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SeedanceClub

Image-to-Video with Seedance 2.0: Tips and Techniques

Learn how to transform still images into stunning animated videos using Seedance 2.0's image-to-video mode. Key techniques for the best results.

By Seedance ClubFeb 17, 20264 views

How Image-to-Video Works

Seedance 2.0's image-to-video mode takes a static image as input and generates motion based on your text prompt. The model preserves the visual style, composition, and subjects from your image while adding natural movement.

The Golden Rule

Don't re-describe the image. The model already sees it. Focus your prompt entirely on:

  • What should move and how
  • Camera movement
  • Atmospheric changes

Prompt Formula for Image-to-Video

[Motion Description] + [Camera Movement] + [Atmospheric Details]

Keep it to one sentence — shorter is better for image-to-video.

Example Prompts

Portrait Photos

  • "Subject slowly turns head toward camera; wind gently moves hair; soft bokeh shifts in background"
  • "Eyes blink naturally; slight smile forms; shallow depth of field breathing effect"
  • "Camera slowly zooms in; subject's expression shifts from neutral to contemplative"

Landscape Photos

  • "Clouds drift slowly across sky; water ripples gently; camera pans right"
  • "Fog rolls through the valley; trees sway gently; golden light shifts across the scene"
  • "Timelapse effect: sun moves across sky casting moving shadows"

Product Photos

  • "Camera slowly orbits around product; subtle reflections shift on surface"
  • "Gentle rotation revealing all angles; studio lights create moving highlights"
  • "Steam rises from the cup; liquid gently ripples; camera holds steady"

Illustrations / Anime

  • "Character's hair flows in gentle breeze; eyes blink; slight head tilt"
  • "Sakura petals drift across scene; character reaches out hand; camera slowly pulls back"
  • "Action pose comes to life: sword swing with motion blur; dramatic camera zoom"

Best Practices

1. Match Motion to Image Content

If your image shows a person standing still, don't prompt for running. Keep motion natural and consistent with the pose.

2. One Primary Motion

Focus on one main movement rather than multiple complex actions. "Hair blowing in wind" works better than "hair blowing, arms moving, turning around, jumping."

3. Specify Camera

Always mention camera behavior:

  • "Camera holds steady" — for subject-focused motion
  • "Slow dolly in" — for dramatic reveals
  • "Camera orbits slowly" — for 3D effect on objects

4. Add Environmental Motion

Small environmental details add life:

  • Dust particles in light beams
  • Fabric rustling
  • Background blur shifts (bokeh breathing)

5. Mind the Duration

5-second clips work best for image-to-video. Longer durations may cause drift from the original image.

What to Avoid

  • ❌ Describing what's already in the image
  • ❌ Requesting extreme motion that doesn't match the source
  • ❌ Multiple conflicting movements
  • ❌ Prompts longer than 2 sentences
  • ❌ Abstract concepts without concrete motion descriptions

Multi-Reference Mode

Seedance 2.0 supports up to 12 reference files:

  • 9 images — for identity, style, and scene consistency
  • 3 videos — for motion and camera reference
  • 3 audio — for timing and lip-sync

Use @-mentions in your prompt to assign roles: "@image1 as identity reference, @video1 as motion reference"