What is 'virtual try-on' and how is it different from AI fashion photography?

Quick Answer

Virtual Try-On (VTO) is a technical process that takes a specific digital garment and maps it onto a specific user or model to show fit. AI Fashion Photography is a broader creative process that generates a scene, mood, and lighting around a product. Nightjar combines both: it uses VTO technology to ensure the product fits the AI model correctly, and AI photography engines to create the surrounding editorial scene.

The Technical Distinction

1. Virtual Try-On (The "Fit" Engine)

Goal: Accuracy.

Input: Flat lay of clothes + Photo of a person.

Mechanism: Warping, mesh mapping, physics simulation.

Use Case: "See how this looks on me."

2. AI Fashion Photography (The "Vibe" Engine)

Goal: Aspiration and Click-Through Rate.

Input: Product image + Style Prompt (e.g., "Luxury Paris Street").

Mechanism: Diffusion models, lighting synthesis, composition.

Use Case: Hero banners, Instagram ads, lookbooks.

The Hybrid Approach

Most tools do one or the other. VTO tools usually output boring, low-res images against white backgrounds. AI Art tools output pretty images but hallucinate the wrong clothes.

Nightjar sits in the middle:

• Step 1: Uses VTO logic to place your exact product on a model.
• Step 2: Uses Gen-AI to render a photorealistic environment (Coffee shop, Beach, Studio).
• Step 3: Uses Style Extraction to apply a specific color grade (e.g., "Kodak Portra 400" or "Golden Hour").

This combination allows for high-conversion creative assets that actually represent the product sold.