If you've ever thought making videos was beyond your skills, think again! Artificial Intelligence (AI) is revolutionizing how we create videos. No longer just for tech wizards, AI video generators are now accessible to anyone! In this guide, we'll learn to harness the power of AI to create different types of videos. No coding experience necessary!
Step 1: Define Your AI Video Goals
The first step to generating a video with AI is knowing what type of video you want to make. There are so many use cases out there already, from sales and marketing videos, to personal blogging avatars, to short social media clips, to explainer videos, and, of course, to make art. The list of videos you can make using AI is growing by the day. Here are some ideas to get you started:
- Personal Avatars: Realistic or animated versions of yourself for YouTube, courses, or business.
- Explainer Videos: Turn blog posts into engaging videos with your avatar reading the content.
- Creative Projects: Unleash your imagination with dragons, unicorns, or anything else you dream up.
- Daily Greetings: Surprise loved ones with AI-generated floral videos.
Next, you need to decide which is the right
AI video generator to make the type of video you need.
Step 2: Choose the Right AI Video Generator
There are three general ways to create video: text-to-video, image-to-video, and video-to-video. Each of them has its own strengths and weaknesses. Knowing how each of these works will help you to know which video platform to use for each task you need to get done.
Text-to-Video: The Storyteller's Dream
With this method, you prompt the AI engine and describe with words what you are looking for in your video. The better your prompt, the closer your results should be to what you expect.
Strengths:
- Accessibility:Text-to-video platforms are incredibly user-friendly, making video production accessible to creators without prior video editing experience. This democratizes content creation, allowing anyone with a compelling story to bring it to life.
- Efficiency: These platforms can significantly reduce production time, converting written content into fully realized video narratives in minutes. This is ideal for content creators under tight deadlines or those producing content at scale.
- Customization: Many text-to-video tools offer a range of customization options, from voiceovers to animations, enabling creators to align the video with their brand identity or personal style.
Weaknesses:
- Generic Feel: While these tools are efficient, the resulting videos can sometimes lack a unique, personalized touch, feeling somewhat generic if default templates are overused.
- Limited Control: There's a trade-off between efficiency and control. Creators may find themselves constrained by the platform's limitations, unable to execute highly specific or complex visual ideas.
Image-to-Video: The Visual Alchemy
With this method, you use an image to seed the AI rendering of a video. You can add things like motion to a still image or turn an image into animation.
Strengths:
- Visual Appeal: This method excels in transforming static images into dynamic, visually engaging content. It's perfect for showcasing products, creating mood pieces, or enhancing social media engagement.
- Storytelling Through Imagery: Image-to-video allows for a rich narrative to be told through visuals, making it possible to convey complex stories without the need for extensive text or dialogue.
- Flexibility: Creators can repurpose existing imagery, making this method cost-effective and resource-efficient, especially for brands with an existing library of high-quality images.
Weaknesses:
- Dependency on Quality Assets: The effectiveness of the final video heavily relies on the quality of the original images. Poor-quality assets can result in less engaging or professional-looking videos.
- Somewhat Limited Scope: While powerful, this approach may not suit all types of content, particularly those requiring detailed explanations or in-depth storytelling that images alone cannot provide.
Video-to-Video: The Remix Art
This is best thought of as adding a filter to a video. You upload your video and apply different styles to the video.
Strengths:
- Creative Reinvention: Video-to-video editing shines in its ability to repurpose and transform existing video content. This method is ideal for remixing, adding effects, or altering the style of footage to serve new purposes.
- Enhanced Engagement: By applying stylistic edits or incorporating interactive elements, creators can significantly increase viewer engagement and breathe new life into old content.
- Advanced Customization: This approach offers a high degree of control over the final product, allowing for intricate adjustments and edits to meet precise creative visions.
Weaknesses:
- Technical Complexity: Video-to-video editing requires a higher level of skill and understanding of video editing software, which may present a barrier to entry for novices.
- Time-Consuming: Compared to the other methods, this approach can be more time-intensive, particularly for complex projects requiring detailed editing and effects work.
Step 3: Crafting Effective Prompts to Make an AI Video
It’s important to
learn to "talk" to the AI effectively to get the best results. Language in this case is very important.
Focus: Make the main element of your scene the subject of your prompt.
While testing out
Runway, I was trying to create a motion scene of a cardinal and a bluejay in a tree. The motion applied by their AI model morphed the birds, sometimes into weird looking blobs as if I had suddenly dropped acid. I was struggling with the language of the prompt to try to keep the birds lifelike and still in the video.
