Updated AI Requirements on CAPA Competitions
Our new AI authentication standards have been incorporated to the Editing Criteria for all our 2026 competitions.
These updates are outlined below:
New AI Authentication Standards: To support our new AI Authentication Standard and Content Credentials requirement, we’ve developed five “AI Pitfalls” guidelines to help protect photographers’ competition eligibility. These guidelines clarify which AI features are acceptable for competition submissions and which should be avoided:
Adobe Photoshop – (English) (French)
Lightroom – (English) (French)
Luminar Neo – (English) (French)
ON1 Photo RAW – (English) (French)
Topaz Labs – (English) (French)
Effective as of January 1, 2026, all photographers processed with any of the above applications must use the specific export or save features outlined in the respective AI Pitfall document.
All images edited with all other post-processing applications should be saved or exported as normal.
SPECIAL NOTE – Screenshots and screen captures are not accepted as they remove essential metadata needed for fair evaluation.
Image Metadata Required:
All submitted photographs should maintain complete, unaltered original metadata (EXIF). Preserving this information facilitates verification of potential winning entries.
Submissions must include full metadata from post-processing applications to ensure competition integrity.
The Competition Director will request original, un-retouched JPEG/RAW files, XMP files and/or any other image files for any potential winning image to verify compliance. Only images with intact metadata will be accepted for verification and
authentication purposes.
If a photographer fails to provide requested image files when asked by the Director, their potential winning entry will be withdrawn and competition results recalculated.
These requirements aim to ensure transparency and verify adherence to the competition’s specifications regarding image authenticity and compliance with the editing criteria.
If you have any questions or concerns in this matter, please do not hesitate in emailing the writer at competitions@capacanada.ca
Sheldon Boles – FCAPA
CAPA Director of Competitions
