# Choosing the right source photo for video face swap
The source photo decides most of the quality of a video face swap. A quick checklist:
Contents
- Resolution: the face should be at least a few hundred pixels wide.
- Angle: front-facing or slightly turned, matching the main angle in the video.
- Expression: neutral or a slight smile; extreme expressions get copied into every frame.
- Obstructions: no sunglasses, masks, hair across the eyes or hands near the face.
- Light: soft and even; avoid harsh shadows and strong color casts.
- Age and era: an old scanned photo works, but scan it sharply and remove dust first.
# Quick test
Run a 5-second clip first. If the face looks right in the first second and at the midpoint, run the full video.
You can try this for free on Deep Swap AI: upload the video and the photo, no sign-up needed for basic use.
End