This skill should be used when the user asks to "create a character sheet", "build a character reference", "design a consistent character", "generate character angles", "lock character appearance", or mentions character consistency, multi-angle references, or reusable character designs for AI video or image generation.
A structured workflow for creating comprehensive character reference sheets that maintain visual consistency across AI-generated images and video clips. The character sheet locks every visual attribute — face, build, clothing, accessories — so that any future generation of this character matches the original.
Without a locked character sheet, AI tools generate a different-looking person in every frame, destroying continuity instantly.
Every character sheet must define three sections: Identity, Visual Attributes, and Reference Angles.
Name: [Character name or identifier]
Role: [Brief narrative role — protagonist, antagonist, bystander]
Age Range: [Apparent age bracket]
Archetype: [Visual archetype — corporate exec, street artist, soldier, etc.]
Lock every attribute explicitly. Ambiguity causes drift between generations.
| Category | Attributes to Lock |
|---|---|
| Face | Face shape, skin tone, skin texture, eye color, eye shape, eyebrow thickness, nose shape, lip shape, facial hair |
| Hair | Color, length, style, texture (straight/curly/wavy), parting direction |
| Build | Height impression (tall/average/short), body type, shoulder width, posture |
| Clothing | Exact outfit description — fabric, color, fit, layers, accessories |
| Distinctive | Scars, tattoos, piercings, glasses, birthmarks, jewelry, watch |
| Hands | Ring details, nail style, gloves, visible veins/calluses if relevant |
Generate four canonical views using identical prompt attributes:
1. FRONT VIEW — Face-on, neutral expression, arms relaxed at sides
2. SIDE VIEW — Full profile (left or right), same pose
3. BACK VIEW — Full rear view showing hair and clothing from behind
4. 3/4 VIEW — Three-quarter angle, slight turn, most natural pose
All four must share: same lighting, same background (neutral gray or white), same clothing, same lens (85mm portrait).
Use this template for each of the four reference angles:
[ANGLE] view of [IDENTITY SUMMARY].
[FACE ATTRIBUTES]. [HAIR ATTRIBUTES]. [BUILD DESCRIPTION].
Wearing [EXACT CLOTHING DESCRIPTION]. [DISTINCTIVE FEATURES].
Neutral gray studio background, soft diffused lighting,
85mm portrait lens, photorealistic, high detail, no motion blur.
Front view of a 30-year-old East Asian man with a sharp jawline.
Warm olive skin with natural texture, dark brown almond-shaped eyes,
thin eyebrows, straight nose, clean-shaven. Black straight hair,
medium length, side-parted left. Athletic build, broad shoulders,
upright posture.
Wearing a fitted dark navy crew-neck sweater over a white t-shirt,
black slim-fit jeans, silver wristwatch on left wrist.
Small scar above right eyebrow.
Neutral gray studio background, soft diffused lighting,
85mm portrait lens, photorealistic, high detail, no motion blur.
Repeat for SIDE, BACK, and 3/4 views — changing only the angle line.
When generating a character sheet, always return:
## Character Identity
[Name, role, age range, archetype]
## Locked Visual Attributes
[Full attribute table — face, hair, build, clothing, distinctive]
## Reference Angle Prompts
### Front View
[Complete image generation prompt]
### Side View
[Complete image generation prompt]
### Back View
[Complete image generation prompt]
### Three-Quarter View
[Complete image generation prompt]
## Usage Notes
[Tips for maintaining consistency when using this sheet in scenes]
| Mistake | Fix |
|---|---|
| Vague face description ("attractive man") | Lock every facial feature explicitly |
| Different clothing between angles | Copy exact clothing string across all four prompts |
| Fancy backgrounds in reference shots | Use neutral gray studio — backgrounds add visual noise |
| Missing distinctive features | Always include scars, tattoos, accessories — they anchor identity |
| Paraphrasing attributes in scene prompts | Copy-paste the locked attribute strings verbatim |
| Forgetting hand details | Rings, watches, gloves are continuity anchors — lock them |
This skill feeds directly into ai-cinematic-video-director and ai-storyboard-to-video:
For expression variants, wardrobe changes, and multi-character ensemble sheets, consult references/advanced-character-design.md.