Consistent characters
How to keep an AI character consistent
There are three ways to keep a character looking the same in every shot on Root: give the model reference images of them, build a character sheet, or train a model on them. Seedance 2.5 takes up to 30 reference images in one clip. Training costs from about $1.85, and needs the Indie plan or above.
Updated
First month free on the Beginner plan, with 650 credits to try any model.
The same character, shot after shot
1. Reference images
Give the model pictures of your character, and it builds the shot around them. These video and image models take a set number of reference images in one run.
| Model | Makes | Reference images |
|---|---|---|
| Seedance 2.5 | Video | 30 |
| Seedance 2.0 | Video | 9 |
| Seedance 2.0 Fast | Video | 9 |
| Seedance 2.0 Mini | Video | 9 |
| FLUX 3 Video | Video | 4 |
| Veo 3.1 | Video | 3 |
| MiniMax H3 reference to video | Video | 3 |
| Seedream 5.0 Lite | Images | 14 |
| Seedream 4.5 | Images | 14 |
| Seedream 4.0 | Images | 14 |
| Seedream 5.0 Pro | Images | 10 |
| GPT Image 2 | Images | 8 |
| GPT Image 2.5 Flare | Images | 8 |
| GPT Image 2.5 Sunburst | Images | 8 |
Kling 3.0 Omni takes reference images too, with no set number. Nano Banana Pro, Nano Banana, FLUX.2 [max] and FLUX.2 [pro] also take reference images. Re-Cast takes up to 8 pictures of a new cast for a clip you already have (see AI video editing). Use the same pictures for every shot.
2. A character sheet
Root's Character Sheet starts from one picture of your character and makes a full sheet in one run: a turnaround, front, side and back poses, a profile, a close-up, an over-the-shoulder view, a walk, and the character in several places, such as a park, a beach and a café. Each view is saved as its own image. A sheet is about $0.50.
Add a picture of an outfit to dress the character in it, or a pose picture to copy the pose. Then use the views as the reference images for every shot.
Prices marked “about” are for work that runs on Root's own machines: the price shown before the run is an estimate, and the bill is set by how long the run really takes.
3. Train a model on your character
For a character who comes back again and again, train a model (a LoRA) on a set of pictures of them, then use it in every shot.
With the default settings, training costs from about $1.85, for a MiniMax H3 LoRA. It is billed on how long it really takes, so the figure before you start is an estimate. The Civitai alternative page lists each kind of model you can train, its price and where you can use it.
Training needs the Indie plan ($49/mo) or above; it isn't part of the free month.
A way of working that holds up
This is the order our own studio settled on. The AI filmmaking guide has the rest of what we learned.
- Design the character once. Make the character as a still, then build a character sheet from it.
- Use the same pictures every time. Give the same sheet images to every shot, with a model that takes reference images.
- Train for anyone who recurs. For a lead character, train a model on them and use it alongside the references.
- Check each shot against the sheet. Every take is kept in the project, so you can pick the one that matches and run the others again.
Related guides
Consistent character questions
How do I keep a character consistent in AI video?
Use any of three ways, or all three: reference images (Seedance 2.5 takes up to 30), a character sheet (about $0.50), or a model trained on the character (from about $1.85, Indie plan or above).
Which AI video model is best for consistent characters?
One that takes several reference images. Seedance 2.5 takes the most on Root, up to 30 in one clip. The table above lists the other models with a set number, and Kling 3.0 Omni takes reference images too.
What is a character sheet?
A set of views of one character: front, side, back, close-up and more, all made from one picture so they match. On Root a sheet is about $0.50, made in one run.
How much does it cost to train a model on my character?
From about $1.85 with the default settings, for a MiniMax H3 LoRA. The bill is set by how long training really takes. The Civitai alternative page has the price of each kind.
Is training a character model part of the free month?
No. Training needs the Indie plan ($49/mo) or above. Reference images and the character sheet are how to start before that.
Can I use a trained character in video?
Yes. A MiniMax H3 LoRA works in MiniMax H3 video, reference video and swap. A Wan 2.2 video LoRA works in Wan 2.2 text to video, Wan 2.2 VACE restyle, Wan Animate and Wan Animate 2.
Try Root free for a month
The first month of the Beginner plan is free and comes with 650 credits to spend on any model. After that it's $9 a month, and you can cancel whenever you like.