Elf Warrior Transformation Collage

Goal: Create a realistic vertical 3:4 transformation collage showing a young woman being turned into a dark-haired fantasy elf warrior in a salon or backstage makeup studio. Canvas: A single vertical image divided into exactly 12 equal rectangular panels arranged in a 3-column by 4-row grid, with thin white borders between panels. Each panel has a small white serif number in the upper-left corner, labeled exactly 1 through 12. Subject: The same young adult woman appears in every panel, centered in a close-up portrait from chest or shoulders upward. She has {argument name="hair color" default="long black hair"}, pale skin, and a neutral forward-facing pose. Her face is intentionally obscured in every panel by a soft-edged rectangular beige blur or privacy mask covering the facial features while leaving hair, ears, neck, and outfit visible. Setting and style: Photorealistic cinematic lighting, shallow depth of field, dark warm salon or dressing-room background with mirrors, shelves, makeup tools, blurred lights, and a professional makeover atmosphere. Use natural camera perspective and consistent lighting across all panels. Panel sequence: Show exactly 12 distinct stages of the transformation: 1. Before look: the woman with loose long black hair, wearing a cream knit sweater, no elf ears or armor yet. 2. Hair preparation: hair clipped back with small metal salon clips, wearing a black salon cape; a makeup artist hand works near the cheek. 3. First prosthetic: a long pointed elf ear is being attached on one side, with a makeup brush or tool near the ear. 4. Both pointed elf ears visible, hair tucked back, black salon cape, clean early fantasy look. 5. Makeup detailing: both pointed ears visible, a brush applying makeup near the cheek or ear. 6. Finished prosthetic ears: both long pointed elf ears visible, dark hair loose, still in black salon cape. 7. Close elf portrait stage: pointed ears prominent, hair smoother and darker, black salon cape, no armor yet. 8. Hairstyling stage: hair partly braided with small silver ornaments or clips woven through the sides, pointed ears visible, wearing a lighter underlayer. 9. More advanced braided hairstyle: intricate dark braids with silver beads and accessories, pointed ears visible, fantasy styling becoming stronger. 10. Armor stage: the woman now wears ornate silver fantasy shoulder armor and chest armor with engraved details, braided hair and pointed ears visible. 11. Final makeup touch-up: same ornate silver armor and elf ears, a makeup artist hand applies finishing detail with a brush near the face. 12. Final completed character: fully transformed into an elven warrior wearing polished silver armor with gold accents, braided black hair with ornaments, long pointed ears, and a dramatic fantasy presence. Constraints: Keep the same person, same camera angle, and same studio environment across all 12 panels. Include no extra text besides the numbers 1 through 12. Make the collage look like behind-the-scenes documentation of a professional fantasy character makeup and costume transformation. Avoid cartoon style; make it highly realistic, detailed, and cinematic.