The 1980s AI photo trend is gaining popularity on Instagram, with users using ChatGPT to turn ordinary photographs into retro-style Bollywood portraits. From vintage movie-star looks and old film magazine covers to wedding album pictures and grainy film-camera portraits, the trend allows users to recreate the visual style of the era with a detailed prompt.Users do not need professional photo-editing skills to try the trend. They can upload a clear photograph to ChatGPT and describe the hairstyle, clothes, lighting, background, colours and overall 1980s aesthetic they want.What is the 1980s AI photo trend?The trend recreates the visual style associated with 1980s Bollywood and Indian photography, including period hairstyles, traditional outfits, studio lighting, faded colours and the soft grain of analogue film.Depending on the prompt, ChatGPT can create different looks, including a Bollywood heroine portrait, retro hero makeover, disco-era film still, vintage Indian film magazine cover, wedding album photograph or old family portrait.1. Classic Bollywood heroine portraitUsers can ask ChatGPT to transform their photograph into a classic 1980s Bollywood heroine portrait while keeping their facial features and skin tone unchanged.Example prompt:‘Transform this photo into a classic 1980s Bollywood heroine portrait. Keep the person's facial features, face shape, skin tone and identity unchanged. Give her voluminous 1980s hair, expressive eyes, a traditional silk saree, gold earrings and soft studio makeup. Use warm vintage studio lighting, subtle film grain and slightly faded colours. Make it look like an authentic Indian film photograph from the 1980s, without modern objects or styling.’2. Retro Bollywood hero lookFor a male Bollywood hero makeover, the prompt can include a loose tailored shirt, high-waisted trousers, neatly combed hair and a thick moustache, along with warm and slightly faded studio lighting.Example prompt:‘Transform this photo into a classic 1980s Bollywood hero portrait. Preserve the person's facial features and identity. Add neatly styled 1980s hair, a thick moustache, a tucked-in shirt, high-waisted trousers and a vintage watch. Use warm studio lighting, soft shadows, slightly faded colours and realistic 35mm film grain. Make the image look like a genuine 1980s Indian cinema publicity photograph.’3. 80s disco heroine lookA disco-themed prompt can transform a photograph into a retro film still featuring a sequinned outfit, bold eyeshadow, feathered hair and colourful stage lighting.Example prompt:‘Turn this photo into a glamorous 1980s Bollywood disco scene. Keep the person's face and identity unchanged. Give them period-appropriate hair, a colourful sequinned outfit and 1980s-style makeup. Add a classic disco background with stage lights, reflections and soft haze. Use rich but slightly faded film colours, realistic photographic texture and 1980s Indian cinema styling.’4. Vintage Indian film magazine coverUsers can ask ChatGPT to recreate their photograph as the cover of a fictional Indian film magazine from the 1980s, complete with bold cover typography, dramatic lighting and an aged-print texture.Example prompt:‘Transform this photo into a 1980s Indian Bollywood film magazine cover. Keep the person's face and identity unchanged. Style them as a Bollywood star from that era with period clothing, hair and makeup. Add a colourful studio background, dramatic lighting and realistic old-print texture. Include a fictional magazine layout with vintage headlines and cover design, but do not use real magazine names or real celebrities.’5. 1980s wedding album photoThis prompt can turn a couple or group photograph into an old wedding album picture, with traditional clothes, garlands, a studio backdrop, direct flash and faded colours.Example prompt:‘Turn this photo into an authentic 1980s Indian wedding album photograph. Preserve everyone's faces and identities. Add period-appropriate traditional wedding clothes, jewellery, floral decorations and a simple studio backdrop. Use direct camera-flash lighting, slightly faded colours, soft focus and realistic 1980s film grain. Make it look like a photograph printed in an old family wedding album.’6. Sepia family album portraitFor a family-photo effect, users can ask ChatGPT to recreate the image as an old 1980s family album photograph with a simple indoor or studio setting.Example prompt:‘Transform this family photo into a vintage Indian family album photograph from the 1980s. Keep everyone's facial features and identities unchanged. Add simple period clothing, a modest indoor setting and warm natural lighting. Use slightly faded colours, subtle film grain, mild softness and the texture of an old printed photograph. Avoid modern objects, hairstyles and clothing.’7. Grainy 1980s film-camera portraitThis prompt recreates a photograph as if it were taken using a 1980s 35mm film camera, with visible grain, muted colours and soft natural lighting.Example prompt:‘Recreate this photo as if it was taken with a 1980s 35mm film camera. Preserve the person's face, identity and natural features. Use authentic film grain, slight colour fading, gentle contrast, soft highlights and natural lighting. Give the photograph the look of an old Indian family or studio portrait, with realistic film imperfections rather than a modern digital-camera appearance.’8. Saree and bouffant heroine lookUsers can give their photograph an early 1980s Bollywood heroine makeover with a printed saree, bouffant hairstyle, minimal gold jewellery and warm studio lighting.Example prompt:‘Transform this photo into an early 1980s Bollywood heroine portrait. Keep the person's face and identity exactly recognizable. Give her a large bouffant hairstyle, a traditional printed saree, simple gold jewellery and period-appropriate makeup. Use a warm studio backdrop and soft cinematic lighting. Add subtle 35mm film grain and faded colours to recreate the look of an old Bollywood publicity photograph.’9. Kurta and flared trousers hero lookFor a retro Indian hero style, users can request a printed collared shirt or kurta, flared trousers, side-parted hair and warm, faded lighting.Example prompt:‘Turn this photo into a 1980s Indian Bollywood hero portrait. Preserve the person's facial features and identity. Dress him in a period-style kurta with flared trousers, side-parted hair and a vintage watch. Use a simple studio background, warm lighting and slightly faded film colours. Add realistic 35mm grain and the visual texture of an old Bollywood promotional photograph.’10. Hero-heroine duet posterA couple or two separate photographs can be transformed into a classic 1980s Bollywood movie poster, with coordinated outfits, dramatic poses and a hand-painted aesthetic.Example prompt:‘Transform these photos into a classic 1980s Bollywood movie poster. Keep the faces and identities of the people recognizable. Give them period-appropriate Bollywood clothing, hairstyles and poses. Use a hand-painted Indian cinema poster style, dramatic expressions, a colourful illustrated background and vintage typography. Make it look like an old printed Bollywood poster from the 1980s. Use a fictional movie title and fictional names.’How to get better results from ChatGPT photo promptsDetailed prompts can produce more specific results than simply asking ChatGPT to “make this look 80s”. Users should mention the exact outfit, hairstyle, background, lighting, colours and mood they want.For example, instead of using a generic 1980s prompt, users can specify a saree, bouffant hairstyle, studio backdrop, warm lighting and faded film colours. They can also mention whether they want the final image to resemble a movie still, publicity photograph, magazine cover or family album picture.1980s AI photo trend: Things to check before sharingAI-generated portraits can sometimes alter small details such as fingers, jewellery, facial features or text appearing in the background. Users should check the final image carefully before sharing it.It is also important to avoid uploading photographs containing sensitive documents or personal information. Users should be mindful of consent when transforming photographs of other people.The final image should also be labelled or presented as an AI-generated recreation rather than a genuine photograph from the 1980s.