Text to Image and Text to Video: Plan the Handoff
Use text to image and text to video as separate stages: approve a visual concept, then select a model that accepts it as a reference for motion.
Create a text-to-video shot in 3 steps
Turn a clear shot brief into a controlled model test, then approve the complete clip rather than a single attractive frame.
Write the shot brief
Define the subject, action, framing, duration, and details that must remain consistent.
Choose and run a model
Match the input and output controls to the shot instead of relying on a generic ranking.
Inspect the full clip
Review motion, continuity, text, audio, and export fit before using or automating it.
Use the image to settle visual identity
Write a brief for one illustrated character standing at a window. Generate or supply an authorized still, then check the details that should persist: costume, proportions, window geometry, lighting, and framing. This single source lets you isolate changes introduced by motion. Do not treat a concept image as evidence of a real place or person. If the design carries a brand logo or factual label, use an approved source and plan to check every frame that displays it.
Select a model that takes the still
A text-to-video model may accept only text, while an image-to-video variant accepts an image plus a motion description. Read the chosen model's current input schema in the video catalog. Do not paste an image URL into a text-only field and assume the model will preserve the composition. For the product scene, request a gentle camera move without asking the object to transform. For the character, specify a small gesture. For the street, specify traffic direction and camera position. These prompts keep motion legible and make drift easier to identify.
Review continuity across frames
Watch for shape changes, disappearing props, altered faces, and unexpected cuts. Compare the first and last frames with the approved still. If a product label changes or a character's defining features drift, reject or simplify the shot. A beautiful frame does not rescue a clip that loses its subject during motion. The video-generation guide can help with the general workflow; model-specific settings still come from each model page. Save the still, motion prompt, variant, and final file together.
Decide which stage owns a correction
If the initial design is wrong, change the image. If the design is right but the action fails, change the motion prompt or model. This avoids regenerating an approved concept to fix a camera issue. The model-selection page covers output and control comparisons. A final edit may add typography and audio after the moving clip is approved.
Continue the workflow
FAQ
Can every text-to-video model animate a supplied image?+
No. Select a documented image-to-video variant if the still must be an input.
What should the still establish?+
It should settle appearance, framing, and protected details before motion is requested.
How do I judge consistency?+
Compare the subject's identity and key objects across the entire clip, not only its first frame.
Should I put final text into the concept image?+
For critical typography, an editable overlay in the final video is usually easier to verify than generated letters.