---
url: https://superduperai.co/library/character-consistency-reference-sheet/
title: Keep the same character across clips: the reference sheet prompt
description: A character description block you reuse verbatim in every prompt, plus a generated reference sheet, so a face, outfit and build stay the same from shot to shot.
category: generation
platforms: [any]
works_with: [image-gen, veo, kling, runway, any-llm]
tags: [consistency, character, reference-image, image-to-video, series, veo, kling]
difficulty: intermediate
verified: false
created: 2026-11-01
---

# Keep the same character across clips: the reference sheet prompt

A character description block you reuse verbatim in every prompt, plus a generated reference sheet, so a face, outfit and build stay the same from shot to shot.

## Prompt

```text
CHARACTER BLOCK (paste unchanged in every prompt):
{Name}: {age range}, {ethnicity / skin tone}, {hair: colour, length, style}, {face: 2 distinctive features, e.g. 'strong jaw, small scar on left eyebrow'}, {build}, wearing {exact outfit: colours, fabric, one accessory}. Always the same outfit and hairstyle.

REFERENCE SHEET (image model, once):
Character reference sheet of {Name} — {paste CHARACTER BLOCK} — three views: front, three-quarter, profile; neutral expression; plain grey background; even studio light; full body and a close-up of the face; no text.

SHOT (video model, each clip):
{paste CHARACTER BLOCK}. {action}. {setting}. {camera}. {light}. {style}. Use the attached reference image for the face and outfit.
```

## Steps

1. Write the character block once and never paraphrase it. Models key on exact repeated phrasing.
2. Generate the reference sheet with your image model, pick the cleanest, and attach it as a reference / first frame where the video model supports it.
3. Change only the action, setting and camera between clips. If you change the outfit, you have a new character.

## Tips

- Two distinctive features beat ten generic ones: 'red beanie, round glasses' survives generation; 'kind eyes, warm smile' does not.
- Side-by-side the first frame of every clip in a contact sheet before editing; drift is obvious at thumbnail size and invisible at full screen.

## Works with

- Image models: Midjourney, Flux, Imagen: keyframes and style boards for image-to-video.
- Veo: Google text-to-video / image-to-video prompts.
- Kling: Kling text/image-to-video prompts.
- Runway: Runway Gen prompts and camera controls.
- Any LLM: Model-agnostic: Gemini, Mistral, a local model.