What is a setcard (comp card)?
A setcard is a model's short sheet of photos and key details that agencies send to clients when proposing the model for a job. Internationally it is usually called a comp card, short for composite card, and it differs from a portfolio by being a standardized summary rather than a full body of work.
In German-speaking markets the spelling Sedcard is common, and you will also see zed card. All of these names describe the same thing: one composite sheet that lets a client judge a model at a glance.
What is on a setcard
- A headshot or beauty shot on the front, usually the strongest close-up.
- Further images on the back or second page: full body, three-quarter, profile, and often a fashion or commercial shot that shows range.
- Measurements: height and the measurements clients need for fitting, such as bust or chest, waist and hips, plus clothing and shoe sizes.
- Hair and eye color.
- The model's name and the agency's name and contact details.
Formats differ between agencies and markets. Many setcards today are PDFs or pages on an agency website rather than printed cards, but the layout logic stays the same.
How setcards are used in casting
A brand or production company planning a shoot sends a brief to agencies. The agencies reply with setcards of available models who match. The client shortlists, sometimes asks for current polaroids, which are unretouched snapshots that show the model's current look, and then books. The measurements on the card help the stylist prepare samples that fit, and the photos help the photographer and art director plan the look.
For a catalog or e-commerce shoot, the setcard also answers practical questions early: whether the model's size matches the sample size, whether the look suits the brand, and whether the same model can carry a whole collection.
Cost and time
A setcard is produced by the model or the agency from test shoots and earlier jobs, and updated when the model's look or book changes. For the client, receiving setcards is part of the casting process. The cost comes with the booking it leads to: the model fee, and usage rights for the images produced, which are agreed per channel and period.
Setcards in AI fashion photography
With AI on-model rendering, a photo of the model becomes an input. A setcard is a convenient source, because it already contains several views of the same person: face, full body front and back, three-quarter. The individual shots can be separated and used as reference images, so garments can be rendered onto the same person from different angles.
Two points carry over from traditional casting. Consent and usage: a model's images should only be used for AI rendering when the model and the agency have agreed, and the agreement should say for what and for how long. Image quality: a sharp full body shot at good resolution, in simple clothing, makes a better reference than a small crop.
For how setcards are handled in NotShot, read Setcard import: upload one comp card, get every model shot ready to render.
Related terms
- AI fashion model: a person in a fashion image created by AI
- On-model photography: the garment worn by a person
- Shot list: the plan for a shoot day
- Lookbook: a styled collection presentation
- Editorial fashion photography: story-driven fashion images
- Catalog photography: the standard image set for every product
- Setcard import: upload one comp card, get every model shot ready to render
Questions we get asked
- Is a setcard the same as a comp card?
- Yes. Setcard is the term used in German-speaking markets, often spelled Sedcard, and comp card or composite card is the international term. They describe the same sheet.
- What photos go on a setcard?
- Typically a headshot on the front and several images on the back, such as full body, three-quarter and profile shots, plus one or two images that show range. Agencies set their own layouts.
- What measurements are on a setcard?
- Height, the main body measurements such as bust or chest, waist and hips, clothing and shoe sizes, and hair and eye color.
- What is the difference between a setcard and a portfolio?
- A setcard is a short summary for quick casting decisions. A portfolio, or book, is the full collection of a model's best work, viewed when a client wants to look closer.
- Can I use a setcard for AI fashion images?
- Only with the agreement of the model and the agency for that use. Technically a setcard works well as input, because it shows the same person from several angles.