Image-to-Video Generation
Image-to-video models take a still frame and generate motion from it — turning a photo into a short animated clip. This is useful for animating product shots, hero images, b-roll stills, or any frame where you want to add movement without shooting new footage.
Step-by-Step
Section titled “Step-by-Step”1. Select an Image on the Timeline
Section titled “1. Select an Image on the Timeline”Click on a still image clip on your Premiere Pro timeline, or select an image in the Project Bin. modelBridge detects the selection and shows the clip information in the media card — including dimensions, file size, and media type.
2. Choose an Image-to-Video Model
Section titled “2. Choose an Image-to-Video Model”Search for an image-to-video model using the model selector. Some popular options:
| Model | Strengths |
|---|---|
| Kling v3 Pro | High quality motion, consistent with source |
| Wan 2.6 | Good balance of quality and speed |
| LTX 2.3 | Fast generation, lower cost |
| Seedance | Strong motion quality |
Use the filter chips to show only image-to-video models.
3. Write a Motion Prompt
Section titled “3. Write a Motion Prompt”The prompt describes what motion you want the AI to add to your still image. Focus on movement, not on describing the image itself — the model already sees the image.
Good prompt:
“Slow zoom in, hair blowing in the wind, subtle eye movement, cinematic”
Less effective prompt:
“A woman standing in a field” (describes the image, not the motion)
4. Set Parameters
Section titled “4. Set Parameters”Adjust duration, resolution, and aspect ratio. The cost estimate updates live as you change these values.
- Duration — longer clips cost more and take longer to generate
- Aspect ratio — match your sequence settings (16:9, 9:16, 1:1)
- Resolution — higher resolution increases quality and cost
5. Check Validation
Section titled “5. Check Validation”The media card shows real-time validation status:
- Green border — your image meets all model requirements
- Red border — something is wrong (image too small, wrong format, etc.) with a specific error message
If validation fails, the Generate button is disabled and the error message tells you exactly what to fix.
6. Generate and Import
Section titled “6. Generate and Import”Click Generate. When the result is ready:
- Import to Timeline replaces the source image on the timeline at its exact position and scale
- Save to Project Bin imports without timeline placement
- Preview in Source Monitor lets you evaluate before committing
The original image stays in your Project Bin — nothing is destroyed.
Media Validation
Section titled “Media Validation”modelBridge checks your selected image against the model’s requirements before any API call:
- Minimum dimensions — e.g., “Image too small (640x480, min 1024x768)”
- Maximum file size — e.g., “File too large (15 MB, max 10 MB)”
- Aspect ratio — some models require specific ratios
- File format — supported formats vary by model
These checks are instant and prevent wasted API credits. If a model rejects your image for a requirement not declared in its schema, the plugin learns that requirement and catches it automatically on future attempts.
Prompt Optimization
Section titled “Prompt Optimization”Click the sparkle button below the prompt field to have AI rewrite your prompt for better results. This costs approximately $0.01 and is useful when you are not sure how to describe the motion you want.
Common Issues
Section titled “Common Issues”Result does not match the source image
Section titled “Result does not match the source image”Some models take more creative liberty than others. If the result diverges too much from your source, try a different model or add “maintain source appearance” to your prompt.
Generation is slow
Section titled “Generation is slow”Image-to-video models with audio enabled or high resolution can take 5–15 minutes. The generation moves to the background automatically — check the Active Generations panel for progress.
Image is rejected
Section titled “Image is rejected”Check the error message on the media card. Common causes: image too small, unsupported format, or file too large. The message tells you the exact requirement.