on the photos are the parts we use for your artwork.

Quick checklist

  • Upload in HD or UHD: the larger the better, ideally above 1080 x 1920 px (original photo, not a screenshot)
  • Face fully visible: nothing covering the eyes, nose or mouth
  • Both eyes open and in focus
  • Even light on the face, with no strong shadows or patterns
  • Hair, hands and objects kept clear of the face
  • Glasses are fine if the eyes are visible
  • Please avoid photos with tattoos on the face: we cannot create the artwork from them
  • Please do not upload photos of celebrities

Photos that work well

  • Front-facing woman, face fully visible
    Face area we use
    Front-facing woman, face fully visible (line art)
    Line art

    ✓ Good photo

    Face fully visible, eyes open, looking at the camera. Hair stays away from the face edge. Ideal.

  • Smiling woman with head tilted, both eyes visible
    Face area we use
    Smiling woman with head tilted, both eyes visible (line art)
    Line art

    ✓ Good photo

    Head tilted and smiling; the hand rests beside the cheek, not over the face. Both eyes and the whole mouth are clear.

  • Man with beard turned slightly, face clear
    Face area we use
    Man with beard turned slightly, face clear (line art)
    Line art

    ✓ Good photo

    Slight turn with a clear beard line, forehead and chin fully visible. Turned faces work well when nothing covers them.

  • Woman looking sideways, flowers held below the chin
    Face area we use
    Woman looking sideways, flowers held below the chin (line art)
    Line art

    ✓ Good photo

    Turned face, with the hand and flowers kept below the chin. Eyes, nose and lips are all clear.

  • Man looking over his shoulder, face fully visible
    Face area we use
    Man looking over his shoulder, face fully visible (line art)
    Line art

    ✓ Good photo

    Looking over the shoulder: both eyes visible, whole face in view and well lit.

  • Woman looking upwards, features clear
    Face area we use
    Woman looking upwards, features clear (line art)
    Line art

    ✓ Good photo

    Face tilted up with the chin raised: features stay clear and the hair falls behind the face.

  • Woman with long straight hair, face fully open
    Face area we use
    Woman with long straight hair, face fully open (line art)
    Line art

    ✓ Good photo

    Hair falls to the sides, leaving the whole face, including brows and chin, open.

Photos we cannot use

  • Person covering the lower face with both hands
    Face area we use
    Person covering the lower face with both hands (line art)
    Line art

    ✗ Not suitable

    Hands cover the nose and mouth. We can only cut what we can see.

  • Person wearing a face mask and glasses
    Face area we use
    Person wearing a face mask and glasses (line art)
    Line art

    ✗ Not suitable

    A face mask hides the nose and mouth. Please remove masks before the photo.

  • Face with shadow and net pattern across it
    Face area we use
    Face with shadow and net pattern across it (line art)
    Line art

    ✗ Not suitable

    Shadow or net patterns cross the face and hide its real shape.

  • Person with hands covering the face, eyes closed
    Face area we use
    Person with hands covering the face, eyes closed (line art)
    Line art

    ✗ Not suitable

    Hands cover the face and the eyes are closed, so the face cannot be cut.

  • Person wearing an eye mask with leaf shadows on the face
    Face area we use
    Person wearing an eye mask with leaf shadows on the face (line art)
    Line art

    ✗ Not suitable

    A mask and leaf shadows hide the eyes and cheeks.

Order a Face Close-up portrait