Splitface

Splitface is a term used to describe configurations or images in which the face is divided into two halves that display differing attributes. The term does not have a single, universally accepted definition, and its precise meaning depends on context. In visual arts and media, split-face imagery is a common motif used to convey dual identities, inner conflict, or transformation. Artists and filmmakers may create portraits that juxtapose two halves with different makeup, lighting, or digital alterations, producing a composite that hints at conflicting personas or histories. In photography and graphic design, split-face composites can pair portraits from different times or subjects to explore contrast or identity.

In medical or surgical discourse, the phrase may appear descriptively to refer to procedures involving partial facial reconstruction or transplantation, where only part of the face is restored or replaced. In practice, clinicians use terms such as partial facial reconstruction or facial transplantation rather than the generic “split-face” designation, though the concept of dividing or merging facial tissue is central to the approach.

In psychology and perception research, the idea of presenting different information to each half of the face can be used to study processing of emotion or identity, though again “split-face” is not a standardized technical label.

See also: facial transplantation, split-brain, symmetry and asymmetry in faces, composite photography.