Best Practices

Follow these best practices to get the most out of VPA and create prompts that generate outstanding AI videos.

Choosing Source Videos

Video Quality

• Resolution: Use at least 720p source videos when possible
• Compression: Avoid heavily compressed footage with visible artifacts
• Lighting: Well-lit scenes produce better analysis than dark/muddy footage
• Focus: Sharp, in-focus footage gives clearer style detection

Video Content

• Length: 5-30 seconds is ideal; longer videos may dilute the style
• Consistency: Choose clips with consistent style throughout
• Clear subjects: Videos with identifiable subjects work better
• Avoid text: On-screen text/graphics can confuse analysis

Frame Count Selection

Choose frame count based on your video characteristics:

• 2 frames: Static shots, minimal movement, talking heads
• 4 frames: Most videos, moderate movement, standard scenes
• 6 frames: Dynamic content, action sequences, varied shots
• 8 frames: Complex motion, rapid changes, music videos

Generator Selection

Choose the right generator for your needs:

• Sora: Photorealistic, complex scenes, professional quality
• Veo: Motion-heavy content, physics-based scenes, nature
• Runway: Creative, stylized, quick iterations, artistic
• Kling: Detailed subjects, character focus, fantasy/sci-fi

Refining Your Prompts

Iterative Improvement

1. Generate an initial prompt
2. Review what's emphasized and what's missing
3. Apply targeted refinements
4. Compare versions and keep the best elements
5. Save successful prompts for future reference

Effective Refinements

• Apply one refinement at a time to understand its effect
• Stack refinements intentionally for layered adjustments
• Use the undo feature liberally—experimentation is good
• Create custom refinements for specific needs

Using Style Anchors Effectively

• Start broad: Select major style elements first
• Then refine: Add specific details like color palette or camera movement
• Be intentional: Fewer, stronger choices beat many weak ones
• Experiment: Try unexpected combinations for unique results

Storyboard Workflow

For multi-shot projects:

1. Plan your shots before generating prompts
2. Maintain consistent style elements across scenes
3. Vary camera and motion while keeping lighting/color consistent
4. Use the same generator for all shots in a sequence
5. Export storyboards for reference during generation

Cost Optimization

• Start with fewer frames during exploration
• Use faster/cheaper models for initial concepts
• Switch to premium models for final prompts
• Reuse successful prompts with minor modifications
• Save and organize good prompts to avoid re-generation

Quality Checklist

Before using a prompt in your generator:

• Does it stay within the character limit?
• Is the subject clearly described?
• Are camera movements specified?
• Is the lighting/mood defined?
• Are there any conflicting instructions?
• Does it match your intended style?