Facial landmarks: what they are and how the app uses them
Quick facts
- Definition
- Reference points on the face, such as the corners of the eyes, nose, mouth and outline, located by software.
- Difference
- In anthropometry they are anatomical points marked by hand; in software, they are calculated on the image.
- Uses
- Aligning photos, measuring distances and positioning marks over areas of the face.
- Caution
- They can be biometric data when used to identify the person.
Facial landmarks, or reference points of the face, are places on the face that can be identified repeatably: corners of the eyes, pupils, tip of the nose, corners of the mouth, outline of the chin. In facial anthropometry and cephalometry, the points are marked by hand. In imaging software, they are calculated automatically.
What are they for?
With landmarks it is possible to measure distances (such as the interpupillary distance), draw the facial midline, align two photos by the gaze and position marks over areas of the face. Accuracy depends on photo quality: head position, light and sharpness.
| Type | How it is obtained |
|---|---|
| Manual (anthropometric) | Marked by the professional on the face or the photo |
| Automatic | Calculated by software on the image |
Is there a privacy concern?
Yes. Facial points used to identify a person can be facial biometric data, with reinforced protection under the LGPD (Brazil's General Data Protection Law). The central issue is the purpose and where the data is stored.
Frequently asked questions
What are facial landmarks?
They are reference points on the face, such as the corners of the eyes, the tip of the nose and the corners of the mouth, that software locates in the photo. They are used to measure, align and position elements on the image.