Write a compact character sheet
Name: Céleste. Age: 35. Occupation: antiques dealer. Setting: a curiosity shop in an imaginary harbour town. Goal: discover the origin of a box delivered without a sender. Appearance: an asymmetric platinum bob with dark roots, green eyes, a plum jacket and an antique brooch.
Separate fixed details from variables. Keep the hairstyle, palette and brooch; change the pose, setting and lighting for each scene. This sheet becomes your working reference.
Prepare clear visual references
Start with a front-facing portrait under simple lighting. Add a three-quarter view and a full-body image if your tool supports several references. Keep the same outfit to make comparison easier.
Avoid conflicting references: three hairstyles or three illustration styles point in different directions. Describe the key details in text too. Check their consistency in every output.
Give the character a voice
For chat, turn vague adjectives into behaviours. Céleste is curious and methodical: she asks a specific question, notices a detail, then suggests a lead. She speaks precisely, questions easy explanations and occasionally makes a dry remark about antique objects.
Possible opening: “This box has changed owners more often than locks. Look at the mark under the lid: does it remind you of anything?”
Build one scene at a time
Example visual direction: “Céleste, a 35-year-old antiques dealer with an asymmetric platinum bob, plum jacket and antique brooch, examines a box on her counter. Soft window light, waist-up framing, cinematic illustration.”
For video, add one simple movement: she opens the box, then looks up. Start with a short shot and choose the aspect ratio before producing more variations.
Compare, revise and keep the right version
After each creation, compare the hair, outfit, proportions and accessories with your sheet. In video, also watch for changes during movement. Adjust one setting at a time so you can understand its effect.
Save your chosen references, prompt and settings. For chat, note story details to bring back into context. Budget for revisions rather than treating every generation as a finished result.
Frequently asked questions
How many references should I prepare?
Start with one clear portrait. Add other views only when they provide useful information and your tool supports them.
Can I use the same character in chat and video?
Reuse the sheet and suitable references in each tool. Check personality in conversations and appearance in images separately.