Attach three or more images below and they become references. Tag them in the prompt as @Image 1, @Image 2 and say what each one is; the model keeps them and builds a new shot around them. Seedance 2.5 by default; 6 more models take references.
Image to video starts the clip on your picture. Reference to video does not: it reads your images for identity, wardrobe, product details, set and style, and generates a new shot in which they appear, with the camera, poses and action you describe. That is how a character stays the same across several clips, a product lands in a scene it was never photographed in, or a whole cast, costume and location go into one shot.
Eligible new verified accounts may claim up to 5 welcome credits for 7 days after human verification, while the promotion budget is available. This can cover a low-cost image, not a guaranteed free video. New video generation requires sufficient purchased credits or eligible bounded unlimited capacity.
ByteDance Seed published this case with the Seedance 2.5 announcement. Eighteen images went in as references, none of them a frame of the video: the concert hall, the pianist, a cello, a violin, the lead vocalist, five orchestra players, four choir members and four audience members. The instruction gives each image or group of images a role and then directs one continuous concert scene.
What carried over: the hall’s gilded dome and organ from the first image, the pianist’s face and tuxedo, the lead vocalist’s navy off-shoulder gown and hairstyle from the three-view sheet in @Image 5, and the audience members’ outfits. The singer’s reference shows her from the front, side and back, which is why she stays recognisable as the camera circles the stage.
The instruction first sets format and look, then assigns roles (“Use @Image 1 for the venue”, “The lead vocalist must strictly follow @Image 5”, “Reference @Images 11 to 14 for the choir”), places everyone on the stage, and only then describes the camera and the action from the opening wide shot to the applause.
A 30-second concert sequence in 16:9 landscape, with cinematic realism, authentic concert hall lighting and shadows, warm golden stage lighting, and the atmosphere of a formal classical concert. Use @Image 1 for the venue. Reference @Image 2 for the pianist. Reference @Image 3 for the cello. Reference @Image 4 for the violin. The lead vocalist must strictly follow @Image 5. Reference @Images 6 to 10 for the rest of the orchestra. Reference @Images 11 to 14 for the choir. Reference @Images 15 to 18 for the audience seating. The lead vocalist walks from center stage toward the front edge. The pianist is positioned by the piano. The orchestra is arranged on both sides and toward the rear. The choir stands at the back of the stage. Open with a high-angle wide shot of the full concert hall. The pianist strikes the keys, and the lead vocalist steps into the spotlight and begins singing. The camera naturally moves across the violin, cello, and orchestra as they perform together, with the violin feeling bright and the cello warm. In the latter part, the choir joins in. The lead vocalist briefly makes eye contact with front-row audience members, who respond with a smile and a slight nod. In the closing shot, the camera pulls back. The singing ends, and the audience joins in the applause.
Video, reference images and instruction: ByteDance Seed, from the Seedance 2.5 announcement. Shown here from the output onward, without the prompt cards. Source. Open this instruction in the generator and attach your own images in the same order; nothing starts until you press Generate.
One image for each character, one for the product or outfit, one for the place or style. Plain backgrounds and a clear view of the face or object work best; a front, side and back sheet holds a character through camera moves. Seedance 2.5 takes up to 30 images, Wan 3.0 up to 10, Seedance 2.0 models and MiniMax H3 up to 9.
Attach three or more images and the generator treats them as references. With one or two images, click the image’s Start or End badge and choose “Use as reference image”. Adding a video clip on Seedance, Wan 3.0 or MiniMax H3 also switches the set to references.
Type @ in the prompt to insert @Image 1, @Image 2 and so on, numbered in the order the images are attached; video clips are numbered after the images. Say what each one is for: “the woman from @Image 1”, “the jacket in @Image 3”.
Write the action, the camera and the light of the shot you want, and what must not change. Pick length and resolution; the composer shows the exact credit cost before you start, and failed or refused runs are not charged.
Starter instruction (three images: a person, a place, a product):
The woman from @Image 1 walks into the café from @Image 2, sits down and lifts the cup from @Image 3 toward the camera. Keep her face, hair and clothes exactly as in @Image 1 and the cup’s shape and label as in @Image 3. Handheld medium shot, warm morning light.
Each task uses the current generator quote for its model, duration, resolution and references. Identical settings cost the same credits on every plan; subscriptions do not reduce the task credit charge.
No model quotes are currently available. Please try again later.
Available models, resolutions and reference formats are shown in the generator. Credit-mode concurrency is 1 for Lite, 4 for Pro and 8 for Premium. A model guide is not a guarantee that every discussed model is currently enabled.
Credits the generator charges on each plan today (plan discounts included, as a new subscriber), and the dollar value of those credits at the plan’s price per credit. Taxes not included. Failed or refused runs are not charged.
| Plan | Billed amount | Credits | Price per credit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lite 300 | $14.90/month | 300/month | $0.0497 |
| Lite 300 | $156.00/year | 300/month | $0.0433 |
| Pro 600 | $29.00/month | 600/month | $0.0483 |
| Pro 600 | $174.00/year | 600/month | $0.0242 |
| Pro 1300 | $59.00/month | 1300/month | $0.0454 |
| Pro 1300 | $598.80/year | 1300/month | $0.0384 |
| Pro 2000 | $89.00/month | 2000/month | $0.0445 |
| Pro 2000 | $828.00/year | 2000/month | $0.0345 |
| Premium 3500 | $149.00/month | 3500/month | $0.0426 |
| Premium 3500 | $1188.00/year | 3500/month | $0.0283 |
| Premium 5200 | $219.00/month | 5200/month | $0.0421 |
| Premium 5200 | $2028.00/year | 5200/month | $0.0325 |
| Premium 7200 | $299.00/month | 7200/month | $0.0415 |
| Premium 7200 | $2748.00/year | 7200/month | $0.0318 |
| Credit pack | $29.90 | 350 | $0.0854 |
| Credit pack | $49.90 | 600 | $0.0832 |
| Credit pack | $79.90 | 1000 | $0.0799 |
| Credit pack | $199.00 | 2500 | $0.0796 |
| Credit pack | $999.00 | 13000 | $0.0768 |
Annual plans are billed yearly. Starter credits are valid for 180 days; other standard packs for 365 days. Taxes and personal offers are shown in checkout.
Eligible new verified accounts may claim up to 5 welcome credits for 7 days after human verification, while the promotion budget is available. This can cover a low-cost image, not a guaranteed free video. New video generation requires sufficient purchased credits or eligible bounded unlimited capacity. See pricing for every plan and pack, or the AI video price index for the per-second rate of every model.
Open AI Image is an independent platform and is not affiliated with ByteDance, Kuaishou, Alibaba, MiniMax or the other model providers named here. The example above was published by ByteDance Seed and is credited to it.
