Decision and verification worksheet
Creator Lane | Reviewed October 24, 2026
https://creatorlanehq.com/blog/product-reference-vs-character-reference-ai-video

PRODUCT REFERENCES VS CHARACTER REFERENCES IN AI VIDEO
Original Creator Lane decision worksheet | 2026-10-24

TASK
Audience / project:
Required outcome:
Current workflow and its specific limitation:
Options actually available without a new purchase:
Source material and permission:

DECISION QUESTIONS
What should a product reference pack show?
Your evidence / answer:
Unresolved detail / owner:

What should a character reference pack establish?
Your evidence / answer:
Unresolved detail / owner:

How should contradictory references be handled?
Your evidence / answer:
Unresolved detail / owner:

What should be checked during motion?
Your evidence / answer:
Unresolved detail / owner:

When should the reference strategy change?
Your evidence / answer:
Unresolved detail / owner:


PRACTICE BRIEF
Create a reference checklist with three product details or three character-consistency requirements, plus explicit permission notes. Review a proposed shot at the beginning, midpoint and end. Reject it if any nonnegotiable detail changes, even when the overall composition is appealing.

ACCEPTANCE CHECKS
[ ] Separate fidelity from permission
Evidence:
[ ] Resolve conflicting references
Evidence:
[ ] Inspect identity throughout motion
Evidence:

RESULT LOG
Option / exact version / account or interface:
Date / source URLs checked:
Input / settings / output version:
What was actually tested (leave blank if not tested):
Accepted results / failures / correction time:
Actual charges, if any (do not estimate as measured):
Privacy / permissions / delivery checks:
Decision and main limitation:
Next action / owner:
Recheck trigger:

REFERENCES
Kuaishou announces Kling 4.0: https://ir.kuaishou.com/news-releases/news-release-details/kling-ai-officially-launches-next-generation-kling-40-raising/
Google DeepMind Veo: https://deepmind.google/models/veo/
Creating with Runway Gen-4.5: https://help.runwayml.com/hc/en-us/articles/46974685288467-Creating-with-Gen-4-5

You may adapt this original worksheet for personal and client work. Third-party materials retain their own licences.