Overview

Face Recognition Search in Zoho Backstage helps participants quickly find their photos in the event gallery using a photo of themselves. Participants can capture a live photo or upload an existing photo, and AI searches the gallery for photos containing matching faces.

Participants can review the matching results and download their photos directly from the event gallery.

Before you begin

1. AI must be enabled for the portal before Face Recognition Search can be configured. You can enable AI from Portal Settings > AI Console.
   
2. After AI is enabled, you can use the Face Recognition Search toggle under Configure AI Features to set its default state for new events. Changes made here apply only to events created afterward and do not affect existing events. The setting can be customized for individual events from their AI Console.
   
3. The Gallery must be available on the event website, and Photo Downloads must be enabled in the Gallery Settings before participants can use Face Recognition Search.

Face Recognition Search uses a photo provided by the participant to search for matching faces in photos available in the event gallery.

When participants start a face search, they can either capture a live photo or upload an existing photo of themselves. AI processes the provided image and compares the face in it with faces found in gallery photos. Photos containing potential matches are then displayed as search results.

The photo provided for the search is used to identify matching event photos and does not replace or modify the photos available in the gallery.

Face recognition results may not always be accurate. The quality of the photo provided for the search and the faces visible in gallery photos can affect the results.

Enabling Face Recognition Search for an Event

You can control the availability of Face Recognition Search for an individual event from its AI Console.

1. Open the required event.
2. Navigate to Manage > AI Console from the Dock.
3. Locate Face Recognition Search.
4. Enable the feature for the event.

After enabling the feature, configure the event’s Gallery Settings to make face recognition available to participants.

Enabling Face Recognition Search for the Gallery Section

Face Recognition Search must also be enabled in the Gallery Settings before participants can use it to find their photos. To enable Face Recognition Search in the gallery:

1. Open the event website in the Website Designer.
2. Navigate to the Gallery page.
3. Hover over the Gallery section and click the Settings icon. The Gallery Settings panel will appear.
   
4. Enable Photo Downloads to let participants download photos from the gallery.
5. Enable Face Recognition Search.
6. Publish or Republish the event website to apply the changes.

Face Recognition Search is associated with photo downloads in the Gallery Settings. Ensure Photo Downloads remains enabled for participants to use the feature.

Participant Experience

When Face Recognition Search is available, participants can use the face recognition option from the search bar on the Gallery page to find photos of themselves.

When they start a face search, participants can choose one of the following methods:

1. Capture live photo for search: Participants can use their device camera to capture a photo of themselves for the search.
2. Upload a photo for search: Participants can select an existing photo of themselves from their device.

Before proceeding, participants are informed that AI will process the provided image to find event photos with matching faces. They are also informed that the results may not always be accurate.

After a photo is provided, AI processes it and searches the event gallery for matching faces. Participants can then review the resulting photos and download the ones they want.

Improving Face Recognition Search Results

The effectiveness of a face search can depend on the photo provided by the participant and the visibility of their face in the event gallery photos.

For better search results, participants should provide a photo in which their face is clearly visible. Gallery photos where faces are obscured, distant, poorly lit, or captured at significantly different angles may be more difficult to match accurately.

Because face recognition is AI-assisted, participants should review the results rather than assume that every returned photo contains the correct person or that every photo of them will necessarily be identified.

Privacy and AI Processing

Face Recognition Search requires participants to provide a photo of themselves for the search. Before they proceed, Zoho Backstage informs them that AI will process the provided image to find event photos containing matching faces.

Face Recognition Search is initiated by the participant when they choose to capture or upload a photo. The feature does not require participants to use face recognition to browse the event gallery normally.

AI-generated face matches may not always be accurate. Participants should verify the search results before downloading or using the matched photos.

Disabling Face Recognition Search

You can disable Face Recognition Search for an individual event from its AI Console. You can also disable Face Recognition in Search from the Gallery Settings when you no longer want the option to be available to participants on the Gallery page.

To change the default availability of Face Recognition Search for new events, disable the feature under Portal Settings > AI Console > Configure AI Features. This change does not affect existing events.

If you have any questions, please contact support@zohobackstage.com.