AI images are now being used in a creative way on social media. The ChatGPT 80s photo trend is going viral , as people are turning their regular photos into an 80s style, making them appear like they are from an old family album.
You have probably seen these images before on Instagram. Some look like an old Indian photo studio, while others look like 90s Bollywood, wedding and college photos. Other regional versions are based on older Indian films.
Best of all, it doesn’t take a lot of complicated photo editing to make one. Upload a clear picture to ChatGPT, give it the desired look and allow AI to create it using vintage clothing, hairstyles, backgrounds and camera effects.
Why Is the 80s AI Photo Trend Everywhere?
Retro photos already have some appeal to those who have grown up seeing similar pictures in old family albums. The new trend allows people to recreate that look without needing to have a photograph from that time.
Users are not just asking AI to add a vintage filter on top of the original image. Instead, they want AI to change multiple elements of the image. A modern look can become an 80s look, and the background can become a vintage photo studio, college campus or even a movie set.
Faded colours, film grain and softer lighting can then give the final image a more realistic photo-like appearance.
How Can You Make Your Own Retro AI Photo?
First, select a photograph that is clear and gives a good view of the face. Attach it to ChatGPT and give it a description of the decade and the kind of picture you want to make.
It’s okay to be brief, but it’s better to include details about clothing, hairstyle, setting and lighting.
Here are 5 prompts you can use with your own photos.
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1. 1980s Indian Family Album Photo
Prompt:
“Make my uploaded photo look like a real Indian photo from the 80s while keeping my face and important facial features recognisable. Include clothes and a hairstyle that represent the 80s and use a simple indoor Indian background. Add warm colours, soft lighting, mild film grain and a slightly faded look, similar to an old printed family photo.”
This can be good if you are looking for a retro photo instead of a dramatic movie-style photo.
2. 90s Bollywood Movie Photo
Prompt:
“Use warm film lighting, rich colours and natural 35mm film grain. The image should look similar to an old movie promotional photo and not a current smartphone photo. Change my hairstyle and clothing to a 90s Bollywood style and keep my face recognisable in the picture.”
You can make this prompt more specific by asking for a romantic, action or comedy movie setting.
3. Vintage Indian Wedding Look
Prompt:
“Transform my picture into an Indian wedding photograph from the late 1980s or early 1990s. Keep my original face recognisable and add traditional clothes, jewellery and a hairstyle from that period. Use simple wedding decorations in the background with direct camera flash, faded colours and the texture of an old printed photograph.”
You can also upload a couple photo and apply the same prompt to create an old wedding album look.
4. Indian College Photo From the 90s
Prompt:
“Make my uploaded picture look like an Indian college photo from the 1990s. Keep my facial features recognisable, give me simple clothes and a hairstyle from that era, and add light film grain and faded colours. Place me on an older Indian college campus with natural daylight and avoid modern gadgets, fashion and other modern objects.”
This is a great choice when you’re looking for something less formal than a studio or cinema portrait.
5. South Indian Film Photo
Prompt:
“Convert my uploaded photo into a 1980s South Indian film photo with warm film colours, soft film lighting and realistic 35mm film grain. Keep my face recognisable and add an appropriate 80s hairstyle, clothing and background.”
The retro trend has also taken over regional looks, with people trying out looks from older South Indian films and Kerala portraits.
The Little Things Can Add Up to a Lot!
The first result is not always the one you’ll be pleased with. If your image still looks too modern, ask ChatGPT to use older clothes, stronger film grain, faded colours or a background that better reflects the era.
Your first picture is important as well. A clear image will give AI a better view of your facial features, making it easier to preserve the original appearance. However, a heavily edited or blurry photo may make it harder to maintain the original look.
You also don’t need to use the same backgrounds that everyone else is using. Try an old railway platform, a 90s classroom, a small Indian photo studio, a family living room or a busy Indian street in the 80s.
90s Photos Are Being Added to the Trend as Well
While 80s portraits made the trend popular, users are now trying out other decades as well. The obvious one is the 90s, as photos from that era have a familiar look.
Camera flash, plain clothes, old hairstyles and faded prints can make the image look like a picture taken before the arrival of smartphone cameras. This style also works well for wedding albums and college photos.
That’s why the trend isn’t limited to just one viral 80s portrait. Use the same picture and experiment with a few decades or settings by making a few changes to the prompt.
However, before uploading a personal picture, make sure it doesn’t contain anything sensitive that you don’t want to share with an AI service. You can also check the service’s privacy settings before uploading personal photographs.
Other than that, it’s pretty easy to try the trend. Select a clear image, choose one of the prompts above and tweak the details until you achieve the retro look you want.
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