In one attempt, I changed the subject of the prompt from the birds to the tree and was given a very different output, even further from the results I wanted. Consider these two prompts and their resulting outputs.
Prompt 1:
a cardinal and a bluejay perched in a cherry tree full of blossoms. the cherry tree is on the edge of a lake with a sun setting over a mountain on the horizon beyond the lake using an ultra realistic, cinematic style. do not change the birds, zoom the camera out
Prompt 2:
a cherry tree full of blossoms with a cardinal and a bluejay perched in a branch looking at a lake with a sun setting over a mountain on the horizon beyond the lake. use an ultra realistic, cinematic style. Do not change the birds during the entire video
As you can see, changing the subject of the prompt changes the entire composition of the scene and video.
Details: Be descriptive with colors, styles, camera actions, etc. Don't be afraid to experiment!
Words matter. The more descriptive you can be with your prompt, the better your results should be. Make the subject of your prompt the part of the scene on which you wish to focus. Try to add in descriptions of style and camera use.
For example, in the prompts I used above, I painted a picture of a scene - what kind of birds, where they are, what the scene looks like around them, etc. I then added in the realistic and cinematic style to try to keep the birds looking as real as possible. I tried to add in camera control such as zoom out as well as very specific commands to try to keep the birds from changing (none of which worked).
Action: Current AI is better at creating still scenes with added motion. Avoid prompts requiring complex action on the fly.
Another thing I’ve learned while working with these AI video generators is that they don’t seem to be able to create action on the fly. The prompts I used with a dragon and a unicorn playing softball were not something the models could understand. At the level of their capabilities currently, they need a still frame that to which they can then apply motion.
With that in mind, I changed my prompts to paint a picture of a mountain scene with a unicorn present, no action needed.
Step 4: Experiment and Iterate!
Once you start to get closer to the results you want, you can iterate on your prompt, improving descriptions, dumbing down your language so it can be understood by a toddler, and finding the right style for the look you want. Do this until you get as close to what you expect as you can.
1. Personal Avatar: Image-to-Video
Process:
- Find a platform to try (many have free trials!)
- Upload a clear headshot.
- Explore customization options (animation style, backgrounds, etc.)
- If results aren't what you want, modify prompts, or consider a different platform.
2. Explainer Video: Text-to-Video
Process:
- Choose a platform and paste your blog text.
- Select your avatar.
- Try different voices, speeds, and background options.
- Tweak the text if the spoken rendition needs refining.
Additional Tips
- Start Small: Practice with short videos and simple prompts.
- Be Patient: AI video creation is an iterative process.
- Use Resources: Each platform usually has tutorials or help sections.
Embracing the Future of AI Video Creation
As we've explored the realms of text-to-video, image-to-video, and video-to-video, it's clear that AI video generators are not just tools but collaborators in the creative process. They require us to rethink how we conceptualize videos, pushing the boundaries of traditional storytelling and visual communication.
Key Takeaways for Aspiring AI Video Creators
- Experimentation is Key: Your journey with AI video creation will be one of trial and error. Embrace this process, as each iteration brings you closer to mastering the art of communicating with AI to bring your vision to life.
- Understand Your Tools: Each AI video generator has its strengths and limitations. Spend time getting to know these platforms, and use the right tool for the task at hand to achieve the best results.
- Craft Detailed Prompts: The effectiveness of your AI-generated video hinges on the clarity and detail of your prompts. Think like a director, providing comprehensive guidance to your AI "crew" to produce the scenes you envision.
- Stay Updated on AI Advancements: The field of AI video generation is rapidly evolving. Staying informed about new technologies, platforms, and techniques will ensure you remain at the cutting edge of this exciting domain.
- Balance AI Capabilities with Human Creativity: While AI can automate many aspects of video production, the unique touch, intuition, and creative insight of a human creator are irreplaceable. Use AI as a tool to augment your creativity, not replace it.
Looking Forward
As you embark on your journey of AI video creation, remember that this technology is a means to unlock new forms of expression and storytelling. Whether you're creating personal avatars, animating static images, or remixing video content, the goal is to enhance your creative vision with the power of AI.
The future of video creation is bright, and by leveraging AI, you're not just following trends—you're helping to shape them. Keep pushing the boundaries, experimenting with new ideas, and exploring the vast possibilities AI video generation offers. Your next project could redefine what's possible in the world of video content.
