Character basics / FREE BEGINNER GUIDE 03
AI character sheets: the three references to prepare first
THE QUICK ANSWER
What belongs on a beginner AI character sheet?
Start with a clear portrait, a full-body view and a short note about the details that must stay consistent. Use the same character and outfit across the views. The sheet is a reference for your creative work; it is not proof of authorship or permission to use someone’s likeness.
1. Make the face easy to compare
Choose a portrait where the face is visible without heavy effects, extreme shadows or a hand covering it. Keep enough of the hair and neck to show the character’s silhouette. A dramatic poster can be a good finished image while still being a poor reference for a new scene.
Mark one version as approved. If every generation uses a different favourite portrait, small changes can accumulate until the character looks like someone else. Compare new results with your approved version rather than only with the previous output.
2. Show the whole outfit
A full-body view helps explain proportions, clothing length, shoes and accessories. Keep the outfit consistent with the portrait. Leave enough space around the character that feet, hands and the top of the head are visible.
Do not invent missing details and treat them as confirmed reference information. If you only have a front view, decide what the back of the jacket should look like before asking for a scene from behind. Add that decision to the sheet once you have approved it.
3. Write a short “keep these” note
The most useful note names things a reviewer can actually see. “Round silver glasses” is easier to check than “a memorable appearance.” Include a small number of important colours, accessories or proportions. Leave scene lighting and temporary expressions for the individual shot brief.
Keep: short dark curls, round silver glasses, navy cropped jacket, yellow delivery bag, white trainers. Use the approved portrait for the face and the full-body view for proportions. The scene may change; these details stay consistent.
If a detail is important to the identity, make it visible in at least one reference. A prompt alone can be interpreted in several ways, particularly when an accessory is partly hidden.
Use the sheet for the next step
For AI video, use the clean reference supported by your chosen tool and describe a small action separately. For an illustrator or editor, send the sheet with a sentence explaining the desired result. Keep the original files so the reference does not become a screenshot of a screenshot.
In the LLC Studio, a creator supplies a character sheet along with the name, public profile and creation information. Review the current upload requirements in the form. A good sheet helps the visual workflow, but the rights declaration still needs to be accurate.
- Portrait and body views show the same character.
- The outfit and signature details agree.
- Important edges are not cropped off.
- You have permission to use the reference material.
Common questions
How many images do I need to start?
A portrait and a full-body view are a practical first pair. Add another view when a particular scene needs details those images do not show.
Should my reference have a busy background?
For a first sheet, a simple background makes it easier to inspect the character. Save elaborate environments for the individual scene.