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Image to video: prepare the source and direct motion

The source image already defines appearance. Use the prompt to direct motion, camera behavior, timing, and the elements that must remain unchanged.

Updated August 17, 2026

1. Pick a source that can move

Use a sharp image with a clear subject, readable separation from the background, and enough room in the direction of motion. Extreme crops often leave the model nowhere to move without inventing content.

  • Avoid hidden hands or partially cut-off limbs when body motion matters
  • Use clean product edges for advertising shots
  • Leave headroom for upward camera movement
  • Use the aspect ratio you intend to publish

2. Describe motion, not the entire image

The model can already see the source. Focus your prompt on what changes over time: a blink, a turn, flowing fabric, moving light, camera parallax, or a product rotation.

  • Small natural motion for portraits
  • One dominant action for people
  • Slow controlled movement for products
  • Separate subject motion from camera motion

3. Match the model to the task

Seedance 2.5, Seedance 2.0, Seedance 1.5 Pro, Kling 3.0 Pro, and WAN models expose different duration, resolution, sound, and shot controls in Cdance. Choose from the live selector and review only the settings that appear for that model.

  • Use camera lock when source accuracy matters
  • Use sound only when the model exposes it
  • Use motion-control models when you have a compatible motion video
  • Treat duration and resolution as model-specific

4. Reduce identity drift and warping

Ask for restrained motion first. Large rotations, fast occlusion, and movements that reveal unseen parts of the subject require the model to invent more information and increase drift.

  • Preserve identity and facial proportions
  • Keep logos and typography unchanged
  • Avoid sudden cuts unless the model supports multi-shot
  • Increase complexity gradually across iterations

5. Review the output like an editor

Check the first and final frames, hands and faces, text, edges, continuity, and sound. A visually attractive clip can still fail the practical goal if a product mark or identity changes.

  • Download and inspect at full resolution
  • Keep the prompt with the saved generation
  • Reproduce a good setup before making small changes

Ready to put the workflow into practice?

Open the Cdance generator