Apparently it's not. From now on this image, often used on Gimp Chat is now unsuitable. Now Lena no longer wants the image to be used.

“IEEE’s diversity statement and supporting policies such as the IEEE code of ethics speak to IEEE’s commitment to promoting an inclusive and equitable culture that welcomes all. In alignment with this culture and with respect to the wishes of the subject of the image, Lena Forsén, IEEE will no longer accept submitted papers which include the ‘Lena image’.”

Read this, it's wokeism. I would give a lecture on the problem but it falls in the category of politics.

She used to be fine with her picture being used as a test subject, but no longer wishes for the picture to be used for image processing research since 2019. It's just acknowledged now, and her wish is to be granted. She's on the picture. So, no, it's not April's Fool.


And to this, we can stop taking you seriously.

It's back to cat pictures then (and someone must tell Rich...).

No, it's respect.

I can do cats, if that is your thing:



You can still find the full Lena photo as originally published.

I like birds more than cats so I used the Lena jpg in a deep dream prompt. Not exactly happy with the results but here is AI Lena

Ugh. Opinions are like __________. Everyone has one. Not sure how admiring a simple picture taken decades ago would ever be deemed disrespectful. Please refrain from stretching the lines in the sand to suit your own conscience.

So, explain how it's disrespectful to admire a picture (don't rattle on about someone's wishes - they POSED for the picture and it was PUBLISHED).

Perhaps David should come from beyond the grave and demand his statue be removed from the Accademia Gallery in Florence. Absurdity.

Thanks for re-activating this thread. I did some 'image laundering' by feeding the AI image back into AI and producing a couple more. Here is one:




Now I need to submit it to the IEEE as a JPEG replacement image, have it rejected on engineering grounds and return to being bitter and twisted by the futility of life.

Quite like this new image - think it's an improvement.

Could always opt for an old BBC test card...



... like this one (courtesy of Wikipedia).

Wiki Testcard

Won't say which testcard I go back to though!

It is her choice not to have her image used in this way. We don't have to know or understand her reasons, it is her face and her choice. It is disrespectful to ignore that choice!

The decision to publish the photo was made 51 years ago.
Playboy dropped its unsuccessful copyright claim.
Now it's just a wish/request from Lena Söderberg that can be respected.

Yes, and out of respect, I will honor that request. I think this is a major reason for AI to exist. it creates royalty free images by default, unfortunately it will also put a lot of models out of work....

OTOH, AI images being computer generated aren't really representative of what comes out of a camera. In other words they are too clean.

The key phrase here is "can be" respected.

I find this whole topic petty, in the sense there is no way it can be enforced by Lena. People are still going to encounter the image (which is just her face, not a nude) who have no idea about her "request". Throwing insults about, about being disrespectful, or being ignored if someone disagrees with you, are all classic symptoms of wokeism. Look the word up before you respond to this. It's perfectly ok if you want to honor her wishes. Yay, for you. Bravo! God loves social justice warriors, too. GimpChat isn't a place for people to force opinions on anyone else. Doing so, says more about your own humanity than it does the person you're judging. Please leave the insults off this forum.

MareroQ, this post isn't directed to your comment. I was just making a point. This is for everyone who thinks they sit on the throne of judgement.

The only insult I see in this whole exchange is the use of "wokeism", which has become "a sarcastic pejorative among many on the political right" (according to Wikipedia)(and when you talk about "symptoms" you are making it look like a disease)....

You think it is just our opinion that we are forcing on everybody else? You think it is wrong to expect people to respect the wishes of others? You are forcing your opinion on a woman that no longer wishes you to use her image, which by the way is morally her property if not legally! Maybe we can use your face without your permission for any purpose we choose? Your post says much about your humanity!!!

It is a disease. It's also disrespectful to come on a GIMP forum and inflect your political bias on others. This is a forum for ART and GIMP related topics, not the soup of the day opinions from socially infected minds who fail to have an OPEN one (mind, that is).