Tiny Desk AI Photo Requirements: What to Upload

Use a clear, front-facing or nearly front-facing portrait for Tiny Desk AI. The upload accepts JPG, PNG and WebP files up to 8 MiB each. One person with visible head and shoulders is a better starting point than a distant face in a group picture.

Photo checklist

• Face: choose sharp eyes, nose and mouth. Avoid motion blur, a tiny face or heavy smoothing.
• Light: use even light across the face. Avoid strong backlight and deep shadows.
• Framing: keep one head and shoulders visible. Avoid a cropped forehead or overlapping faces.
• Occlusion: keep the face visible. Avoid sunglasses, masks and hands over the face.
• Format: use a JPG, PNG or WebP under 8 MiB. HEIC, GIF and renamed unsupported files are not accepted.

These choices make a photo easier to interpret; they do not guarantee likeness in the generated video. Start with one person. The studio exposes several role positions, but only one-person input is currently verified.

Can I upload a photo from an iPhone?

Yes, use a supported image file. If your phone photo is HEIC, export it as JPG or PNG first; changing the filename extension does not convert the image. If the file is too large, resize or compress a copy while keeping facial detail.

The studio includes a phone transfer option for moving a photo into the same workflow. Keep the transfer code or link private. You can also export the photo to your computer and select the file there.

Can I use a group photo or several faces?

For the first attempt, crop a group photo to a single consenting person. A crowded photo creates ambiguity about which face should guide a role. Several role slots in the interface do not establish that every multi-person combination produces a reliable result.

Check the live studio controls before preparing additional people. The band scene guide explains composition ideas; it is not a multi-person quality guarantee.

Why is there a preview but no video task?

A preview only shows that your browser selected an image. Before generation, check your sign-in state, email verification, upload status, available credits and the permission confirmation. Then submit a task and look for it under My videos.

If the upload is rejected, check the actual format and size, then try a fresh export. For a persistent error, contact support with the error and task ID if present.

Where does an uploaded photo go?

A local browser preview and a server upload are different. The studio indicates the state. Uploaded photos use private storage; access expires after 24 hours. Access expiry and physical deletion are separate steps. See the privacy policy for cleanup and generation-provider processing details.

Use your photo in the studio · Follow the step-by-step video guide