How to generate video in Video Studio
Video Studio turns a prompt, an image, or a start-and-end frame into a generated clip. You can run text-to-video, image-to-video, or end-frame, and shape the result with director mode, cast references, camera treatment, and scene planning. Finished clips move to the timeline editor for cutting and assembly. One thing to know up front: Video Studio is on every plan, including Free — video generation is credit-gated, not tier-locked. Free draws from your 150 shared starter credits (pooled across Image, Music, and Video), which covers about three 5-second 480p clips. Premium 1080p and 4K aren't tier-locked either — they simply cost more than that allowance holds, so the Creator plan and above are where the credit allotment and monthly video allowance make them practical.
What are the three ways to generate video?
- Text-to-video — describe the clip in a prompt and generate it from words alone.
- Image-to-video — start from a still image and let it animate into a clip.
- End-frame — set where the clip should finish, so the motion resolves to a frame you choose.
Pick the mode that matches what you already have. If you have a strong still, image-to-video keeps that look. If you only have an idea, text-to-video is the place to start.
What does director mode do?
Director mode gives you control over how the shot is staged and moves, beyond a plain prompt. Combined with camera treatment, it steers framing and motion so the clip reads the way you intend rather than being left entirely to the model. Use it to set the feel of the shot — the angle, the movement, the pacing of the camera.
How do cast references work?
Cast references let you carry a consistent subject through your video. You point the generation at a reference so the same character or look appears across clips. This keeps a series of shots visually coherent instead of drifting between generations.
Cast references in Video Studio are for general video generation. The separate Creator Cast feature — for live streamers setting up their likeness and reviewing fan-submitted clips — is a different system with its own consent and review controls.
How does scene planning help?
Scene planning lets you lay out a clip before you commit credits to the full generation, so you can think through the shots rather than generating blind. If you want to plan a clip beat-by-beat with sketched, uploaded, or captioned panels that composite into one driving page, use Storyboard Studio.
What resolution can I generate at?
Video Studio generates 480p, 720p, 1080p, or 4K — every resolution up to 15 seconds per clip, with image-to-video and first-and-last-frame continuity. 480p is the cheapest (best when you want many clips); higher resolutions and longer clips cost more credits. The full explanation is in video resolutions, and exact credit costs are in credit costs by type.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much video can I generate on the Free plan?
Video Studio is available on every plan, including Free — generation is credit-gated, not tier-locked. Free draws from your 150 shared starter credits, pooled across Image, Music, and Video, so a realistic outcome is about three 5-second 480p clips (40 credits each) alongside your images and music; a 5-second 720p clip costs 85 credits, so the grant covers one of those instead. Premium 1080p and 4K are offered on Free too, but they cost far more than that allowance holds, so the credits and the larger monthly video allowance to reach them come with the Creator plan and above; see /pricing and how video differs by plan for the details.
What happens to a clip after I generate it?
It moves to the multi-track timeline editor, where you cut clips, work with the automatically split audio lane, extend from a trailing reference clip, and export a finished video.
Does a longer video cost more?
Yes. Clip length scales the credit cost — a short clip is the cheapest, a longer clip costs more. Current numbers are on /pricing and in credit costs by type.