How do I create my Personal Avatar from a video?

📌 Avatar Allowances by Plan

Starter: 3 free avatars
Creator: 5 free avatars
Enterprise: Unlimited personal avatars

If you would like to upgrade your plan, check out our upgrade guide.

Create a Personal Avatar

Click Avatars in the left-hand menu and click Create avatar.
Click Create Your Personal Avatar
Click Create my Avatar.
Select Legacy Avatar.
Instructions on how to create the Avatar will be displayed on screen. When you have read these, click Next.
Select the option you'd like to use to create your avatar:

Use your webcam

Select the correct camera and microphone and click Next
Choose your preferred language
Click Start Recording and follow the on-screen script and prompts.
After recording, click Submit recording.
1. Review your footage to ensure it meets the creation guidelines.
2. If needed, click Record again to re-record.
Toggle on the Remove background toggle to remove your background.
Tick the checkbox to confirm your recording meets the guidelines and click Next.
Click Start Recording and record your consent using the on-screen script.
Check the biometric consent box and click Submit recording.

Your avatar will process in about 1 business day and appear in your Avatars section, ready to use in videos.

Upload footage

Choose the file you wish to upload. Footage should be:
1. A single, continuous take
2. Between 1 and 5 minutes in length
3. Only one person should be in the foreground of the video.
Toggle on the Remove background toggle to remove your background.
Review the footage and click the checkbox to confirm the footage meets the guidelines and click Next.
Click Start Recording and record your consent using the script onscreen.
Once finished, check the biometric consent prompt and click Submit recording.
Once your Avatar has finished generating, access in the Avatars section.

💡 Want your avatar to look its best? Check out our Personal Avatar Tips & Tricks Guide

Delete a Personal Avatar

You can delete your Personal Avatar at any time:

Go to the Avatars section.
Click the three-dot menu on your Personal Avatar.
Select Delete.

✍️ Deleting your avatar will reallocate the avatar credit back to your account.

To learn more about the deletion process, check out the Avatar deletion time frame article.

Tips for creating a high quality Personal Avatar

What to wear and how to prepare

Keep your mouth visible: Avoid face masks or anything that covers your mouth.
No distractions near your face: Steer clear of patterned clothing or accessories around your neck or jaw—these can distort the avatar.
Plain clothes work best: Solid colors are ideal, especially around the face and neck.
Glasses? Watch for glare: If you wear glasses, try to position your lighting to avoid reflections during recording.

Tips for a smooth recording

Hands off the face: Keep your hands away from your mouth while recording.
Keep your background simple: Avoid busy visuals, especially near your head and shoulders. No people, posters, or portraits in view.
Lighting is key: A clear, well-lit face helps our system capture your features accurately.
Avoid overacting: Exaggerated facial expressions can cause distortions—just speak naturally.
Both eyes visible: Even if recording at a slight angle, make sure both eyes can be seen.

If you’re uploading footage

Record in one take: Upload a single, continuous video. Please don’t stitch together multiple clips.
Mind your framing: Your face should be comfortably framed—not too close to the camera.
Only your voice: Make sure no other voices are present in the recording.

Voice capture tips

Speak clearly and naturally: This ensures we capture your voice correctly, whether you're using it now or saving it for future features.

💬 FAQs

What file types and sizes are supported for uploads?

You can upload:

.mp4, .mov, or .webm files
up to 2GB in size.

Can I remove the background of my Personal Avatar from a video?

Yes, you can remove the background of your personal avatar during the submission process by enabling the Remove Background toggle.

Can I remove the background from uploaded footage?

Yes, background removal is available for all Personal Avatars.

Can I film my Personal Avatar from an angle?

Yes, you can film your personal avatar from a video from different angles. While it is recommended, you do not need to film with a front facing camera angle.

Is my voice cloned when I create a Personal Avatar from a video?

Yes, your voice is cloned automatically during the personal avatar from a video creation process

How long does it take to generate my personal avatar from a video?

Personal Avatar from a video processing usually takes around 1 business day.

Can I buy additional Personal Avatars?

Yes! Annual plan users can purchase add-ons by contacting our Support Team.

Pricing (ex-VAT):

USD $240/year
EUR €216/year
GBP £192/year
INR ₹16,499/year

Add-ons appear in your Billing section under Account Settings.

Can I upload consent footage instead of recording it?

No, consent footage must be recorded live and must include the on-screen passcode.

Who must record the consent footage?

The person represented by the avatar must record their own consent video.

I’m on an Enterprise plan — can I request avatars for others?

You can send Personal Avatar Requests to individuals without Synthesia accounts. Use Personal Avatar Request Guide.

What is the Personal Avatar from video script?

When I talk, I am encouraged to use natural body language, but I make sure to keep my hands away from my face.

Before I start, I take a moment to shift into a positive state. My energy increases, my eyes are more open, and I smile as I read the following script with passion. When I shift into a positive state, I show the camera my best self to turn into an Avatar.

<Pause and keep your lips closed.>

Now I’m going to tell you a few facts. Did you know that your brain is your body's own power plant? It can generate up to 25 watts of electricity, which is enough to power a small light bulb. Modern science now tells us exercise isn’t just for your muscles, it also does wonders for your brain. This means that when you’re jogging, you’re actually sharpening your mind.

Now I am going to look at the camera and pause momentarily.

<Pause and keep your lips closed.>

Before I proceed, I reconnect with a joyful feeling. As I perform the following positive statements, there is energy in my voice. My tone is engaging and bright.

She laughs every time the breeze tickles her nose.

We are thrilled to see everyone enjoying the new changes!

<Pause and keep your lips closed. >

This is great. Can you believe we get to watch the sea from here?

It's such a pleasure to work with such dedicated and joyful colleagues. What a fantastic outcome, we couldn’t have done it without you! Seeing our project come to life makes me incredibly happy!

<Pause and keep your lips closed.>

Get ready to be part of something that will make you go WOW! Imagine the impact we can make with this revolutionary idea! We're on the edge of innovation, and the possibilities are endless! This opportunity is not just big; it’s monumental!

Let’s make history together with this thrilling new project!

📚 To learn more, check out the Feature Fridays: Personal Avatars recording.

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