Field notes / Art direction
Keep a character recognizable.
A character's identity must survive a new pose, camera angle and scene. Write the invariant features first. Review each image against them rather than accepting a convincing face in isolation.
Distinguish identity from the shot.
Identity includes the silhouette, facial structure, hair, costume construction and a few meaningful objects. The shot adds pose, expression, environment, lens and light. Keep these in separate sections of the brief. Changing the camera should not change the person's age, clothing closures or defining proportions.
For an original archivist, you might specify a short copper-fastened coat, salt-worn gloves and a narrow glass instrument case. These are example decisions, not official Arcanea character lore. A rear view should preserve the coat's construction even when the face is invisible.
Create a reference sheet with a job.
Use a neutral front view, a three-quarter view, profile and one costume detail. Add an expression or action study when the scene demands it. Label accepted images and record which version each production brief uses. An attractive mood board is not a substitute for a reference that resolves proportions and construction.
When a model accepts reference images, use the supported controls and inspect whether they preserve identity. Provider settings and reference weight are production inputs, not a guarantee. Record them when known so a later revision does not depend on a forgotten chat.
Review with a small, explicit rubric.
Compare silhouette, face, hair, costume, significant objects and scene action. Add anatomy, perspective and readable expressions to the image review. A beautiful output with the wrong character is a rejected candidate, not a successful edition asset.
Write the reason for rejection. If the same defect returns across several attempts, repair the reference or narrow the brief before generating again. Account for rejected attempts and human review when estimating the cost of an accepted image.
Preserve the decisions between tools.
Keep a named reference version, prompt/brief, source image identifiers, review verdict and accepted rendition. Text and artwork need separate permissions. A reference taken from another franchise does not grant the right to sell a derived character, and an open software license does not automatically cover bundled illustrations.
A short continuity ledger should show what changed and which scenes use the old version. Apply a costume revision to the affected shots deliberately. Do not let each image workflow invent a fresh character and hope a final color grade will connect them.
Publish the accepted work, not the attempt counter.
A useful edition contains the accepted compositions at their actual resolution with a clear use license. Native masters and upscaled renditions should be distinguished. Quantity is not evidence of a coherent collection; six purposeful images may do more for a reader than a folder of unrelated candidates.
Start with a character sheet and one scene. Ask another person to identify the same character in both without an explanation. Use that observation to strengthen the next revision, then export the reference and decisions with the project.
Try the worked example.
Read the free demonstration scene and download the editable World Starter. The example is an AI-assisted proposal outside official Arcanea canon; adapt its method to your own original project.
Open the free World StarterInspect the Production Edition