Change the character. Keep the idea moving.Change the character.Keep the idea moving.

What is a character swap?

A character swap is a visual transformation that aims to replace a video’s subject using a reference character. It can change more than a face: costume, body shape, and overall appearance may also be reinterpreted. The source supplies a performance, while the reference supplies the character you want to explore.

That makes it useful for a short mascot concept or a stylized character study. It also makes it less predictable than a simple cutout or a conventional face-region edit. Fine details and parts of the scene can change. The result needs to be reviewed as a new generated video, rather than treated as a pixel-perfect edit.

The TryMotion workflow

1. Prepare the performance. Trim your source to a single shot of 1–10 seconds. Keep one clear performer in frame.
2. Add the character. Use a JPG, PNG, or WebP image that clearly shows the appearance and body you need.
3. Review the quote. The server checks the file and calculates the correct credit tier before you submit.
4. Generate and inspect. Follow the job in your private library, review the whole clip, then download the MP4.

Source and reference requirements

The studio accepts H.264 MP4 uploads up to 25 MB, at no more than 30 fps, with dimensions from 256 to 1920 pixels per side. Images may be up to 10 MB and from 256 to 4096 pixels per side. These limits keep the workflow small enough to validate carefully.

Use a prepared clip; this version does not include a trim editor. It also does not fetch videos from TikTok, Instagram, or YouTube links. Upload a file you have permission to process. You can use portrait or landscape footage, but avoid extreme crops or a reference whose body is mostly outside the frame.

Which engine is used?

P-Video-Replace 720p is the default. A higher-quality 1080p option and other engines are selectable in the studio, each with its own displayed price. A model appearing in a provider’s catalog is not the same as a tested TryMotion feature, so availability is shown in the studio.

See our actual P-Video before-and-after demos for the source clip, character references, full outputs, credit costs and processing times. The scenes on this page are labeled motion illustrations. Review the full generated clips and their limitations when judging whether the workflow fits your source.

Keep your original audio

The studio includes an option to reuse the source video’s audio. That workflow combines the generated picture with the existing soundtrack when the source contains an audio track. It does not clone a voice or invent dialogue.

If your project relies on speech timing, check the mouth and audio together across the entire result. Keeping a recording does not guarantee that a generated character’s lips will match it perfectly. You may still need a video editor for final timing, titles, or sound adjustments.

Clear credit costs for short experiments

P-Video-Replace 720p costs 10 credits for a clip in the 5-second tier and 20 credits in the 10-second tier. Keeping source audio does not add credits. Credit packs start at $15 for 150 credits, with no recurring subscription. See the pricing page for every pack and engine rate.

Credits are reserved when a job starts. A confirmed technical failure automatically returns the full reserved credits once. Stuck or unconfirmed jobs have a 30-minute overall limit. Saving a completed output is retried for up to 10 minutes, within that overall limit. If the video still cannot be delivered, credits return automatically on the next recovery check, normally within 5 minutes, even if you close the page. No support request is required. An uncertain submission is checked without automatically submitting a second paid generation.

Choose a source that gives you a useful first test

A clear wave or simple turn is a better first experiment than a crowded shot with rapid cuts. Avoid hands covering the face, important props crossing the body, heavy motion blur, or repeated exits from the frame. These make it harder to tell whether the character and movement are consistent.

Match the reference to the framing. Show the full character when the performance is full-body. Keep small brand marks and critical text out of the first test; they require especially careful inspection. For a commercial concept, plan a human review before distribution.

Private files and deliberate sharing

Uploads and generated outputs live in private storage and expire after 7 days. You can delete stored files from the studio when they are not supporting an active job. Download anything you want to keep. There is no public gallery or automatic social posting.

Generation requires sending the selected inputs to the inference provider through time-limited file links. Provider retention policies apply independently of TryMotion’s stored copies. Review the web privacy page before uploading confidential or sensitive material.