When evaluating images created by artificial intelligence, a quick quality check can help you determine if the image meets acceptable standards. Start by examining the general structure and visual harmony. Look for artificial anomalies in facial features—such as asymmetrical pupils, additional limbs, or uneven facial symmetry. These are common artifacts in poorly generated images.
Pay close attention to material rendering—skin, hair, fabric, and surfaces should appear authentically detailed, not overly smooth, blurry, or digitally corrupted in ways that indicate algorithmic reconstruction.
Next, inspect illumination patterns. In a authentic image, illumination points create logically aligned occlusions that align with the direction and intensity of the light. If shadows originate from multiple impossible sources, or if objects appear without any shadow, the image likely fails to simulate real-world physics. Also, watch for chromatic discrepancies, such as complexion that appears washed-out or dissonant with scene lighting.
Zoom in on fine details like letters, symbols, or intricate icons. AI often produces inaccurately legible characters or complex designs, resulting in nonsensical symbols or smudged shapes. If the image includes a label, poster, or timepiece, check this out whether the writing is legible and correctly formed. Any unintelligible markings are a strong indicator of AI generation.
Consider the scene logic. Does the image adhere to physical norms? For instance, a person standing on water without any support, or a cat with three heads, are clear red flags. Even if the individual elements look realistic, the overall setting needs to be coherent. Physically contradictory setups are signature traits of synthetic imagery.
Finally, compare the image to verified real-world photos. Real photos often contain organic irregularities—slight motion blur, texture variation, or lens flare—that AI models may remove entirely. AI images can appear overly polished, excessively crisp, or sterilized, lacking the authentic chaos of reality.
By following these steps—checking human form, lighting, materials, fine elements, scene logic, and authenticity—you can rapidly evaluate the quality of an machine-made image without needing specialized tools. This approach is particularly effective when reviewing images for business, media, or private applications where genuineness is critical.
