> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.trugen.ai/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Source Image Best Practices

> Technical specifications and photography guidelines for creating high-quality custom avatars.

The quality of a custom avatar depends almost entirely on the source image. Follow these guidelines to get lifelike results that render cleanly across expressions, angles, and lighting.

## Technical Specifications

| Requirement      | Recommended                         |
| ---------------- | ----------------------------------- |
| **Resolution**   | 1024 × 1024 or higher               |
| **Format**       | JPG, PNG, WebP                      |
| **File size**    | ≤ 10 MB                             |
| **Aspect ratio** | Square (1:1) or portrait (3:4, 4:5) |
| **Color space**  | sRGB                                |

## Composition

<Steps>
  <Step title="Front-facing pose">
    The subject should look directly into the camera. Small head tilts are okay; profile shots are not.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Neutral or gentle expression">
    A closed-mouth smile or relaxed neutral expression works best. Avoid open-mouth laughs, exaggerated expressions, or eyes closed.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Head and shoulders visible">
    Frame the subject from the mid-chest up. Leave a small margin above the head — don't crop the top of the head.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Uncluttered background">
    Use a plain, evenly-lit background. Avoid busy patterns, other faces, or high-contrast objects behind the subject.
  </Step>
</Steps>

## Lighting

* **Even, diffuse light** across the face. Soft natural light near a window is ideal.
* **Avoid hard shadows** on one side of the face, from a hat brim, or under the eyes.
* **No direct back-lighting** — the subject should be brighter than the background.
* **No colored gels** or dramatic lighting effects.

## Face and Features

* **Face fully visible** — no sunglasses, no face masks, no obstructions.
* **Standard glasses are okay** but reflective glare on the lenses can cause artifacts.
* **Hair should not cover the eyes or eyebrows.**
* **Facial hair is fine** — beards, mustaches, stubble all render well.
* **Makeup is fine** — extreme theatrical makeup may reduce realism.

## Camera and Quality

* **Sharp focus on the eyes.** Blur anywhere on the face will carry into the avatar.
* **No heavy filters or beauty smoothing** — over-processed skin loses the texture Huma-2 needs to render naturally.
* **Avoid heavy compression artifacts** — export at high quality if resaving.

## Common Mistakes to Avoid

<Warning>
  * Group photos or multiple faces in the frame
  * Selfies with distortion from ultra-wide phone lenses (stand back and zoom in instead)
  * Cartoon avatars, AI-generated portraits, or heavily stylized illustrations (unless that's the intent)
  * Old low-resolution photos scaled up
  * Images with watermarks or logos over the face
</Warning>

## Consent and Rights

Only upload photos you have the legal right to use.

* For your own face, no additional permission is needed.
* For someone else's face, obtain their **explicit written consent** before creating an avatar.
* Do not create avatars of public figures, celebrities, or minors without proper authorization.

<Note>Uploading a photo of another person without their consent may violate privacy laws in your jurisdiction and is against TruGen's terms of service.</Note>

## What's Next?

<CardGroup cols={2}>
  <Card title="Create a Custom Avatar" icon="user-plus" href="/docs/avatars/custom">
    Ready to upload? Follow the creation flow.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Avatar Gallery" icon="user" href="/docs/avatars/gallery">
    Prefer to use a stock avatar? Browse the gallery.
  </Card>
</CardGroup>