Dreambit is a Face-Swapping Search Engine, No Photoshop Skills Required

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A computer vision researcher at the University of Washington has developed a face-swapping image search engine that will automatically insert the face from an uploaded photo into any search term at all. No photo editing skills of any kind required.

The researchers name is Ira Kemelmacher-Shlizerman and the tool he created is called Dreambit. Using computer vision, Dreambit analyzes any photo you send its way (say, a selfie), cuts the face out of that photo, and then inserts it into photos it finds on the Internet based on your search query. It’ll even color-correct and try to adapt your face to match the new image.

This video shows the tool in action:

It may seem silly—and some of the results look much better than others—but in reality Dreambit is pulling on some serious research to do its thing. It combines algorithms developed for facial processing, facial recognition, three-dimensional reconstruction, and age progression, among others.

So while it may all seem like fun and games for now, Kemelmacher-Shlizerman was quick to point out a much more serious potential use to UW Today.

“It’s hard to recognize someone by just looking at a face, because we as humans are so biased towards hairstyles and hair colors,” he says. “With missing children, people often dye their hair or change the style so age-progressing just their face isn’t enough. This is a first step in trying to imagine how a missing person’s appearance might change over time.”

For now it’s the silly applications (like the tweet above) that will get the most attention, but even those could come in handy. Ever wonder what you would look like if you finally cut bangs (bad)? Wonder no more (bad)! Just upload a selfie into Dreambit and search for bangs to see the (bad) results.

To find out more or sign up for free beta access, head over to the Dreambit website by clicking here.

(via UW Today via Engadget)

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