RefMod vs .char: which to use for consistent characters
Use RefMod if you only generate with MiniMax H3 and want the smallest, fastest setup with no training. Use .char if you want one character file that works across several image and video models, carries body, wardrobe and voice, and scores every take for drift.
TL;DR
| ROW | RefMod | .char |
|---|---|---|
| Training needed | No | None on FLUX.2 and H3 R2V. An adapter trained once on Krea 2 and other H3 nodes |
| Photos required | Not stated | 1 to 2 |
| Models supported | MiniMax H3 only | FLUX.2, Krea 2, FLUX.1, Z-Image Turbo, MiniMax H3, LTX-2.5, plus Nano Banana Pro and H3 R2V via fal |
| Portable file | Yes, about 1 to 1.6 MB, for H3 | Yes, one .char file |
| Face / body / wardrobe / voice | Face and look, no voice | Face, body, wardrobe and an optional voice clip |
| Runs locally | Yes, in ComfyUI | Yes, in the OmniChar app and ComfyUI, or hosted on OmniChar Cloud |
| Open source | Not stated | Yes, GPL-3.0 |
| Cost | Free on your own GPU | Free to run locally. OmniChar Cloud uses credits |
| Drift measurement | None | Continuity score out of 100 on every take |
What each one is
RefMod
RefMod is a community project by malcolmrey that stores a character as a small file of about 1 to 1.6 MB for MiniMax H3. It needs no training and loads quickly. It works with H3 only and is labelled experimental.
.char
A .char is one portable file that holds reference photos, an identity fingerprint, a locked description, an optional trained adapter and an optional voice clip. It works in the OmniChar app, the ComfyUI node and OmniChar Cloud. FLUX.2 and H3 R2V use the references directly; Krea 2 and other H3 nodes use an adapter trained once. Every take gets a continuity score out of 100.
Strengths
Where RefMod wins
- Tiny: about 1 to 1.6 MB
- Fast to set up, with no training step
- The simplest option if MiniMax H3 is the only model you use
Where .char wins
- Works across image and video models, not only H3
- Carries a trained adapter and an optional voice clip in the same file
- Keeps body and wardrobe consistent, not only the face
- Scores every take out of 100 so you can see drift
When to use which
Questions
Is RefMod better than .char?
It depends on your models. RefMod is smaller and faster to set up, but it works with MiniMax H3 only. A .char works across several image and video models.
Who made RefMod?
RefMod is by malcolmrey. It is described as experimental.
Does .char need training?
Not on FLUX.2 or H3 R2V, which use the reference photos directly. Krea 2 and other H3 nodes use an adapter that is trained once and stored inside the .char.
Can I measure drift?
A .char gives every take a continuity score out of 100, so you can see when a take moves away from the character.
Is .char open source?
Yes. OmniChar is GPL-3.0 and runs in the OmniChar app, the ComfyUI node and OmniChar Cloud.