Props: How to Describe an Object, Which State to Draw, and When Its Sheet Is Used as a Reference

Quick answer: A prop sheet is the object by itself on a white background, lit only to show what it is made of. Describe the thing: shape, size against a hand, material, wear, one identifying mark. Draw it in its carried state — a sword in its scabbard, a watch intact; a structurally different form (blade drawn, glass cracked, blade snapped) is a separate state with its own image, chosen per scene. Where the prop is, who holds it and how it is lit are words in the storyboard, not states. In a segment, only props named in the header’s props line ride along as references, and a prop that the segment text never mentions is dropped from that line automatically. One kind of prop never gets a reference: a photograph or portrait of a character, because the models would copy the face on it into the scene.

Still from “The Last Envelope”, an AI short drama generated end-to-end by SceneMixer (6 characters, 1 episode) — Sample: “The Last Envelope” — Realistic HD, 1 episode, produced end-to-end by SceneMixer from the script · watch the episodes

Open a segment and read its header: the props line lists the sheets that travel with it; remove a prop from the text and the line drops it.

What a prop sheet is

One object, white background, three-quarter view, light used to reveal material (brushed steel, cracked leather, lacquer). No hand, no table, no scene: the sheet is a reference the models look at when the object appears, and anything else in it would appear too. Same Prop in Every Hand.

The episode asset library showing generated character sheets, location images and prop images — A prop sheet is the object alone on white; the storyboard's props line decides which sheets ride along into a segment.

How to describe it

What it is, then size (fits in a palm; as long as a forearm), then material and finish, then wear (nicked edge, worn grip), then the one mark that makes it this object (a brass plate with initials). Skip what it means to the story; the sheet cannot draw meaning. Describe the Cause, Not the Result.

States: drawn, broken, transformed

If the object’s structure changes during the story, each form is a state: the sheath and the drawn blade; the watch whole and the watch with a cracked face; the letter sealed and the letter opened. The main sheet is the everyday form; states are generated from it and chosen per scene. Being held, lying on a table, catching the light, covered in mud: those are described in the shot text and do not need a state. Use a State in One Scene.

The props line in a segment

Each segment header carries a props line naming the objects that appear in it; those sheets are attached as references when the clip is generated. The line is filled from the storyboard text and cleaned up before saving: a prop that the shots never mention is removed. So if a prop is missing from the clip, check that the shot text names it. Props and Locations in a Shot.

Photos and portraits of characters

A framed photograph of the heroine, a wanted poster with the villain’s face, a portrait over the fireplace: these are props whose image would carry a face into the scene, and the models copy faces from references literally. They are kept as props in the storyboard but are not attached as reference images; describe them in the shot text instead. Project limits: up to 100 props per project by default.

Change to the object	Handle as
Sword drawn from scabbard	State
Watch face cracked	State
Sword held in the left hand	Shot text
Watch lying on the nightstand in lamplight	Shot text
Letter opened	State
Letter covered in mud	Shot text

FAQ

My prop's sheet has a hand in it.

Remove any mention of holding from the description; the sheet is the object alone.

Which form should the main sheet show?

The carried, everyday form; other forms are states.

The clip did not show the prop.

Check that the shot text names it; the props line drops unmentioned props.

Why is the portrait of my character not used as a reference?

Its face would be copied into the scene; portraits of characters are described, not attached.

Do states cost credits?

Each state image is a generation at the sheet price; the first project has a free allowance.

Draw the object; write the moment

The sheet is what it is; the shot says where it is and what happens to it.

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Updated September 27, 2026