Does smiling in photographs make you more attractive to strangers?

Embargoed until: Publicly released: 2023-10-25 10:01

International

Figure 1. - Valuch C et al., 2023 Let’s put a smile on that face – R. Soc. Open Sci. 10: 230413. https://doi.org/10.1098/rsos.230413

An AI tool was used to generate two versions of the same portrait, one with a neutral expression and the other with a subtle smile. According to the researchers, in a swiping task, participants consistently showed a preference for the portraits enhanced with an artificial smile. The study likely confirms that a smile can increase the aesthetics of an image and illustrates that AI tools can reliably improve the perceived beauty of a portrait.

Media release

From: The Royal Society

Let’s put a smile on that face – A positive facial expression improves aesthetics of portrait photographs

Royal Society Open Science

In a world saturated with selfies and snapshots, the study "Let’s put a smile on that face" sheds light on portrait aesthetics. Researchers harnessed AI tools to infuse neutral portraits with delicate smiles, unraveling profound insights. Through tailored experimental tasks, the study uncovered that these understated smiles dramatically enhance aesthetic preferences. These results underscore the power of facial expressions in image perception and AI's role in refining visual appeal. The study pioneers a deeper comprehension of visual aesthetics, illuminating paths to elevate photographic artistry in the digital era.

Journal/
conference: Royal Society Open Science

Research:Paper

Organisation/s: University of Vienna, Austria

Funder: This project received research funding from Huawei Technologies Oy (Finland) Co. Ltd. The open access publication is supported by the University of Vienna.

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