The article compares the photo recognition programs “PORTRAIT Super” and “Emotion-API” from Microsoft. Errors in the evaluation of emotions by automatic programs are considered. The principle of recognition of human qualities is shown by determining relative values – determining the phase portrait of a face, using difference algorithms and their derivatives. Evidence is given that emotion is a qualitative sign that cannot be recognized through physiognomy, since the shapes and sizes of facial features contain only quantitative information, from which it is impossible to determine the quality. Examples are given that confirm the advantages of the method of video-computer psychodiagnostics in recognizing emotions from a face image .