Frequently Asked Questions
What is a hedcut?
A hedcut is a distinctive style of portrait illustration made famous by The Wall Street Journal. These illustrations use stippling and hatching techniques to create detailed, high-contrast portraits that have become iconic in business journalism.
How does Hedcut Maker work?
Hedcut Maker uses advanced artificial intelligence (powered by Google's Gemini API) to transform your photographs into WSJ-style hedcut portraits. Simply upload a photo, choose your preferred image size, and our system will generate a professional hedcut illustration in seconds.
What image sizes are available?
We offer three output sizes:
- Low (1K): Perfect for web use, social media avatars, and email signatures
- Standard (2K): Great for print materials and high-resolution digital displays
- Max (4K): Highest quality for professional use, large prints, and archival purposes
How do credits work?
Each image generation costs a certain number of credits depending on the output size. You purchase credits in advance, and they're deducted when you generate a hedcut. Larger image sizes require more credits because they use more computational resources.
What photo formats are supported?
We support JPEG and PNG image formats. AVIF format is not currently supported. For best results, use a clear, well-lit photograph with the subject's face clearly visible.
What makes a good source photo?
For the best hedcut results:
- Use a high-resolution photo
- Ensure the face is well-lit and clearly visible
- Avoid heavy shadows or extreme angles
- A neutral or simple background works best
- Head-and-shoulders portraits typically produce the best results
Can I use the hedcuts commercially?
Yes! You retain usage rights to the hedcut images generated from your photos. You can use them for business cards, websites, social media, marketing materials, and more.
Are my photos stored?
Your uploaded images and generated hedcuts are stored temporarily for processing and download purposes. We take your privacy seriously and use industry-standard security practices. See our Privacy Policy for more details.
What if I'm not satisfied with the result?
AI generation can sometimes produce varying results. We recommend trying different photos or angles if you're not satisfied with a particular output. If you experience technical issues that prevent generation, your credits will be automatically refunded.
Do credits expire?
Credits may expire if your account is inactive for an extended period. We recommend using your credits within a reasonable timeframe after purchase.
How do I contact support?
If you have questions or need assistance, please contact us at contact@hedcutmaker.com. We're happy to help!