Character Art References: Show Your Artist What to Keep
Turn your character reference pictures into clear instructions with keep, change and ignore notes, fixed details and a sensible reference pack.
Jan
4 min read
When you send an artist several reference pictures, add a short note to each one: what to keep, what to change, and what to ignore. That turns a folder of inspiration into instructions someone can use.
You can love a coat from one picture, a pose from another and the light in a third. The problem starts when the artist has to guess which picture supplies the face.
This is a guide to labeling visual references. For the full written character description, use the character art brief guide alongside it.
Give every picture a single primary job
A small, organized reference set is easier to discuss than an enormous folder. Start with the images that answer an actual question about the portrait. Add another only when it explains something the others cannot.
Name the files plainly: “01-face-shape,” “02-coat,” “03-staff,” “04-pose.” The labels help you refer back to the same image during feedback.
Write the note beside the image or send a matching numbered list. Avoid tiny text pasted over the exact detail you want us to see.
Use keep, change and ignore notes
The following is a fictional reference set for Lio, a traveling scholar. It shows the kind of instructions to write, rather than a real customer's brief.
| Reference | Keep | Change or ignore |
|---|---|---|
| Reading pose | A book held open in both hands, with the head lowered slightly | Lio looks toward the viewer. He has dark curly hair and no animal companion. |
| Travel coat | A long practical coat with patched elbows | Use charcoal fabric. Ignore the reference's armor and bright metal trim. |
| Satchel | A wide strap crossing the chest | The bag sits at the left hip and has a brass clasp shaped like a leaf. |
| Light | Warm light on the face against a cooler background | Use a library doorway rather than a forest. |
A note such as “keep the pose, ignore the outfit” is enough to prevent a whole branch of misunderstanding. You do not need to explain why every rejected detail is wrong.
Resolve conflicts before they become feedback
Check the pictures against each other. One shows a narrow face and another a square jaw. A weapon switches hands. The cloak is blue in the description and red in every picture.
Give conflicting details an owner: “Use reference 1 for the jaw. The written description controls the cloak color.” If the decision is still open, say so.
Choose a short list of fixed details separately. For Lio, the leaf clasp and the curly hair stay. The library doorway, book cover and coat stitching are flexible.
That distinction gives the artist room to make a good composition without moving the pieces that identify your character.
Show where the small details belong
“An owl on the shoulder” leaves several questions open. Which shoulder? How large? Does it face the viewer? Is it meant to touch the character's cheek or stay clear of the face?
A quick circle or arrow on a copy of your reference can identify the area. Send the clean image too so the annotation does not hide its shape or texture.
For tattoos and asymmetrical scars, specify the character's left or right, rather than relying on where the mark appears on your screen. A mirrored screenshot can otherwise reverse the instruction.
Include the crop and destination
A reference with boots does not mean the commissioned portrait includes boots. FramedFantasy's formats are half-body, thigh-up and full-body. Choose the format that can show the details you are asking for.
Tell us where the image will be used. A small token needs a readable face. A printed portrait needs a composition that works at its intended size. A character sheet has less space than a desktop wallpaper.
Keep the reference instructions consistent with that choice. If the cloak's full length is essential, explain it before choosing a tight crop.
Send a reference pack someone can review
- Attach readable originals. Keep the source image separate from any annotation.
- Add source links and credit. Check permission before sharing or publishing someone else's work.
- Number the images. Match those numbers to the notes in your message.
- State fixed details. Mark open decisions as artist's choice.
- Read the pack as a stranger. If two references disagree, say which instruction wins.
You are finished when another person can explain what each picture contributes. A reference pack does not need to be beautiful. It needs to stop the artist from having to solve the wrong question.
If the character itself is still taking shape, Character Quest gives you another way to explore those decisions. When you are ready to commission, compare the available portrait formats and bring the labeled pack with you.
