# Common mistakes in an AI video swap and how to avoid them

> The usual reasons an AI video swap looks bad, from a filtered photo or the wrong card to a busy clip, and the simple fix for each one before you pay.

Source: https://vswp.app/guides/ai-video-swap-mistakes-to-avoid/ · Updated 2026-10-31

Most AI video swaps that look bad go wrong before the render starts: a soft or filtered photo, a photo on the wrong person's card, the wrong "Keep the original look" setting, or a clip where the face is tiny, covered or spinning. Each of these has a simple fix that costs nothing to check. Go through the list below, test with the free preview, and you avoid most disappointing results and wasted takes.

An AI person swap is generative: it learns a face from your photo and redraws it in every frame, following the original moves, camera, lighting and sound. A weak photo or a hard clip gives it little to go on, so the best time to fix a mistake is before you start.

## Mistake 1: using a weak photo

The photo is the most common cause of a face that doesn't look like the person. Typical slips:

- **Filters and beauty effects.** They smooth the skin and change the shape of the face, and the AI copies that.
- **A group photo or a cropped selfie with someone else's shoulder.** Use one person per photo.
- **A forwarded or screenshotted copy.** Messengers compress images; the original file keeps more detail.
- **Sunglasses, a hand or hair over the face, or dark, uneven light.**
- **A face that is tiny in the frame**, like a far-off vacation shot.

The fix: a sharp, unfiltered photo of one person, with the face clearly visible, in even light, as JPEG, PNG or WebP. Our guide on [the best photos for an AI video swap](/guides/best-photos-for-ai-video-swap/) goes into detail.

## Mistake 2: putting a photo on the wrong card

When you open a video, [vswp](/) finds the people in it and makes a card for each. Main people come first; people seen briefly or far away are grouped as the background. In a clip with two or three similar-looking people, it's easy to drop your photo on the wrong card and end up with your face on your friend's body.

The fix: before adding photos, play the clip and compare each card's picture with the person you mean. If two people should look different, give each of them their own photo. A video takes up to 6 different photos, and everyone without a photo stays as in the original.

## Mistake 3: the wrong "Keep the original look" setting

This one switch decides where the clothes and hair come from:

- **On:** the clothes stay as in the video and only faces and hair change.
- **Off:** the person's look, clothes and hair included, comes from the photo.

The usual mistake is turning it off while giving only a face portrait, then wondering why the outfit looks invented: a portrait can't show clothing it doesn't contain. If you want the outfit from your photo, use a full-body photo of one person; it carries clothing, hair and silhouette best. If the video's outfit is part of the joke, keep the setting on.

## Mistake 4: choosing a clip that is too hard

Some clips are hard for any AI swap. The person you want to replace:

- is small in the frame for most of the clip;
- hides their face behind hands, a mask or a hat;
- spins or turns away from the camera much of the time;
- is one face in a packed crowd, or the camera shakes constantly.

These don't block a swap, but they are where faces flicker or lose the likeness. Pick a clip where the face is large and mostly turned toward the camera; see [how to choose a video for an AI swap](/guides/choose-a-video-for-ai-swap/) and [hands, fast moves and crowds](/guides/hands-fast-moves-and-crowds-in-ai-swap/).

## Mistake 5: taking the wrong part of a long video

You can upload a video from 1 to 120 seconds long, up to 150 MB, but a new video covers a part of up to 30 seconds. The person search runs automatically on the first 30 seconds. If the best moment of your clip comes later, the first 30 seconds may be the weaker part. Choose another part where the person is closer and calmer.

## Mistake 6: expecting everyone to be swapped

People who appear very briefly or are heavily blurred may not be found at all, and people far in the background are grouped together. If someone important flashes by for a second, a different clip will serve you better than more takes. See [who gets swapped in a video](/guides/who-gets-swapped-in-a-video/).

## Mistake 7: skipping the test

New users get one free preview: about 5 seconds of their video at 480p, from where the people with photos are on screen, with a small "vswp.app" mark. Use it to check the likeness and the cards before paying for the full video. After that, 480p is a good setting for trying a setup, and 720p for the final version if you need the detail.

## Mistake 8: repeating the same take over and over

Every take is a new render, so a plain retake can fix a random slip, like an odd hand for one second. But if two takes miss in the same way, the cause is in the setup, and a third identical take usually repeats it. Change the photo, the card, the setting or the part first. Our guide on [when to make another take](/guides/another-take-ai-video/) has a table of what to change for each problem.

## Mistake 9: forgetting consent and labels

Use only videos and photos you have the right to use, and ask before you use someone's photo. By pressing "Create video" you confirm you have those rights. When you post the result, rules differ by country; in the EU, the AI Act's disclosure rule for deepfakes applies from August 2026. A short "made with AI" note is a good habit everywhere. This is not legal advice.

## Quick checklist before you press "Create video"

| Check | Good sign |
|---|---|
| Photo | One person, sharp, no filters, face fully visible |
| Cards | Each photo on the person you mean |
| "Keep the original look" | On for the video's outfit; off with a full-body photo |
| Clip | Face large and mostly toward the camera |
| Part | The best 30 seconds, not just the first |
| Rights | You may use the video, and everyone in the photos agreed |

Prices are in Telegram Stars (⭐) and depend on the length, the quality and the number of people; the exact price is shown before you start. Stars are taken when a render starts and returned automatically if it fails or is canceled.

## FAQ

### What is the most common mistake in an AI face swap?

A weak photo: filtered, forwarded, too dark or with more than one person. A sharp, unfiltered photo of one person fixes most likeness problems.

### Why is my face on the wrong person?

The photo is probably on the wrong card. Play the clip, compare each card with the person you mean, and move the photo before the next take.

### Why does the outfit look different from my photo?

With "Keep the original look" off, the look comes from the photo, and a portrait can't show clothes it doesn't contain. Use a full-body photo, or turn the setting on to keep the video's clothes.

### Will another take fix a bad result?

Only if the problem is small and random. If two takes miss the same way, change the photo, card, setting or part first.