Runway’s current guidance separates what appears in the frame from how it moves. For image-to-video, the input image already carries subject, composition, light and style; the text can focus on motion.
Choose text-to-video or image-to-video
| Route | Use it when | Primary risk |
|---|---|---|
| Text to video | Appearance can be explored | Subject and motion both vary |
| Image to video | You have an approved starting frame | The reference may distort during motion |
Only upload a reference you have the right to use. Inspect it for artifacts before generation; the input can carry those problems into the clip.
Write a simple motion prompt
The subject remains seated and slowly turns toward the window.
The curtain moves gently in the background.
The camera makes a slow, steady push in. Natural live-action motion.Runway recommends positive, direct descriptions. Write “the camera remains locked” instead of a negative instruction such as “no camera movement.”
Add one element per revision
Start with subject motion. If it works, add camera motion. Add scene motion last. This sequence makes it possible to identify which instruction destabilized the shot.
| Version | Change | What to inspect |
|---|---|---|
| A | Subject motion only | Anatomy and identity |
| B | Add slow push in | Camera speed and framing |
| C | Add curtain movement | Background continuity |
Keep a handoff record
Save the active model, duration, aspect ratio, input image, prompt and selected output together. Product controls and plan availability change; the record explains the conditions under which the clip was made.
Should a Runway prompt describe what not to do?
Current Runway guidance recommends positive phrasing. Describe the intended physical state—such as a locked camera—instead of relying on negative instructions.
How many changes should I make per revision?
Change one cause you can identify, such as camera motion or subject action. Several simultaneous changes make it difficult to learn which instruction improved the shot.
When is a reference image useful?
Use one when the first frame, subject or composition must be constrained and you have permission to upload it. Check the current product controls and rights before generation.