# Character Intake

> Read photo/image evidence or text/link/folder project brief, extract human facial cues, hair, demeanor, outfit, and build normalized Identity Lock before three-candidate art direction.

- Skill: `yang0/character-intake` (Agent Skill, multi-file: 2 files)
- Install (CLI): `npx skillmds@latest add yang0/character-intake`
- Raw SKILL.md: https://api.skillmd.com/api/skills/yang0/character-intake/raw
- Safety review: pending
- Works with: Claude Code, Claude.ai, OpenAI Codex
- Category: Coding & Dev Tools
- Author: yang0 (https://skillmd.com/u/yang0)
- Updated: 2026-09-17
- Page: https://skillmd.com/skills/yang0/character-intake

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# Character Intake

Produce a factual handoff; do not design or render. This node handles dual inputs:
1. **Image Input (Mode 1)**: Real person photo/selfie or existing cartoon/stylized character image.
2. **Non-Image Input (Mode 2)**: Local project/account/folder path, web link, or text brief.

## Input Contract

Accept conversation history plus any local photo/image path, local project/folder path, URL, attachment, screenshot, or 1–3 sentence character/persona description. Read accessible materials before asking anything.

## Procedure

1. **Dual-Input Identification & Extraction**:
   - **If Image provided**: Extract facial topology, hair silhouette, signature facial marks (glasses, mole, freckles), and core temperament/demeanor (e.g. sharp geek, elegant scholar, vibrant youth, sassy rebel). Select only 3–5 recognition-bearing anchors for `identity_lock`. Do NOT lock the person's photo clothing.
   - **If Non-Image provided**: Extract character persona, profession, age group, core personality, brand/account context, and signature visual anchors. Build the `identity_lock`.
2. **Normalize Constraints**:
   - Record `must_keep`, `must_avoid`, `requested_exaggeration`.
   - Separate facts from assumptions.
   - Write `photo_attributes_released`: source photo clothing (ordinary t-shirts, casual wear, pajamas), background, lighting and casual pose are 100% released and discarded for bespoke redesign.
   - Record `inferred_preferences`: an evidence-based analysis of the person's aura, temperament, and likely fashion/art taste (e.g., techwear, cyber, luxury minimalism, haute couture, guochao, pop art) to inspire bold A/B/C wardrobe and style matching.
3. **No Unnecessary Friction**:
   - If materials are readable, do not ask the user to choose a head-to-body ratio (PG) or rendering style (MS); those are director decisions unless explicitly constrained by user overrides.
   - Ask only one concise question when unreadable or missing information would block execution.
4. **Handoff**:
   - Return `input_mode`, `identity_lock`, `project_context`, `confirmed_brief`, and `next_stage: direction_planning`.

## High-art photo policy

For a photo input, the default reference mode is **identity anchor**, never
portrait replica. Extract only factual recognition locks such as face topology,
hair silhouette, demeanor, and distinctive facial markers; completely discard
the casual photographed clothing and room background. Record
an explicit high-likeness request only when the user asks for high likeness or a
near-realistic portrait. Otherwise hand off a requirement for materially
stylized output with bold, bespoke wardrobe tailoring, and flag portrait replication
or plain photo clothing as a review failure.

## Output Contract

Return normalized envelope:
- `input_mode`: `"image"` | `"context_text"` | `"hybrid"`
- `identity_lock`: 3–5 recognition-bearing facial, hair, signature and demeanor anchors only (no casual photo clothing)
- `photo_attributes_released`: list of source-photo attributes (outfit, setting, pose) released for complete redesign
- `inferred_preferences`: temperament analysis and inferred aesthetic fashion/art taste for A/B/C styling
- `confirmed_brief`: normalized brief
- `next_stage`: `"direction_planning"` (or `"character_intake"` if blocked)