Nano Banana 4
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Updated 7 min read

Character Consistency in Nano Banana 4: Keep the Same Face Across Every Image

How to generate the same character, person or product across dozens of images β€” reference images, identity anchors, scene batching and the mistakes that break consistency.

Character consistency β€” keeping the same face, outfit or product identical across many generations β€” is Nano Banana 4's signature ability. But it isn't automatic. This guide covers the workflow that makes it reliable.

Why consistency used to be impossible

Older image models generated every image from scratch, so "the same woman" in prompt two was a new random person who loosely matched the description. Nano Banana 4 changes this by treating uploaded images and previous generations as identity references it can actually preserve.

Method 1: Anchor with a reference image

The strongest approach. Upload one clear photo of your character and phrase every request as an edit:

Using the person in this photo, show them hiking a mountain trail
at sunrise, same face, same hairstyle, wearing outdoor gear

The phrase "same face, same hairstyle" matters β€” it tells the model which attributes are locked. Without it, the model may "improve" the face toward a generic average.

Best reference images are front-facing, evenly lit, with the face at least a third of the frame. Avoid sunglasses, heavy filters and group photos.

Method 2: Build a character sheet first

For invented characters, generate an identity document before any scenes:

Character reference sheet of a young detective with short red hair,
round glasses and a brown trench coat: front view, side view,
three-quarter view, neutral background, consistent design

Save this sheet, then upload it as the reference for every future scene. You've effectively created a reusable identity anchor for a person who doesn't exist.

Method 3: Stay in one conversation

Within a single chat session, the model remembers what your character looks like. Generate scene one, then keep asking: "now show the same character at a train station", "same character, close-up, worried expression". Consistency inside one conversation is noticeably stronger than across separate sessions β€” so batch related images together.

The identity anchor phrase

Whatever method you use, repeat a short fixed description in every prompt β€” the same wording every time:

"the detective with short red hair, round glasses and a brown trench coat"

Think of it as the character's ID card. Changing the wording ("crimson hair", "spectacles") invites drift.

What breaks consistency

  • Extreme angle changes β€” a top-down or far-away shot gives the model too little face to preserve. Move in steps.
  • Style switches β€” going from photo to anime and back will mutate features. Lock the style along with the identity.
  • Crowded scenes β€” many faces dilute the reference. Introduce side characters after the protagonist is established.
  • Conflicting edits β€” "make her look older" then "same as before" confuses the anchor. Branch a new conversation for variants.

A production workflow for storyboards

  1. Generate the character sheet (Method 2)
  2. Approve it β€” this is your canonical reference
  3. In one conversation, generate scenes in story order, uploading the sheet at the start
  4. Use the identity anchor phrase in every single prompt
  5. For revision rounds, edit individual scenes rather than regenerating them

Follow this and a 20-panel storyboard with a stable protagonist is an afternoon's work. For the prompts to fill those scenes with, browse the prompt library.