The Day of the Dead (Dia de Muertos, November 1 and 2) is when families in Mexico remember loved ones with marigolds, candles, ofrendas and calavera face paint. Upload a clear photo of yourself, pick a look such as classic sugar skull or La Catrina, and get it back painted, with your face, hair and pose kept. It works on photos of adults (18+) only.
Which look to pick
Classic sugar skull is the full painted face with petal eyes and a stitched smile. La Catrina adds red lips and a flower hat, after the elegant skeleton lady of Mexican art. Half face keeps one side natural, which works well for a profile picture. Marigold crown is the lightest look, and altar scene adds candles and papel picado behind you.
What the symbols mean
Marigolds (cempasuchil) are said to guide spirits home with their colour and scent. Sugar skulls carry the names of the dead and are left on the ofrenda. The paint is a way of laughing with death and remembering people, not a scary costume, so the filter keeps it colourful and warm.
For adults 18 and over only
Every photo is checked before it is painted. If a person in the picture could be under 18, if we cannot tell, or if there is no person, the tool refuses and nothing is made. If the check is unavailable it also refuses and asks you to try again.
More festival tools
Other festival photo tools on this site work the same way: the Day of the Dead filter and add fireworks to photo.