> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://anam.ai/docs/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Create your own custom avatar

> Upload a photo or use your camera, then test your avatar in a live conversation.

Upload a photo or use your camera, then test your avatar in a live conversation.

Anam's one-shot avatar generator creates a personalized avatar from a single photo. You can use any face — a real person, a stock photo, or an AI-generated image — and the system produces an avatar that can speak, express, and hold conversations.

## Before you create

* Use a `.png`, `.jpg`/`.jpeg`, or `.webp` image up to 4.5MB.
* Use a square image at least `1152x1152`, with the face in focus and hands out of view.
* Leave clear space around the head, shoulders, and upper chest for landscape and portrait crops.

See [Custom avatar best practices](/docs/personas/avatars/custom-avatar-best-practices) for complete source image guidance.

<CardGroup cols={2}>
  <div data-attr="marketing.custom-avatar-docs.lab-cta.inline">
    <Card title="Create a custom avatar" icon="wand-magic-sparkles" href="https://lab.anam.ai/build?action=create&tab=avatar&cta_id=custom-avatar-docs-inline" horizontal>
      Upload a photo or take one with your camera in Anam Lab.
    </Card>
  </div>

  <Card title="View avatar examples" icon="images" href="/docs/personas/avatars/gallery" horizontal>
    Browse the avatars available for your personas.
  </Card>
</CardGroup>

## Create in Anam Lab

<Steps>
  <Step title="Open the Build page">
    Go to the [Avatar tab in Anam Lab](https://lab.anam.ai/build?tab=avatar) and select **Add**.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Add a new avatar">
    Click the **Add** button, then either upload a photo or capture one with your webcam. For best results, follow the [custom avatar best practices](/docs/personas/avatars/custom-avatar-best-practices).
  </Step>

  <Step title="Generate">
    Click **Create** and wait for your avatar to be generated. Once ready, it's available for use in any persona.
  </Step>
</Steps>

## Create via API

For programmatic avatar creation, use the [Create Avatar](/docs/api-reference/avatars/create-avatar) endpoint. This is useful for building custom onboarding flows or batch-creating avatars.

```javascript theme={"system"}
const response = await fetch("https://api.anam.ai/v1/avatars", {
  method: "POST",
  headers: {
    "Content-Type": "application/json",
    Authorization: `Bearer ${apiKey}`,
  },
  body: JSON.stringify({
    displayName: "My Custom Avatar",
    imageUrl: "https://example.com/photo.jpg",
  }),
});
```

## Using your avatar

Once created, reference the avatar by its ID in your persona configuration:

```javascript theme={"system"}
const personaConfig = {
  name: "My Persona",
  avatarId: "your-custom-avatar-id",
  avatarModel: "cara-4",
  voiceId: "6bfbe25a-979d-40f3-a92b-5394170af54b",
  llmId: "a7cf662c-2ace-4de1-a21e-ef0fbf144bb7",
  systemPrompt: "You are a helpful assistant.",
};
```

You can find the avatar ID in Lab by clicking the three-dot menu on any avatar and selecting **Copy ID**.

<div data-attr="marketing.custom-avatar-docs.lab-cta.footer">
  <Card title="Create a custom avatar" icon="wand-magic-sparkles" href="https://lab.anam.ai/build?action=create&tab=avatar&cta_id=custom-avatar-docs-footer" horizontal>
    Upload a photo or use your camera, then test your avatar in a live conversation.
  </Card>
</div>