Frequently Asked Questions

Yes. A free ChatGPT or Gemini account is enough — upload your photo, paste an identity-lock prompt, and generate. No paid tool is required for the standard retro Christmas portrait.

ChatGPT with Images 2.5 (released September 2026) currently preserves faces best and supports multi-turn edits, so you can fix one detail — a wrong hairdo, a stray AirPod — without regenerating the whole scene. Gemini is a solid free alternative and understands the same prompts.

The prompt didn't lock identity before describing the era. Models weight early instructions more heavily, so put identity language first: "preserve my recognizable facial features, natural skin tone, and apparent age — do not beautify, slim, or reshape." If a result still drifts, reply to that image asking to "restore my exact facial features from the reference photo" — with Images 2.5 that edit sticks.

Generally yes for casual use, but be thoughtful: your face can't be changed back like a password. Check the platform's data and training settings, be extra cautious with children's photos, and only upload images you have the rights to use.

For personal cards, yes. For anything commercial, check your platform's terms — most allow personal use freely but place conditions on commercial use of generated images, and you must have rights to the source photo of every person shown.

Ask for it explicitly: "small orange date stamp in the corner reading 12 25 85." Request it in the first prompt or as a follow-up edit; asking after a heavy style pass sometimes renders it blurry.