FAQs
Your guide to understanding the Photoshop Detector.
What is the Photoshop Detector?
The Photoshop Detector is a free online tool that uses Error Level Analysis (ELA) and machine learning (LBPH) to detect signs of image manipulation, retouching, or AI generation in JPEG, PNG, and WebP photos.
What is Error Level Analysis (ELA)?
ELA re-compresses your image at a known quality level and measures the difference from the original. Edited regions tend to compress differently from untouched areas, producing visible highlights in the heatmap.
What file types are supported?
JPEG, PNG, and WebP images up to 10 MB each. Only JPEG natively contains EXIF metadata; PNG and WebP are still analysed by ELA and LBPH.
How accurate is the detector?
No tool can guarantee 100% accuracy. ELA and LBPH are strong indicators but can produce false positives (e.g. heavily compressed originals) or false negatives (sophisticated edits that blend seamlessly). Always treat results as one signal among many.
Is my image stored permanently?
No. Uploaded images are automatically deleted after 20 minutes. We do not retain copies or use your images for any other purpose.
Can I test AI-generated images?
Yes. The LBPH model was trained to distinguish real photographs from AI-generated or heavily manipulated images. Results are shown as part of the verdict alongside the ELA heatmap.
Why does the ELA heatmap look uniform?
A uniform heatmap — low variance throughout — usually means the image is a clean, unmodified photograph or was re-saved at low quality before upload. High-variance or patchy regions are the areas worth examining closely.
What does "No EXIF metadata found" mean?
EXIF is camera data embedded in JPEG files (GPS, camera model, software, etc.). Its absence may indicate the image was re-exported, screenshotted, or stripped of metadata — which can itself be a signal worth noting.