Focal Point

What is a focal point heatmap?

The heatmap predicts where a viewer's eye is likely to land first. It works by finding areas that stand out from their surroundings — a bright spot in a dark field, a sharp edge in a soft area, or an isolated patch of high contrast. Those are the places that draw attention. The result is overlaid as a color gradient from blue (low attention) through green and yellow to red (high attention).

How to interpret the result

Red and orange areas are where the eye is most likely to be drawn. Blue areas are likely to be ignored. A strong composition typically has one clear red region at or near the intended focal point, with supporting warm areas leading the eye toward it.

If the hottest area lands on an unintended spot (a bright corner, a high-contrast edge), consider softening that area or redirecting attention through value or saturation.

How to use this tool

1. Upload an image. Drop a painting or photo onto the canvas, or click to browse. HEIC files from iPhone are supported.
2. Read the heatmap. Red and orange areas are where the eye is most likely to land. Blue areas are where it is likely to pass over.
3. Adjust Scale. Controls how broadly the tool looks for contrast. Lower values pick up fine detail and texture. Higher values respond to larger areas of tonal difference, which is usually more useful when reading a painting as a whole.
4. Adjust Opacity. Lower opacity shows the heatmap blended over the original so you can see which parts of the painting correspond to high-attention areas.
5. Compare and download. Hold the "Hold to compare" button to toggle back to the original. Download a full-resolution PNG when you're done.