Photo Editing: Write What to Keep First

How do you write a prompt to retouch a photo with AI without changing the face? Write three lines: what to keep, what to change and what not to do, and fix only one thing at a time so the face does not turn into someone else.

In photo retouching, write what to keep before what to change, so the face does not turn into a different person.

How to use it

Write three lines: what to keep, what to change, what not to do.
Fix one thing at a time. If you change background, clothes and skin together, the face changes too.
Many places do not accept AI-retouched ID or passport photos. Check the rules before you submit.
Avoid photos edited enough to look unlike the real person, even for a profile.

Prompts to copy

Natural skin retouch

[Keep] Facial features, age, expression, hairstyle.
[Change] Only small skin blemishes and shadows cast on the face, naturally.
[Do not] Use a filter that smooths the skin flat, enlarge the eyes or slim the jaw.

Clean up the background

[Keep] The whole person and the edge of the hair tips.
[Change] The entire background to a single light gray (#F2F2F2).
[Do not] Leave a white halo around the person or cut off hair.

Tidy flyaway hair

[Keep] Hairstyle, hair length, face.
[Change] Only the thin stray hairs sticking out past the hair outline.
[Do not] Change the hairstyle or add bangs.

Crop for a profile

[Keep] The original quality and color.
[Change] Crop to a 1:1 square. Eye level at the upper third, with the shoulder line visible.
[Do not] Fill empty space with newly generated AI content.

Source posts: @teacher_choi_wisdom