Journal/Tutorials

Add a Passed Loved One to a Photo: How‑To

AI Team
Apr 13, 2025
Add a Passed Loved One to a Photo: How‑To

"A step-by-step walkthrough on how to honor those who have passed by including them in your life's most important moments."

When we lose someone, we often feel their absence most acute during big life events. Learning how to add a passed loved one to a photo is a way to acknowledge their enduring presence in our lives.

This guide focuses on the technical and artistic steps required to create a respectful and realistic tribute image using modern AI tools.

Editing photos of passed loved ones

Step 1: The Source Material

The quality of your final image is directly tied to the quality of the photo of your passed loved one.

  • Avoid: Screenshots of social media posts (too compressed).
  • Prefer: Original digital files or high-resolution scans of physical prints.
  • Tip: If you only have a damaged photo, use an AI restoration tool before you try to add them to a new photo.

Step 2: The "Ghost" vs. "Flesh" Look

Before you edit, decide on the style.

  • The "Flesh" Look: Realistic, fully opaque. Makes it look like they were physically there. Requires perfect lighting matching.
  • The "Ghost" Look: Semi-transparent (50-70% opacity). Easier to pull off because lighting mismatches are less obvious. Symbolizes their spiritual presence.

Step 3: The Editing Process

Isolation

Use a "Remove Background" tool. Check the edges around hair and clothes. If the AI cuts off part of an ear or hair, use the "Restore" brush to paint it back in.

Placement

Drag the isolated subject onto your main photo.

Composition Rule

Don't place them floating in the sky unless that is the specific artistic intent. It usually looks better to place them standing or sitting next to living family members, grounding them in the scene.

Blending

If choosing the "Ghost" look, lower the opacity slider. You can also change the blending mode to "Screen" or "Soft Light" for a glowing effect. If choosing the "Flesh" look, keep opacity at 100% and focus on color correction.

Final tribute photo

Conclusion

Knowing how to add a passed loved one to a photo is a powerful skill. It allows you to create a tangible connection to the past, offering comfort and keeping memories alive in a modern, visual way.