Forgery Heatmap
Combines four forensic analyses — ELA, noise consistency, JPEG ghost, and clone detection — into a single probability heatmap. Regions where multiple methods converge are highlighted as suspicious.
800+ images scanned for forgery
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4-in-1 Analysis
Runs ELA, noise consistency, JPEG ghost detection, and clone detection simultaneously. Each method catches different manipulation types.
Probability Heatmap
Results are combined into a single color-coded overlay. When multiple methods flag the same region, confidence increases — reducing false positives.
100% Private
All four analyses run locally in your browser via Web Worker. Your image is never uploaded to any server.
Why combine multiple forensic methods
No single forensic analysis catches every type of image manipulation. ELA detects re-compression artifacts from cut-and-paste edits. Noise analysis reveals airbrushing and content-aware fill. JPEG ghost detection identifies double-compressed regions saved at different quality levels. Clone detection finds duplicated areas. By running all four simultaneously and weighting their outputs, the Forgery Heatmap reduces false positives — a region flagged by multiple independent methods is far more likely to be genuinely manipulated. For deep single-method analysis, use the dedicated ELA Scanner or Noise Analysis tools.
How the probability heatmap works
The image is divided into 16×16 pixel blocks. Each block is scored independently by all four analysis methods, producing a probability value between 0 and 1. These per-method scores are then combined using a weighted average — ELA and noise analysis receive higher weight because they are more reliable across image formats, while JPEG ghost and clone detection provide supporting evidence. The final combined probability is mapped to a green-to-red color gradient and overlaid on the original image. Regions where multiple methods converge get brighter colors, while areas with conflicting signals stay cooler. For compression-specific analysis, the JPEG Ghost Scanner provides deeper quality sweep.
When to use the Forgery Heatmap vs individual tools
The Forgery Heatmap is ideal as a first-pass screening tool — upload a suspicious image and immediately see which regions need attention. For investigative deep-dives, switch to individual tools: Clone Detection for copy-paste forensics with visual match lines, JPEG Structure Analyzer for quantization table fingerprinting, or the Authenticity Checker for a comprehensive multi-signal assessment including C2PA metadata. The Forgery Heatmap trades depth for breadth — it runs faster than four separate analyses and highlights where to look next.
Limitations and false positives
No automated tool can definitively prove or disprove image manipulation. Certain legitimate image features trigger false positives: hard shadow edges, areas with extreme contrast, heavily textured regions like foliage or fabric, and images that have been resized or re-compressed multiple times. Screenshots and digitally created graphics will often score high because they lack the noise characteristics of camera sensors. Always interpret results in context and combine with visual inspection. For AI-specific detection, see the AI Detector. Explore all available forensic tools for a complete analysis workflow. Learn more in our articles on detecting edited photos and fake photo detection methods.