1. A method for creating a composite image, comprising: displaying a composite image comprising a plurality of facial feature images on a first area of a display, wherein the facial feature images are associated with facial feature element codes; receiving an input selecting a facial feature image from a second area of the display via a user interface, wherein the user interface incorporates the selected facial feature image into the composite image; receiving an input modifying a visual effect of the incorporated facial feature image via the user interface; and generating a composite image code from the composite image, said composite image code comprising: one or more facial feature element codes identifying the selected facial feature images present in the composite image, and one or more values that represent at least one visual effect modification of the facial feature images in the composite image; wherein the composite image code includes or is based on a code factor; wherein the code factor is distinct from the one or more facial feature element codes.