When I plan a character reference, I find it useful to separate the parts that should stay fixed from the part I want to change. Otherwise, a new camera angle can quietly turn into a new outfit, hairstyle and personality too.
Here is a compact template you can adapt in any image workflow:
Character: [two or three identifying features].
Outfit: [key garment, colors, one distinctive detail].
View: [front / side / three-quarter].
Pose: neutral, with the hands and shoes visible where possible.
Background: simple and unobtrusive.
Keep the character description and outfit notes the same; change only the view.
Try it with a fictional example
For a made-up character, I might start with “a young mapmaker with short dark curls, a chipped round earring, a rust scarf and a navy coat.” I would make one front-facing version first, then replace only the view line with “side view” and “three-quarter view.” If a result changes the scarf into a necklace, I would note that as a correction instead of pretending the set matches.
Review the three images together
Look for the position of distinctive features, the garment layers, and anything hidden in the front view. Side views are especially helpful for checking whether a hairstyle or bag can actually be drawn from another angle. A reference can stay approximate; if a detail matters for later work, write it down beside the image rather than relying on memory.
A neutral pose is a starting point, not a rule. Once the character reads clearly across views, try an action pose or an expression sheet and revise the brief when something no longer fits. Image generation can produce inconsistent details, so a person still needs to choose and correct the results.
Disclosure: I work on Zoivu, a workspace for developing original characters and exploring new looks. This exercise also works as a sketching brief without using our product.
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