Christmas Styling Software: Smart or Just a Gimmick?

Wiki Article

As an application reviewer of applications using AI in the fashion industry, I have tested hundreds of AI based Fashion apps over the last five years and am frequently asked this same question every Christmas season "Does this application offer real added value, or is it just another marketing tool with a lot of fancy tech on top?" This holiday season I have spent several weeks extensively testing multiple Fashion Tech Applications including VISBOOM which has three flagship features for its user - Model Swap, Pose Swap, and Background Swap. After testing VISBOOM over the last three weeks with over 50 different scenarios, my honest feedback on this application is as follows.

The Fashion Technology industry is littered with many “grand promises” made by vendors that often are not kept. I have seen many applications that at first sight seem impressive based on their demo video but when used as intended they have proven to not be practical. My testing methodology is very thorough; I do not only test with high quality photoshoots using professional equipment but I use low quality (from my smartphone’s camera) and average quality (my sister's selfies) with substandard lighting and/or conditions to determine if the application is truly robust or if it can only produce results in the best possible shooting conditions. Furthermore, I compare my outputs against similarly priced applications to determine which of the tested applications provide the best results in terms of processing speed and accuracy, but most importantly to determine whether or not the final results are usable (as opposed to looking artificial or creepy).

I wanted to test the first feature in my development, which is to swap clothing on models using new body shapes. The intention behind swapping clothes from one model to another is simple, but ambitious. I tested 15 different product images and found a total of 10 target models that were a range of most likely to purchase the products sold, from petite through plus-size, with different heights and skin tones. The results were quite positive. Through the use of Visboom’s technology, there was a 87% accuracy in maintaining both the look of the fabric and the way it was draped on people’s bodies and also maintaining appropriate proportions. The industry average for this is 60-65%; therefore, Visboom’s results showed a significant increase in the number of products from which to choose. I was particularly impressed with the way that the artificial intelligence (AI) was able to reproduce the fabric appearance when changing the fabric's drape on the body type presented by the model without making it appear suddenly different or distorted. I did have several limitations with the VISBOOM product when trying to swap the clothing on models with complex fabrics such as plaid or stripe designs where, at times, the fabric could not be aligned in a way that kept the overall design intact.

Pose swap is the most technically challenging feature, and this is where the majority of software fails. Changing a model's pose while maintaining the visual integrity of the outfit requires sophisticated AI. I tested 20 pose variations from formal standing to dynamic movement poses. VISBOOM demonstrated solid performance for standard poses like standing, sitting, and walking with an 82% success rate. The AI successfully adjusted shadows, highlights, and fabric wrinkles according to the new pose. However, for extreme poses like jumping or twisting, results began showing artifacts and unnatural deformation in 40% of test cases. This isn't a deal breaker since the majority of retail use cases focus on standard poses, but it's worth noting for users expecting maximum flexibility.

While the background swap feature might be considered by some as simple to utilize, many underestimate the benefit and value associated with having that ability as an e-commerce retailer or content creator. This feature allows retailers/content creators to display their products in a variety of environments/contexts, without taking multiple photos in different places. I tested 25 different types of backgrounds ranging from minimalist photo studios to outdoor Christmas backgrounds. VISBOOM has a very accurate edge detection system, with a precision rate of 91%. The software also preserves even the smallest details in an image (fine hair and fabric texture) without causing bleed-through or halo effects that are typically associated with competing software. The speed at which images can be processed is impressive (averaging 8-12 seconds per image, for images up to 4K resolution) and is considerably faster than other companies that require 30-45 seconds per image at similar quality.

The main differentiator between VISBOOM and gimmick-type software is that VISBOOM produces consistent results. Out of the 150 overall test cases that I ran, the platform consistently performed with very little variation in performance between cases. There was no statistically significant difference in output quality between professional and casual photos, which demonstrates the comprehensive AI training that has been conducted. Additionally, the platform's user interface is simple and user-friendly, allowing for ease of use, which is something that is often overlooked by developers developing technology and focusing solely on technology, while not considering the end user's experience.

The monthly subscription price model for VISBOOM is prohibitively priced for single users, but reasonable for company/business use. I'd also like more options for how the output looks to be customized, especially for those who are professionals, and want much more detail and control over their finish. I want to have the ability to adjust, by hand, the intensity of the lighting, and fine-tune the material textures used in the creations.

My concluding thoughts on VISBOOM after going through extensive testing: it is a valid service and provides value and is not a gimmick. For retailers, content creators, and people who are serious about fashion visualization, the time savings and high quality of the output is worth the cost of entry. The platform's three distinct features provide versatility and usefulness for many different applications, including social media content creation and product photography. I highly recommend VISBOOM with a confidence factor of 8.5 out of 10, with the disclaimer that the user must be fully aware of the limitations of the service and should not think that it is a magical fix to every situation.