How do you choose the People for a PAO?

Pick vivid, instantly-recognisable, clearly-distinct characters — celebrities, fictional characters, or people you know.

The Person is the anchor of each image, so it must fire instantly. Good sources: famous actors, athletes, historical figures, cartoon characters, family and friends. Requirements:

• Distinct — no two people so similar you'd confuse them.
• Vivid — someone you can see clearly, with a strong "look".
• Evocative to you — your associations, not a stranger's.

A roster of unmistakable characters makes every composite easy to picture and to decode.

Go deeper:

• Nelson Dellis — How to create a 2-digit PAO system — a champion walking through picking vivid, distinct people.