Characters

Creating Characters

There are two ways to create a character: fill in the description form manually, or upload a photo and let the AI analyze it for you.

From a text description

Open your story, go to the Characters tab, and click Add Character. The form uses structured fields — not a single free-text box — so the AI has precise, unambiguous anchors to work from.

Identity

  • Name (required) — the exact name you'll write in panel descriptions, e.g. Elena or Captain Volt. Use it consistently — YarnSaga uses this name to attach the character to your panels (see the tip below for what makes a good name).
  • Role / Archetype (required) — their narrative function: detective, rebel soldier, ancient wizard, AI android. This shapes the character sheet composition and pose.
  • Personality Vibe — a mood impression that can subtly influence expression: grumpy and exhausted, cheerful and reckless, cold and calculating.

Choosing a name that works well in scenes

YarnSaga matches characters against scene text by name. A few quick rules to avoid friction later:

  • Make first names distinct. If two characters share a first name (e.g., two Alexes), auto-detection treats that name as ambiguous and won't attach either. Either give them unique first names or always /-mention them.
  • Avoid English-word names as first names. Will, Rose, Hope, Mark, Grace, Dawn, Pat — any of these will make the system attach that character to every sentence containing the common word. If you want one, write the full name in scenes or use /.
  • Use quotes for nicknames. If your character has a short alias, put it in straight quotes inside the name field — e.g., Tadashi Maeda "Mizuki". You can then write just Mizuki in scenes and the system will recognize it.
  • Avoid titles and abbreviations. Names like Dr. Smith or J. Walker work for the full name, but the short form (Dr., J.) won't be auto-detected. Prefer Drew Smith over Dr. Smith if you want short-form matching.

Physical Features

  • Signature Hook (required) — the single defining visual detail that never changes: a crescent scar, glowing cybernetic eyes, a mechanical left arm, a distinctive tattoo. This is the AI's strongest consistency anchor — it persists even when outfit, lighting, and pose all change.
  • Hair Style — e.g. high messy bun, short textured crop, long straight, shaved sides
  • Hair Color — e.g. neon pink, silver-white, dark auburn, jet black
  • Facial Structure — e.g. sharp jawline, round soft face, high cheekbones and narrow eyes
  • Body Build (required) — e.g. athletic, slender, stocky and muscular, tall and lanky

Outfit & Colors

  • Key Clothing Items (required) — their default look used whenever you don't describe different clothing. Be specific: high-collar trench coat over a utility vest, dark cargo pants is better than casual clothes.
  • Accessories — recurring items they're always seen with: fingerless gloves, thick rectangular glasses, a mechanical wristwatch. Write none if there are none.

The Signature Hook is the most important field

Hair can change. Outfit can change. The Signature Hook is the one thing that must never change — it's what the AI always preserves. Choose something visually striking and permanent: a facial scar, an unusual eye color, a prosthetic limb, a birthmark. The more unique and specific, the better.

Example — well-filled character

Name: Elena Voss
Role: Rogue detective
Personality: Cold and calculating, rarely smiles
Signature Hook: Small crescent scar above her left eyebrow
Hair: Long straight, jet black
Face: Sharp jawline, pale skin, narrow dark eyes
Build: Slender but wiry
Outfit: Worn leather jacket over a grey turtleneck, black jeans
Accessories: Silver ring on her right index finger

After you save, YarnSaga immediately queues character sheet generation. The sheet appears in the Characters tab once ready — usually within a minute. You can start using the character in scenes while it generates, but panels will look significantly better once the sheet is available.

From a photo

You can base a character on any reference image — a real person, concept art, a sketch, or even yourself. YarnSaga uploads the photo and uses Claude AI vision to analyze it and fill every form field automatically.

  1. Click Add Character, then click Upload Photo
  2. Select a JPG or PNG image (max 10 MB). Clear, well-lit photos with the face and body visible give the best results.
  3. The upload starts immediately. You'll see "Uploading…" followed by "Analyzing with AI…" — the whole process takes around 10–15 seconds.
  4. The character form opens pre-filled with name, role, signature hook, hair, facial structure, body build, outfit, and accessories — all extracted from the photo.
  5. Review every field carefully. Edit anything the AI missed or described inaccurately.
  6. Click Save Character.

When the character sheet generates, YarnSaga uses your uploaded photo as a direct visual reference — so the sheet closely resembles the original photo translated into your story's art style.

Always check the Name field

The AI assigns a fictional name based on the photo's vibe — it will NOT use the real person's name. Change it to whatever name you plan to write in your scene descriptions.

Best photo tips

Use a photo where the face is clearly visible and the full body (or at least torso) is shown. Avoid group shots, heavy filters, or very dark images. The cleaner the photo, the more accurate the analysis.

What Are Characters?Using in Scenes