Genjutsu multiple characters: the two-person recast guide

What a multiple-character recast actually is

It is one source clip with two or more people in frame, recast as two or more new characters in the same pass. You are not making two videos and pasting them together; you are asking the model to keep the shared motion and rebuild each person separately.

There is no separate multi-character mode to learn. The work is in the reference setup, the blocking of the shot and the order of your instructions. Get those right and the model has a much easier job.

The first rule: one character, one reference set

• Give every person their own set of 3-6 images: one full-body shot, one face close-up and one detail shot that fixes the outfit.
• Keep the sets visually distinct. If both characters wear black coats, add a unique colour, prop or silhouette cue so the model has something to separate.
• Do not mix a group photo into both sets. A crowded reference makes the model guess which face belongs to which body.
• Up to 40 reference images fit in one project. Split that budget deliberately: two characters with clean sets beat ten characters with muddy ones.

Shoot for separation

• Keep the performers apart in the frame. A clear gap between bodies is the single biggest reliability upgrade.
• Avoid crossing paths, hugs, grapples and fast hand-offs. Every overlap gives the model less information about who is who.
• Use one camera angle and one continuous take. A cut changes the geometry and forces a new set of decisions.
• Light both people evenly. A face lost in shadow is a face the recast cannot anchor.
• Keep hands visible or clearly out of frame. Hands drifting into another character is a common failure in tight shots.

Write the prompt in person order

The five-step workflow

• 1. Sign in with Google - the first render is free.
• 2. Upload a 3-30 second clip with two clearly separated performers and one camera angle.
• 3. Build two reference sets and label them mentally as A and B: full body, face and outfit detail for each.
• 4. Run a test on one character first if the shot is difficult, then use the full two-person prompt once the pose reads correctly.
• 5. Check faces, hand ownership and the gap between bodies before exporting; fix one variable and rerun if anything drifts.

When the characters swap or drift

• If faces trade places: add an explicit left/right sentence to the prompt and keep the reference order identical across runs.
• If one character disappears: simplify the clip to the window where both people are fully visible, then recast that section.
• If a face changes mid-shot: replace the weakest reference with a sharper close-up and keep the rest of the set unchanged.
• If edge blending fails: move the performers farther apart in the source footage or trim the moment where they overlap.
• If the outfits merge: add one high-contrast detail to each set - a coloured trim, a strap, a distinct collar - so the silhouettes separate cleanly.

Keep the cast consistent across shots

• Reuse the exact same reference set for every clip. A new set means a new face.
• Keep the same order of characters and reference images from shot to shot.
• Match the light direction and colour temperature when you shoot the next clip; consistency starts before the render.
• Recast a series shot by shot, then assemble in your editor. Do not try to force a cut-heavy sequence through one generation.

What this workflow is best for

Duet choreography, pair walks, two-person skits, interview-style setups, before-and-after transformations and scenes where two characters share a simple action are the sweet spot. If the scene depends on continuous contact, split it into smaller recasts or simplify the blocking first.

Rights and consent

You need permission to use footage of real people, especially when you are replacing their appearance. Use your own footage or licensed material, and keep reference images of other people on a clear legal footing. The copyright guide covers ownership and commercial use.