> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://bountyv.gitbook.io/vdocs/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://bountyv.gitbook.io/vdocs/soul-api/identities-create.md).

# Create a Soul

Persist a face identity for reuse across many image generations. One-time charge per Soul.

```
POST /api/v1/identities/create
```

Synchronous. Typical response time: a few seconds.

An **identity** (a "Soul") is a persistent face binding — we extract and store the face features once, then you can generate unlimited new images of that person from text prompts via [`POST /api/v1/identities/{id}/generate`](/vdocs/soul-api/identities-generate.md). Use Souls when you'll be generating multiple images of the same person — it's cheaper per image than calling Identity Swap each time.

## Authentication

```
Authorization: Bearer sk_live_...
```

See [Authentication](/vdocs/authentication.md) for details.

## Request

**Content-Type:** `multipart/form-data`

| Field  | Type   | Required | Default           | Description                                                            |
| ------ | ------ | -------- | ----------------- | ---------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| `face` | File   | ✅        | —                 | Clear frontal face photo. JPEG, PNG, or WebP.                          |
| `name` | string | —        | `Soul-YYYY-MM-DD` | Optional label for your own reference. Helps when listing Souls later. |

## Response

```json
{
  "id": "5e9b27ec-...",
  "name": "Anna",
  "identity_profile_present": true,
  "charged_cents": 200,
  "balance_cents": 4800
}
```

| Field                      | Type    | Description                                                                         |
| -------------------------- | ------- | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| `id`                       | string  | The Soul's id. Save it — you'll pass it as the path segment when generating images. |
| `name`                     | string  | The Soul's label.                                                                   |
| `identity_profile_present` | boolean | Whether an extended identity profile was extracted in addition to the face crop.    |
| `charged_cents`            | integer | Amount deducted from your balance for this call.                                    |
| `balance_cents`            | integer | Remaining balance.                                                                  |

## Example

```bash
curl -X POST https://substance-api.com/api/v1/identities/create \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer sk_live_..." \
  -F "face=@/path/to/face.jpg" \
  -F "name=Anna"
```

## Listing your Souls

```
GET /api/v1/identities/create
```

Same endpoint with `GET` returns every Soul on your account. No charge.

```bash
curl https://substance-api.com/api/v1/identities/create \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer sk_live_..."
```

```json
{
  "identities": [
    {
      "id": "5e9b27ec-...",
      "name": "Anna",
      "identity_profile_present": true,
      "created_at": "2026-05-18T12:34:56.000Z"
    }
  ]
}
```

## Errors

| Status | When                                                              |
| ------ | ----------------------------------------------------------------- |
| `400`  | Missing `face` file.                                              |
| `401`  | Missing/invalid API key.                                          |
| `402`  | Insufficient balance for Soul creation.                           |
| `502`  | Soul creation failed upstream. Balance is refunded automatically. |

See [Errors](/vdocs/errors.md) for full details.

## Pricing

Billed per call — see [Credits & pricing](/vdocs/account/credits.md) for current rates.


---

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