How to use Instant Avatars to make your digital twin
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Hey creators! Want to personalize your videos like never before?
In this guide, we’ll show you how to use Instant Avatars in HeyGen to create your digital twin in just minutes. Ready to add a personal touch to your content? Let’s get started!
What's covered in this guide
- What are Instant Avatars?
- How to access Instant Avatars
- How to select and create your own Instant Avatar
- Review important instructions
- How upload video footage of yourself
- How to edit your Instant Avatar
- How to create new Avatar Looks
What Are Instant Avatars?
So, what are Instant Avatars? They’re personalized avatars that you can create in your likeness, aka your digital twin!
With HeyGen’s Instant Avatars, you can bring your unique style to life and narrate your videos with an avatar that looks and sounds just like you.
Accessing Instant Avatars
To get started, log in to your HeyGen account and navigate to the ‘Avatars’ tab.
It’s super easy to find on the dashboard. Once there, you can select an existing Instant Avatar or create your own.
Create your own Instant Avatar
Let’s begin by creating your own Instant Avatar.
Click ‘Create Avatar’ and then ‘Get Started.’ Next, choose whether you want a ‘Still’ or ‘Motion’ avatar.
It’s best to select ‘Still’ for announcements, training, customer communications, and outreach.
Or, if you’re creating a marketing ad, the ‘‘Motion’ option will most likely feel more expressive and natural.
Review important instructions
Next, we’ve prepared some instructions to make the process extremely easy.
Just click either ‘I Prefer Video Instructions’ or ‘I Prefer Text Instructions’ and you’re set to learn.
Upload video footage of yourself
For best results, upload a video of yourself that’s about 2 minutes long or use the recording feature provided.
Also, make sure that you avoid dramatic movements to keep your digital twin from being overly animated.
Make sure it was shot by a high-res camera or smartphone. If you’re just testing this process, about 30 seconds is perfect.
You can either click on ‘Upload Footage’ or ‘Record with Webcam.’ We suggest uploading your footage for best results, but for this tutorial we’ll showcase the webcam recording process.
Once you upload, you’ll be given a checklist of items that are essential for a more realistic avatar. Review and click each box.
You also have the option to remove the background and/or output the avatar in 4k resolution.
Click ‘My Footage Looks Good’ when you’re ready.
Finally, you’ll be asked to record a webcam video to prevent the misuse of HeyGen. Once your consent is given, HeyGen will generate your Instant Avatar, and it will be added to your assert library.
Editing your Instant Avatar
To edit your Instant Avatar, click on your avatar.
Next, click on ‘Edit Avatar.’ You can then remove the background, change your Instant Avatar’s resolution, swap its face, select its voice, and adjust its pitch, speed, and tone.
Once you’re done with your edits, click on ‘Save Changes’
And that’s it! Now you’re ready to use your Instant Avatar in the videos of your choice!
Creating new Avatar Looks
Avatars Looks are variations of an existing Avatar in different scenes, outfits, stances, and angles. This allows you to create more engaging and varied types of videos using the same Avatar. You can create up to 100 looks per Avatar and delete and create new Looks at any time.
To add a Look, upload a minimum 1-minute video recording including the person's face and mouth visible at all times. All footage must be of the same person. When creating videos, you can select an Avatar and then select which Look you want to use. Using multiple looks for different scenes can make your videos feel more natural and engaging.
Recap
In this guide, you learned:
- What are Instant Avatars?
- How to access Instant Avatars
- How to select and create your own Instant Avatar
- Review important instructions
- How upload video footage of yourself
- How to edit your Instant Avatar
We’re looking forward to seeing what you’ll create with HeyGen!
If you’re posting your videos on social media, make sure to tag any videos you create with @HeyGen_Official so we can celebrate them with you.