How do I create an avatar with Avatar Builder?

Avatar Builder lets you create your own custom avatar when no stock avatar fits the look you want. Choose from a range of visual styles, then build your avatar once and reuse it across as many videos as you like.

📌 Avatar Builder is available on all plans (Basic and up).

✍️ Enterprise Admins can disable Avatar Builder. Turning off Custom Avatars & voices in the General section of organization or workspace settings disables the creation of any custom avatars, including Personal Avatars — not just Avatar Builder.

Create an avatar with Avatar Builder

Under Tools in the main menu, select Avatar Builder.
- You can also go to the Avatars page and select + Create Avatar, then launch Avatar Builder.
Choose a concept from the Starter Library, or select Build your own to start from scratch.
Select a style from the Styles panel. See Styles below for the full list.
Refine the avatar using the panel controls, the prompt box, or both.
To auto-generate a description based on your current panel settings, select Suggest a description (the pencil icon) or press Tab.
Use the Number of assets selector to choose how many avatar options to generate at once. The selector defaults to 2.
Select the blue arrow to create your avatars. Generating avatars takes 2 to 3 minutes.
Review the generated options in the scrollable rail, which keeps past generations from the same session so you can flip back through earlier attempts.
To reuse and tweak a past attempt, select it, then select the pencil icon on the preview to edit its prompt or try different panel options.
Select the option you want, then select Save.
Enter a name for the avatar, select a Voice for it, then select Save.

Once saved, your avatar behaves like other customizable avatars and appears in your avatar library. Filter to My avatars to find it.

Styles and controls

Avatar Builder gives you a set of styles and controls to shape your avatar before you generate it.

Styles

Avatar Builder offers a range of visual styles, from lifelike to illustrated. Choose from:

Realistic, Painter 2D, Soft 3D, Glossy 3D, Collage, Comics, Slow cinema, Flat geometric, Cool film, Risograph, Cozy 3D, Gouache, Illustrated, Painterly, Charcoal, Anime, Vintage Film, Black & White, and Claymation.

Panel controls

Use the panel controls to shape how your avatar looks. Each control offers a set of options:

Gender: Female, Male

Age: Adult, Middle aged, Senior

Vibe: Professional, Friendly, Energetic, Calm, Serious, Playful, Confident, Warm, Dramatic

Camera: Standard, Fisheye, Wide angle, Telephoto, Shallow DoF, Tilt shift, Dutch angle, Action cam

Framing: Wide, Waist up, Chest up, Headshot

Pose: Standing, Seated, 3/4 Turn, Leaning, Arms crossed

Position: Center, Left, Right

Expression: Neutral, Soft smile, Warm smile, Broad smile, Grin, Knowing smile, Serious, Intense

Lighting: Natural, Soft studio, Golden hour, Hard rim, Neon, Low key, High key, Dramatic

Randomize and reset

Select Randomize to randomize all current panel settings at once.
Select Reset to reset all panel settings back to their defaults.

Create a video with your avatar

Select Create video to open Assistant. Describe the video you want, and Assistant generates it — including B-roll and motion — in the style of that avatar.
Or use the saved avatar in the Editor, like any other avatar.

💬FAQ

Can I create a non-human avatar with Avatar Builder?

Yes. Avatar Builder supports stylized and non-human avatars, in addition to realistic human avatars, using the Styles panel.

How long does it take to generate an avatar?

Generating an avatar with Avatar Builder takes 2 to 3 minutes.

Can I add a reference image in Avatar Builder?

At this time, Avatar Builder doesn't support uploading a reference image. Guide the avatar's look with the panel controls and the prompt instead.

Can I add a logo in Avatar Builder?

At this time, Avatar Builder doesn't support adding a logo. To add a logo to an avatar's outfit, see How do I customize Avatar outfits in Synthesia?

Can I create my own custom style?

At this time, you can't create custom styles in Avatar Builder. Choose from the existing style options instead.

Does Avatar Builder use credits?

Avatar Builder doesn't use credits at this time.

Why doesn't my avatar's scene match its style?

When you use a non-human or stylized avatar, the surrounding scene may not always match the avatar's style. For example, a cartoonish avatar should make its space cartoonish too, but the space may come out realistic instead.

Can I share an avatar I create with Avatar Builder?

Not yet. Sharing avatars created with Avatar Builder is not currently available.

Can my organization turn off Avatar Builder?

Yes. An admin can disable Avatar Builder by turning off Custom Avatars & voices in the General section of organization or workspace settings. This also disables Personal Avatars.