You may have seen reels saying you can type "/action figure" or "/restore" into ChatGPT. ChatGPT has no hidden photo codes like that. What works is uploading a photo and pasting a clear prompt. Below are full prompts for the five popular styles and ten more you can try.
What you need
A ChatGPT account. OpenAI says ChatGPT Images is available on all tiers, including free, though paid plans get more use (OpenAI Help).
A clear photo: good light, face visible, not too small.
ChatGPT's current image model is GPT Images 2.5, which OpenAI rolled out on 8 September 2026 with better consistency across edits (OpenAI announcement).
Step by step
Open ChatGPT, or open Images from the sidebar.
Upload your photo with the attach button.
Paste one of the prompts below and send.
To fix one part, use the selection tool to highlight it and describe the change, or just type the change. OpenAI notes highlights are not always precise (OpenAI Help).
1. Boxed action figure
Turn the person in this photo into a realistic collectible action figure inside a retail blister pack. Keep their face, hairstyle and outfit recognisable. Put the name "[YOUR NAME]" in bold at the top of the box and the tagline "[YOUR TAGLINE]" below it. Add 4 small accessories in the pack that match their hobbies: [LIST 4 ITEMS]. Clean studio lighting, toy-shop product photo style.2. 1920s time warp
Recreate this selfie as an authentic 1920s photograph. Keep the person's face and expression the same. Dress them in 1920s fashion, use a period studio background, and give it a sepia tone, soft focus, film grain and slight edge wear like a real print from that era.3. Interior makeover
Redesign this room while keeping the same walls, windows, doors and camera angle. Style: [modern Indian / Scandinavian / Japandi / boho]. Budget: mid-range. Suggest new furniture, lighting, colour palette and decor, and show the finished room as a realistic photo. Then list the main changes in 5 bullet points.4. Royal pet portrait
Paint this pet as royalty in a classical oil portrait. Keep its exact face, fur colour and markings. Dress it in a velvet robe with gold embroidery and a small crown, seated on a carved throne, dark background, dramatic museum lighting, visible brush strokes.5. Old photo restore
Restore this old photo. Remove scratches, dust, creases and fading. Sharpen details gently and add natural, realistic colour. Do not change anyone's facial features, age, expression or the composition. Keep it looking like a real photograph, not a painting.Ten more to try
Turn this photo into a hand-drawn anime-style frame with soft pastel colours. Keep the person recognisable.Make this a magazine cover. Keep the person's face the same. Title: "[MAGAZINE NAME]", three short cover lines about [TOPIC], clean fashion-shoot lighting.Turn this person into a cute 3D cartoon character, big expressive eyes, soft lighting, same outfit colours.Convert this photo into a pencil sketch on textured paper, with light shading and visible strokes.Show this person as a professional LinkedIn headshot: same face, neat formal clothes, plain light-grey background, soft studio light.Turn this photo into a vintage Bollywood film poster from the 1970s, with hand-painted style and bold title text "[TITLE]".Make a 2x2 grid of this person in four seasons: summer, monsoon, autumn, winter. Same face and pose in each.Turn this photo into a LEGO-style minifigure scene. Keep the outfit colours and hairstyle.Create a festive greeting card from this photo with the text "[MESSAGE]" in elegant lettering and warm lights in the background.Turn this street or landscape photo into a watercolour painting with loose washes and white paper showing through.You can also open Images > Templates in ChatGPT for ready-made formats like posters (OpenAI Help).
Good to know
No secret codes. Typing "/action figure" alone won't trigger a preset. Writing out what you want is what works.
Faces can drift. AI may slightly change faces. If it looks off, reply "keep the face exactly as in the original photo" and try again.
Restored photos are reconstructions. The colours and missing details are AI guesses, not the real past. Keep the original scan.
Privacy: only upload photos of people who are fine with it. You can stop your chats being used for training in Settings > Data controls (OpenAI Help).
Label AI images when you post them, and don't pass off edited photos of real people as real.
Limits: free accounts have lower image limits than paid ones, and busy times can be slower.
Sources
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