How to Detect Fake Images (ELA Guide)
A practical guide to spotting image tampering with Error Level Analysis (ELA), from upload to interpretation and next steps.
How to Detect Fake Images (ELA Guide)
In the age of AI, distinguishing between real and fake images is getting harder. But for edited photos (splice, clone, erase, retype), ELA is still a reliable first‑pass method.
What Is Error Level Analysis (ELA)?
ELA highlights differences in compression levels across an image. When a JPEG is saved, it’s compressed. If a region is edited and then re‑saved, that region often ends up with different compression history than surrounding pixels.
What to Look For
- Inconsistent Surfaces: Similar textures should show similar ELA intensity.
- Unnatural Bright Patches: Localized bright blobs on smooth areas are suspicious.
- Odd Text/Face Regions: Text blocks or faces that glow much more than the rest.