Character Posing in ArtCraft: Control Pose, Camera, and Identity
Pose a mannequin, frame the shot, then transfer your character onto it, so the pose is exactly what you planned and the character stays the same.
By ArtCraft Tips Editorial TeamLast updated 3 min read
Describing a pose in words is surprisingly hard. "She leans against the wall with her left hand in her pocket, looking over her right shoulder" might come back with the wrong hand, the wrong shoulder, and a different face. ArtCraft takes a more direct route: you pose the character yourself, set the camera, and only then ask a model to render it.
Two features work together here, both described in the official README:
- Character Posing: "Pose characters and set your camera before generating the final shot."
- Character Identity Transfer: "Use a posed mannequin to guide the placement and pose of your character."
The workflow at a glance
Prepare a character reference
Create a clear image of your character: full body, neutral pose, even lighting, plain background. A character turnaround sheet is ideal. The image prompts include one you can adapt.
Add a mannequin to the scene
Place a posable figure in your 2D or 3D scene where the character should stand. If you are using a consistent environment, add it inside your location.
Pose the body
Adjust the limbs, head, and torso until the silhouette reads clearly. Rotate the figure to face the direction the story needs.
Set the camera
Choose the framing and angle: a low angle makes a character look powerful, a high angle makes them look small, and eye level feels neutral.
Transfer the identity and render
Apply your character reference to the posed mannequin and render. The pose and placement come from the mannequin; the look comes from the reference.
Posing tips from figure drawing
The model can only render the pose you give it, so the classic rules of figure drawing apply:
- Check the silhouette. If you filled the figure in black, could you still tell what it is doing? Arms pressed against the body disappear; separate them slightly.
- Use contrapposto. Real people rarely stand with weight on both feet. Shifting the weight to one leg tilts the hips and shoulders in opposite directions and instantly looks more natural.
- Lead with the head. Turning the head a little more than the body creates tension and directs the viewer's eye.
- Avoid tangents. Hands touching the edge of the frame or a limb lining up exactly with a background edge look awkward. Move the figure or camera slightly.
- Simplify the hands. Hands are still the weakest point of many image models. Relaxed or partly hidden hands render better than complex finger poses.
Camera choices that change the story
| Camera | Effect | Use for |
|---|---|---|
| Eye level, medium shot | Neutral, conversational | Dialogue, introductions |
| Low angle | Powerful, heroic, threatening | A villain's entrance, a hero moment |
| High angle | Vulnerable, small, overwhelmed | Isolation, defeat |
| Close-up | Emotional, intimate | Reactions, key story beats |
| Wide shot | Context, scale | Establishing where characters are |
| Over-the-shoulder | Connection between two characters | Conversations |
Keeping a character consistent across shots
Consistency comes from changing as little as possible between renders:
- Use one reference image for the whole sequence. Don't swap in a newer render of the character as the reference partway through.
- Describe the character the same way in every render prompt, or not at all, and let the reference do the work.
- Keep the same image model for every shot in a sequence. Different models interpret the same reference differently.
- Lock the environment with Image to Location, so the set doesn't drift while the character stays put.
From stills to motion
Once your posed shots look right, use them as first frames for image-to-video. Starting every clip from a matching still is the most reliable way to keep a character consistent in video. See the video generator guide.
Frequently asked questions
What is character identity transfer in ArtCraft?
It uses a posed mannequin to guide the placement and pose of your character. You control the body and camera with the mannequin, and the model renders your character in that pose.
How do I keep a character consistent across images?
Reuse the same character reference for every shot and let the mannequin control the pose. Changing the reference or describing the character differently in each prompt is the most common cause of drift.
Can I pose more than one character?
ArtCraft's scene tools let you stage several elements in one scene, including multiple posed figures. Complex interactions such as hugs or handshakes are still hard for image models, so expect to iterate.