Hey creators! Want to personalize your videos like never before?

In this guide, we’ll show you how to use Video 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

1. What are Video Avatars?
2. How to access Video Avatars
3. How to select and create your own Video Avatar
4. Review important instructions
5. Best practice for shooting and uploading video footage of yourself
6. How to edit your Video Avatar
7. How to create new Avatar Looks

What Are Video Avatars?

So, what are Video Avatars? They’re personalized avatars that you can create in your likeness, aka your digital twin!

With HeyGen’s Video Avatars, you can bring your unique style to life and narrate your videos with an avatar that looks and sounds just like you.

Accessing Video 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 Video Avatar or create your own.

Create your own Video Avatar

Let’s begin by creating your own Video 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.

Best practices for shooting and uploading video footage of yourself

For a deep dive into how to create the most hyperrealistic avatar, see our Best Practices guide.

In short, you'll need to 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 Video Avatar, and it will be added to your assert library.

Editing your Video Avatar

To edit your Video Avatar, click on your avatar.

Next, click on ‘Edit Avatar.’ You can then remove the background, change your Video 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 Video 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: 

1. What are Video Avatars?
2. How to access Video Avatars
3. How to select and create your own Video Avatar
4. Review important instructions
5. Best practice for shooting and uploading video footage of yourself
6. How to edit your Video Avatar
7. How to create new Avatar Looks

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.