
create-avatar
Create HeyGen avatars from video footage (digital twin), a photo (photo avatar), or a text prompt (AI-generated). Returns a look ID for use with avatar-video.
api reference
about
create heygen avatars from video footage (digital twin), a photo (photo avatar), or a text prompt (ai-generated). returns a look id for use with avatar-video.
1. calling the api
install the client
the client provides a convenient way to interact with the api.
1pip install inferenceshsetup your api key
set INFERENCE_API_KEY as an environment variable. get your key from settings → api keys.
1export INFERENCE_API_KEY="inf_your_key"run and get result
submit a request and wait for the final result. best for batch processing or when you don't need progress updates.
1from inferencesh import inference23client = inference()456result = client.run({7 "app": "heygen/create-avatar",8 "input": {}9 })1011print(result["output"])stream live updates
get real-time progress updates as the task runs. ideal for showing progress bars, partial results, or long-running tasks.
1from inferencesh import inference23client = inference()456# stream=True yields updates as they arrive7for update in client.run({8 "app": "heygen/create-avatar",9 "input": {}10 }, stream=True):11 if update.get("progress"):12 print(f"progress: {update['progress']}%")13 if update.get("output"):14 print(f"output: {update['output']}")2. authentication
the api uses api keys for authentication. see the authentication docs for detailed setup instructions.
3. files
file inputs are automatically handled by the sdk. you can pass local paths, urls, or base64 data.
automatic upload
the python sdk automatically detects local file paths and uploads them. urls are passed through as-is.
1# local file paths are automatically uploaded2result = client.run({3 "app": "heygen/create-avatar",4 "input": {5 "image": "/path/to/local/image.png", # detected & uploaded6 "audio": "https://example.com/audio.mp3", # url passed through7 }8})4. webhooks
get notified when a task completes by providing a webhook url. when the task reaches a terminal state (completed, failed, or cancelled), a POST request is sent to your url with the task result.
1result = client.run({2 "app": "heygen/create-avatar",3 "input": {},4 "webhook": "https://your-server.com/webhook"5}, wait=False)webhook payload
your endpoint receives a JSON POST with the task result:
1{2 "id": "task_abc123",3 "status": 9,4 "output": { ... },5 "error": "",6 "session_id": null,7 "created_at": "2024-01-15T10:30:00Z",8 "updated_at": "2024-01-15T10:30:05Z"9}5. schema
input
avatar creation method. 'digital_twin' from video, 'photo' from image, 'prompt' from text description.
display name for the avatar.
video file (digital_twin) or image file (photo). required for digital_twin and photo types.
text description of the avatar to generate. required for prompt type.
attach this look to an existing avatar group/character identity.
ready to run create-avatar?
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