# Expression Sheets Where Only the Expression Changes > Make an expression sheet for a mascot or a visual novel cast, with six moods where the face, hair and outfit hold and only the expression changes. --- ## Messages to send, and what they made ### “Design a mascot for my cozy cooking game, a round onion chef, then make an expression sheet with six expressions.” - ![A round golden onion mascot in a chef's hat and apron, holding a wooden spoon](https://media.app.layer.ai/workspaces/9602107e-865b-47e5-b66e-87b1bec5e3d5/files/ad6d8e80-50e8-4e14-9d36-669c44d8f18b/game_asset_refined_fullbody_2d_mascot_concept_for_a_cozy_cooking_game_a-2026-09-26-003907.png) - ![Six head-and-shoulders portraits of the onion chef, welcoming, delighted, focused, startled, worried and determined](https://media.app.layer.ai/workspaces/9602107e-865b-47e5-b66e-87b1bec5e3d5/files/5532216d-b76b-4f82-adf6-448fb306a1f2/character_sheet_create_a_single_cohesive_sixportrait-2026-09-26-004016.png) The sprout, the hat, the scarf and the blush hold across all six panels. The moods are a mascot's set, such as welcoming, delighted and focused, rather than the default six. ### “Make an expression sheet for the heroine of my visual novel, a young witch with a pointed hat: neutral, happy, sad, angry, surprised and determined.” - ![Six anime-style portraits of a young witch with auburn hair and a crooked pointed hat, neutral, happy, sad, angry, surprised and determined](https://media.app.layer.ai/workspaces/9602107e-865b-47e5-b66e-87b1bec5e3d5/files/77d6f489-eb2b-43b3-bb26-5c45520c9ee3/character_sheet_edit_the_supplied_expression_sheet_into_exactly_one-2026-09-26-004320.png) The auburn hair, the crooked hat, the plum scarf and the moon brooch stay put in every panel while only the face changes, so each panel cuts out as a dialogue portrait. --- By the third chapter of a visual novel, the heroine's eyes have changed shape twice and her hat has lost its crook, because each expression was drawn on its own. Players notice a face that drifts long before they notice anything else. Name the character and, if you like, the moods. "A young witch with a pointed hat: neutral, happy, sad, angry, surprised and determined" is enough. Layer draws the whole set on one sheet from one design, so you are not re-describing her hair in every request and checking six images against each other. ## Hold the Face, Move the Mood The head carries most of what makes a character recognizable, which is why face drift is the first consistency failure players spot. On the sheet, only the expression is free. Face shape, hair, outfit, accessories and palette are locked, and for a character that does not exist yet, Layer settles the design before it draws any mood. ## Choosing the Six The default set covers what most dialogue needs: neutral, happy, sad, angry, surprised and determined. Swap in your own when the character calls for it. A cooking-game mascot sells warmth, so the onion chef gets welcoming, delighted and focused instead of angry. When the script needs embarrassed or smug later, ask for another row and it follows the same face. ## Cut It Into Portraits Cut the panels into portrait sprites for your dialogue system, or hand the sheet to your animators as the reference for the face. For the full body from every side, see [turnaround sheets](/use-cases/character-turnaround-sheet). ## Frequently Asked Questions ### What stays the same between panels? Everything but the expression. Face shape, hair, hat, outfit, accessories and palette hold. For a new character, Layer settles the design first and draws every mood from it. ### Which expressions do I get? Neutral, happy, sad, angry, surprised and determined by default, or the six you name. A mascot usually wants a friendlier set, such as welcoming, delighted and focused. ### Can I use the panels as dialogue portraits? Yes. Each panel is a head-and-shoulders portrait of the same character, so you cut them apart and swap them in the dialogue box as the conversation turns. ### Can I use a character I already have? Yes. Attach your design and ask for its expression sheet. Layer keeps your character and changes only the face. ### Does it cover body language? No. The sheet frames the head and shoulders, so shrugs, slumps and pointing are out of frame. For those, ask for a pose sheet of the same character. ### Can I add more expressions later? Yes. Ask for another row, such as embarrassed, smug or exhausted, in the same conversation, and it follows the same face. --- Create a free Layer account and name the moods your character needs. --- [View original](https://layer.ai/use-cases/character-expression-sheet) | [All Use Cases](https://layer.ai/use-cases)