System Requirements
Ensure your system meets the minimum requirements to run AI Photo Trainer desktop app, access the API, and use web portals.
Desktop App Requirements
The AI Photo Trainer desktop application is available for Windows. Mac and Linux support are planned for future versions.
Minimum Requirements
These requirements will allow the app to run, but performance may be slower:
- Operating System: Windows 10 version 1903 (May 2019 Update) or later - 64-bit required
- Processor (CPU): Intel Core i5 or AMD Ryzen 5 (or equivalent)
- RAM: 8 GB minimum (16 GB recommended for AI features)
- Storage: 2 GB free disk space (1.5 GB for app + models)
- Graphics: DirectX 11 compatible (NVIDIA GPU optional but recommended)
- Display: 1920×1080 (Full HD) - minimum resolution for optimal UI
- Internet: Required for initial setup (model downloads) and Rails API integration (optional - offline mode available)
CPU-Only Performance: ML Detection is instant (< 100ms), PhotoRater AI takes 10-30 seconds per image. This is acceptable for background processing while you continue rating photos.
Recommended Requirements
For optimal performance and faster photo analysis:
- Operating System: Windows 11 (recommended - improved performance and modern optimizations)
- Processor (CPU): Intel Core i7 or AMD Ryzen 7
- RAM: 16 GB (smoother performance with multiple apps running)
- Storage: SSD storage recommended for faster app startup and model loading
- Graphics (GPU): NVIDIA RTX 3060 or better (CUDA support) - 4-12× faster AI inference
- Display: 2560×1440 (QHD) or higher (better image detail for quality assessment)
- Internet: High-speed internet (1 Mbps+ for model downloads)
For Large Volumes (100+ photos/session): NVIDIA GPU strongly recommended, 32 GB RAM, and NVMe SSD storage for optimal performance.
GPU-Accelerated Performance: ML Detection remains instant (< 100ms), PhotoRater AI improves to 2-3 seconds per image (4-12× faster than CPU). For 100 photos: CPU-only takes ~25 minutes, GPU-accelerated takes ~4 minutes.
AI Review Requirements (Optional)
The AI Review feature uses PhotoRater AI, a vision-language model that generates human-readable feedback about photos. No GPU required - the feature works on all systems, with automatic GPU acceleration if available.
Key Point: PhotoRater AI works on CPU-only systems (10-30 seconds per image). GPU automatically detected for 4-12× speedup (2-3 seconds per image). No configuration needed.
Minimum Requirements (CPU-Only Mode):
- CPU: Intel Core i5 or AMD Ryzen 5 (or equivalent)
- RAM: 8 GB system RAM
- Disk Space: 520 MB for PhotoRater AI model files (SmolVLM2-500M)
- Performance: 10-30 seconds per image (background processing)
Recommended for GPU Acceleration:
- GPU: NVIDIA GPU with CUDA 12.6 compatible (RTX 3060 verified, automatically detected)
- GPU VRAM: 4 GB minimum for AI features
- System RAM: 16 GB recommended
- Performance: 2-3 seconds per image (4-12× faster than CPU)
Supported GPUs for PhotoRater AI
| GPU | VRAM | Est. Performance | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| GTX 1050 Ti | 4 GB | ~5-6s/image | Entry-level, still 3× faster than CPU |
| GTX 1660 Ti | 6 GB | ~3-4s/image | Good performance, budget-friendly |
| RTX 3060 | 12 GB | ~2-3s/image | Great performance, common GPU |
| RTX 4070 | 12 GB | ~2s/image | Excellent performance |
| RTX 4090 | 24 GB | ~1-2s/image | Fastest (overkill for this app) |
Legacy GPUs: GTX 900 series (Maxwell) and newer supported (CUDA 8.0+)
Automatic GPU Detection: The application automatically detects and uses your GPU if available. No configuration needed - it works out of the box with both CPU-only and GPU-accelerated systems.
PhotoRater AI Performance Comparison
| Task | CPU-Only | GPU-Accelerated | Speedup |
|---|---|---|---|
| ML Detection (Glasses, Glare, Pose, Eyes, Smile) | < 100ms | < 100ms | 1× (already optimized) |
| PhotoRater AI (Feedback Generation) | 10-30 seconds | 2-3 seconds | 4-12× faster |
| 100 Photos (Total Time) | ~25 minutes | ~4 minutes | 6× faster |
Installation Requirements
Installer: Windows .exe installer (~402 MB)
Permissions: Administrator privileges required for installation (one-time)
Enterprise Features: Silent installer support for deployment via GPO or SCCM (electron-builder v26)
Disk Space Breakdown:
| Component | Disk Space |
|---|---|
| Application files | ~500 MB |
| ML Detection Models (required) | ~1.4 GB |
| PhotoRater AI Model (SmolVLM2-500M) | ~520 MB |
| Database & user data | ~100 MB (grows with usage) |
| Total | ~1.5 GB |
Technology Stack (v0.11.4): Built with Electron v32.3.3 (Chromium 128, Node.js 20.18.1), Vite v7.3.0, and TailwindCSS v4.1.18 for modern performance and security.
API Requirements
To integrate with the AI Photo Trainer API, you need:
HTTP Client
- Any HTTP client supporting HTTPS
- Support for custom headers
- Examples: curl, Postman, Python requests, Node.js fetch, etc.
Protocol
- HTTPS: Required in production (required in development)
- JSON: Request and response format
- UTF-8: Character encoding
Authentication
- HMAC-SHA256 signature generation capability
- Unix timestamp generation
- API Key and Secret credentials
Rate Limits
- Implement exponential backoff for rate limit handling
- Respect X-RateLimit-* headers
- Handle Retry-After responses
Important: API secrets must be kept secure. Never expose them in client-side code or commit them to version control.
Browser Requirements
For accessing the Admin Portal and Photographer Portal:
Supported Browsers
- Chrome/Edge: Version 90 or later
- Firefox: Version 88 or later
- Safari: Version 14 or later
Required Features
- JavaScript enabled
- Cookies enabled (for authentication)
- LocalStorage support (for preferences)
- CSS Grid and Flexbox support
Display
- Minimum: 1280x720 (web portals recommended)
- Recommended: 1920x1080 or higher
- Responsive design supports mobile/tablet viewing
Network
- Stable internet connection
- HTTPS support (required for authentication)
- Allow connections to training.schoolpicturedays.com
Checking Your System
Windows Version
To check your Windows version:
- Press Win + R
- Type
winverand press Enter - Check version number (must be 10.0.1903 or later)
Available RAM
To check available RAM:
- Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc (Task Manager)
- Click "Performance" tab
- Check "Memory" section for total RAM
GPU Support
To check for CUDA-compatible GPU:
- Right-click desktop → "NVIDIA Control Panel"
- Click "System Information" in bottom-left
- Look for CUDA version (if present, GPU is supported)
Or check in Task Manager → Performance → GPU
Still Have Questions?
If your system doesn't meet minimum requirements, or you're unsure if your system is compatible:
- Check the FAQ for common questions
- Contact support at support@photorater.com
- Your administrator can help with company-specific requirements
Ready to get started? Continue to the Quick Start guide.