5 Tips for the Most Lifelike Results

Photo technology has come a long way. With tools like Revivo, you can bring still photographs to life in seconds, transforming a frozen moment into a moving, breathing portrait. But the quality of your result depends heavily on the quality of the photo you start with. Whether you are working with a fresh digital snapshot or a decades-old family photograph, these five tips will help you get the most realistic and emotionally compelling results.

1. Start with the Best Lighting You Can Find

Lighting is the single most important factor in any photograph, and that importance carries over into Revivo. Photos taken in even, natural light produce dramatically better results than those shot in harsh overhead fluorescent lighting or deep shadow.

If you are photographing a printed image with your phone (a common approach for old family photos), position the print near a window during the daytime. Avoid direct sunlight, which creates harsh shadows and glare. Overcast days are ideal because the clouds act as a natural diffuser, spreading light evenly across the surface of the photograph.

For photos that are already in digital form, do not worry too much about the original lighting conditions. Revivo's AI can compensate for many lighting issues. However, extremely dark or severely overexposed images may limit what Revivo can accomplish.

2. Aim for the Highest Resolution Possible

Resolution matters more than you might think. Revivo's technology analyzes facial features at the pixel level, mapping the geometry of eyes, mouth, jawline, and skin texture. The more pixel data available, the more natural the resulting movement will appear.

We recommend a minimum of 512 by 512 pixels, but higher is always better. If you are scanning a physical photograph, use a scanner setting of at least 300 DPI. For particularly small prints, like wallet-size photos, consider scanning at 600 DPI to capture every available detail.

If you are using your phone to photograph a print, get as close as possible while keeping the image in focus and free of distortion. Most modern smartphones capture at resolutions well above our minimum requirement, so the key is simply to frame the shot carefully and keep the camera steady.

3. Make Sure the Face Is Clearly Visible

Revivo's technology works by detecting and mapping facial features. The clearer and more prominent the face in the photograph, the better the result. Here are some specific guidelines:

• The face should be front-facing or at a slight angle (up to roughly 30 degrees from center works well).
• Both eyes should be visible. Profiles and extreme side angles typically produce less convincing results.
• The face should occupy a significant portion of the frame. If the person is a small figure in a wide landscape shot, crop the image first to focus on the face.
• Avoid heavy obstructions over the face such as large sunglasses, masks, or hands covering the chin and mouth.

Group photos can work, but the AI will prioritize the most prominent face. For best results with group shots, crop to individual portraits and bring each person to life separately.

4. Know Your Scanning Options

If you are working with physical photographs, the way you digitize them has a significant impact on result quality. You have three main approaches:

• Flatbed scanner — This produces the highest quality results. Set resolution to 300 DPI or higher, save as PNG or TIFF for maximum quality, and make sure the glass is clean and the photo lies flat.
• Phone camera — A surprisingly effective method if done carefully. Use natural indirect light, hold the phone directly above the print to avoid perspective distortion, and tap to focus on the face before capturing.
• Scanning apps — Apps like Google PhotoScan are designed to photograph prints with minimal glare. They capture multiple exposures and stitch them together, often producing better results than a single phone photo.

Whichever method you choose, take your time. A few extra seconds spent on a clean, well-lit capture can make a dramatic difference in your result quality.

5. Choose Photos That Tell a Story

Not every photo needs to be technically perfect to produce a powerful result. Some of the most moving results come from imperfect images — a slightly blurry birthday party shot, a faded school portrait, a creased wallet photo that someone carried for years.

The best photos for Revivo are ones where the subject has a natural expression. Genuine smiles, thoughtful gazes, and relaxed poses all translate beautifully into movement. Stiff, formal poses can sometimes feel less natural when movement is added, though they still produce impressive results.

If you have damaged or faded photos, consider running them through Revivo's restoration tool before creating your memory. Restoration can repair scratches, fill in missing areas, and correct fading, giving Revivo a much better foundation to work with.

With these five tips in mind, you are ready to create results that feel authentic and emotionally resonant. The technology handles the complex work; your job is simply to give it the best starting material possible.