How to test an image for SynthID before posting
Compare an original image with a processed copy, check SynthID separately from generic AI detection and review visible quality.
Originally published October 9, 2026
Use Gemini’s SynthID check for images generated or edited with Google AI. Compare the original with one processed copy, then inspect the image quality.
Compare the original with one change
Keep the original. Save the downloaded image unchanged.
Check it in Gemini. Sign in, upload the original and ask, “Was this created with Google AI?” Google’s instructions explain the verification tool. If SynthID is not detected in the original, this comparison cannot demonstrate removal.
Process one copy. Change one setting or apply one operation so the comparison is easy to interpret.
Check the copy. Upload the actual export to Gemini and ask the same question. Read the SynthID result separately from any Content Credentials result.
Inspect the image. Compare text, product details, faces and edges. Use another image if important details changed.
A change from “detected” to “not detected” describes that checker’s result for those files. Other checkers and publishing platforms can differ.
Choose the check that answers your question
| Check | What it examines | Use it for |
|---|---|---|
| Metadata inspection | Readable file records | Checking which fields remain |
| Content Credentials | A supported provenance record | Checking the recorded origin and edits |
| SynthID check | A supported embedded watermark | Comparing the watermark response |
| Generic AI-image detector | Learned image patterns | Understanding that detector’s classification |
SynthID is embedded in image pixels. Deleting EXIF metadata or a visible logo does not remove the same thing.
Test the final export
SynthID is designed to withstand common changes, including cropping and lossy compression. Check the final export after processing.
Evaluate Deprint around the image you need
Deprint, another product from our founder, offers metadata cleanup and experimental redraw processing aimed at reducing SynthID signal. Redraw changes image details and does not guarantee watermark removal.
Compare product labels, controls and shape; for portraits, check identity and facial details. Reject an export that changes something essential.
Keep platform labels separate
Follow the publishing platform’s disclosure rules. Meta uses shared indicators and self-disclosure; TikTok uses Content Credentials.
For an unexpected label on a genuine photo, use the platform’s review process with the original and editing history.
Choose the image that communicates clearly
Use a real capture for product demonstrations, a diagram for explanations or a clearly presented illustration for creative work.
For the brand decision, see Soar’s image-approval guide. For the surrounding content, read the content-marketing plugin guide or the brand-mentions guide.
