AI trend turns selfies into 80s-style retro photos with Ganpati

A new trend has taken over Instagram in which people are turning their simple photos into ones that look like they are from an old 1980s photo album. AI has made it possible to see how parents looked back then, or how one might have looked in that era. Now, Ganpati has become part of this trend too.

People are uploading their photos to create vintage, old-style images of themselves seated at the feet of Bappa, giving off a nostalgic look. The trend does not require writing long English prompts. Just four points need to be kept in mind and the photo is ready in a minute. These retro photos have been going viral on X and Instagram over the past few days, and with Ganeshotsav approaching, more people are creating old-style photos with Bappa.

First, it is important to make sure the AI does not change one's face, since AI tools often generate an entirely different, imagined face instead of the original. To avoid this, users are advised to add the line "Preserve my exact facial features and identity" while giving the photo to the AI tool, which keeps the original face intact.

Second, it is important to get the feel of an 80s photo album. Old photographs had a distinct charm, a slight blur, a whitish-yellow tint, and a soft glow. To recreate this look, users can select the Vintage Filter or Analogue Film Grain option in the AI tool, which makes the photo look like it was scanned from an old album rather than taken today.

Third, the clothes and the home in the photo should reflect the old era. Wearing a T-shirt and jeans would spoil the effect. Instead, 1980s-style clothing is needed, simple cotton shirts, kurtas, traditional sarees for women, and old-style hair. The background should also be simple, a white wall, a marigold flower torans on the door, and a brass lamp (samai) in the corner, to bring out an authentic 1980s feel.

Fourth, and most important, the Ganpati idol in the photo should also be of the old style, not today's large, DJ-style idols. In the 1980s, homes had a simple, red-coloured Shadu clay idol with a small crown, giving a sober look. Having such an idol in the photo brings back memories of Ganpati at old homes in Mumbai or Maharashtra.

The process of creating the photo is simple. Users can go to PixelBin AI Trend Maker or open the ChatGPT mobile app, click the plus (+) button and upload a good selfie. Then they can click on the 1980s Vintage Template, or briefly write out the four points mentioned above. The retro photo with Bappa is ready in just 10 to 20 seconds and can be downloaded and used as a display picture or status.