Tell the model what happens next.

An image-to-video prompt explains how a still scene changes over time. Start with one subject action, one camera direction and the details that need to remain stable. Review the result before adding more complexity.

A simple motion prompt formula

[Subject action]. [Camera movement]. [Environmental motion]. Keep [important details] consistent. [Pace or shot constraint].

Each part has a job. Subject action describes the main movement, such as a person turning or a bottle rotating. Camera movement describes the viewer’s perspective. Environmental motion adds supporting details like waves or light. The consistency instruction names what you will check in the result.

You do not need every part for every scene. A fixed camera and one subtle action can be easier to evaluate than a busy shot. These templates are starting points to test, not guarantees of a particular output.

Choose one camera move

• Locked-off: the camera stays still while the subject moves. Useful when the action itself should be easy to inspect.
• Slow push-in: the camera moves gently toward the subject. Give it one clear point of attention.
• Pull-back: the camera moves away and reveals more of the scene. The model may need to invent details outside the starting composition.
• Sideways track: the camera moves alongside a subject or across a landscape. Describe the direction and keep the pace modest.
• Gentle orbit: the camera moves partly around a subject. Review newly revealed surfaces carefully, particularly on branded products.

“A slow push-in toward the bottle” is more specific than “make it cinematic.” Style words can support the direction, but they do not replace an action.

Three starting templates

1. Product close-up

The camera slowly pushes toward the product. A soft highlight moves across its surface. Keep its silhouette, color and label area consistent. One continuous shot with gentle motion.

Use a source image where the product is clearly visible. Inspect shape, text and packaging details before treating the result as a product representation.

2. A landscape with atmosphere

A light breeze moves the trees while small waves roll onto the shore. The camera glides slowly forward. Preserve the coastline and the overall composition. Calm, steady motion.

Let the environment carry the movement. If the landscape changes too much, try a fixed camera and a smaller action.

3. An illustration with a little life

The character blinks and turns slightly toward the light. Their clothing moves softly in the breeze. Keep the illustration style and facial features consistent. Static camera, subtle movement.

Start with limited movement before attempting large body motion. Check whether linework, colors and identity remain useful for your intended project.

Refine a result that drifts

Change one instruction at a time so the next result answers a clear question. Keep a note of the source image, model, settings and prompt you used.

• The subject changes shape: reduce the action, simplify the camera move and name the important details to preserve.
• The camera moves too much: ask for a locked-off view and remove competing movement words.
• The clip feels static: add one visible action, such as a gentle turn, moving reflection or small environmental movement.
• The scene becomes crowded: remove secondary subjects and unnecessary events from the description.
• The ending feels abrupt: describe the pace and avoid asking for several actions in a short clip.

A prompt adjustment is an experiment, not a guaranteed fix. Different models may interpret the same instruction differently.

Choose settings deliberately

Use the creator’s current options rather than assuming every model accepts the same duration, resolution or aspect ratio. Pick a shorter draft when you want to inspect a movement, then review the cost of a longer or higher-resolution version.

If a model offers audio, decide whether it serves the shot. A generated audio option is different from uploading a specific soundtrack; only the controls shown for the selected model are available.

Keep the starting image useful

Choose a clear source with important details inside the frame. Give moving subjects some room in the composition. Strong blur, heavy occlusion and very small text can make the result harder to assess.

For additional prompting context, see Runway’s photo-to-video prompting tips. Its advice is a useful reference; the models available here have their own supported settings.

Try your next prompt

Open Image to Video to animate a source image, or use Text to Video when you want to invent a scene from a written description. Review current plans and Credits before generating.