1.3 Casting an AI Model
The model is a casting decision. Describe the appearance that serves the brand, then judge the result against that direction.
Transcript
Purpose
In this video, we'll create an AI model that fits our brand. Think of it as casting: the face and hair should suit the visual direction we've chosen. We'll use Astria's Agent to turn that direction into a portrait.
Agent or prompt box?
A prompt is the written instruction you give for an image. In the prompt box, you describe that image. With the Agent, you work through a task in a conversation, much like chatting in ChatGPT or Claude. The difference is that the Agent can use available tools to carry out the task, rather than only reply with text. Under Connectors, you can also make apps like Google Drive or Shopify available to it.
Open the Agent
On Generate, open Agent at the top of the page. The chat opens on the right. Below the message box, open Skills to choose the instructions for this task.
Use a skill for the task
Choose unique headshot from the list, and it appears in the message box. A headshot is a portrait focused on the face. This skill guides the Agent's choice of tools and how it creates the portrait.
Give a clear brief
Now give it a clear description of the face and hair we want. Use the casting direction we identified for the brand, rather than asking for a model with no further detail. For our brand, that's long copper-red hair in loose waves, light freckles and a natural, no-makeup look. The Agent can use relevant material in the workspace, so make clear which brand material this task should use: type @ to point it to a file or a reference. We'll start with a written description; choosing a photo to copy is a separate decision. Then send it.
Judge and refine
When the portraits appear, compare them with our casting references. Look at the features we described: the hair, the freckles, the natural look. If something needs changing, ask for that one change in the chat, and compare the next result with the first.
Closing thought
Keep the portrait that fits our casting direction, with the references beside it so we can check the choice.