The 3 Key Methods to Create AI Videos
Every AI video you have ever seen was created using one of three fundamental methods. Understanding these methods is essential because each has different strengths, limitations, and ideal use cases. Mastering all three gives you maximum creative flexibility.
Method 1: Text-to-Video
Text-to-video is the most straightforward approach. You write a text prompt describing what you want to see, and the AI generates a video from scratch.
Example Prompt (Veo 3):
A golden retriever puppy running through a sunlit meadow of wildflowers,
slow motion, cinematic lens flare, shallow depth of field, 4K quality,
warm summer afternoon lighting
When to use text-to-video:
- Starting a project from scratch with no existing visual assets
- Creating conceptual or abstract content
- Rapid prototyping to test ideas quickly
- Generating B-roll footage for larger projects
Strengths:
- Fastest way to go from idea to video
- No source material needed
- Unlimited creative possibilities
Limitations:
- Less precise control over exact visual details
- Character consistency can be challenging across multiple generations
- Results vary significantly based on prompt quality
Method 2: Image-to-Video
Image-to-video takes a still image as input and animates it into a video clip. This gives you significantly more control over the starting visual.
Workflow:
1. Generate or source a high-quality still image
2. Upload the image to your AI video tool
3. Add a motion prompt describing how the scene should move
4. Generate and refine the result
Example Motion Prompt:
The camera slowly pushes forward while the character turns their head
to the left and smiles, gentle wind blows through their hair
When to use image-to-video:
- You need precise control over character appearance, setting, or composition
- Maintaining visual consistency across multiple video clips
- Animating artwork, product photos, or design mockups
- Creating videos from MidJourney or DALL-E images
Strengths:
- Much greater control over the visual starting point
- Better character consistency
- Can animate any image, including photographs and illustrations
Limitations:
- Requires a source image (adds a step to the workflow)
- Motion can sometimes feel unnatural if the prompt conflicts with the image
- Some tools handle certain image styles better than others
Method 3: Video-to-Video
Video-to-video transforms existing video footage by applying AI-driven style changes, enhancements, or modifications while preserving the original motion and structure.
Use Cases:
- Apply artistic styles to real footage (make a street scene look like a Pixar movie)
- Change environments (turn a daytime scene into nighttime)
- Modify characters (change clothing, add effects)
- Upscale and enhance low-quality footage
- Restyle footage to match a specific aesthetic
When to use video-to-video:
- You have existing footage that needs transformation
- Creating consistent style across live-action and AI content
- Enhancing or upscaling older video content
- Adding visual effects that would be expensive to produce traditionally
| Method | Control Level | Speed | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Text-to-Video | Low-Medium | Fastest | Quick concepts, B-roll, abstract content |
| Image-to-Video | High | Medium | Precise scenes, character consistency |
| Video-to-Video | Highest | Slowest | Style transfer, enhancement, modifications |
Combining Methods for Professional Results
Professional AI video creators rarely use just one method. A typical production might involve:
- Text-to-video for initial concept exploration
- Image generation (MidJourney/DALL-E) for precise frame creation
- Image-to-video for the final high-quality clips
- Video-to-video for style consistency and enhancement
Pro Tip: Start your projects with text-to-video for rapid prototyping. Once you know what works, switch to image-to-video for the final production clips. This saves both time and credits.
Key Takeaways
- There are three core methods: text-to-video, image-to-video, and video-to-video
- Text-to-video is fastest but offers less precise control
- Image-to-video provides the best balance of control and quality for most projects
- Video-to-video is ideal for transforming and enhancing existing footage
- Professional workflows combine all three methods strategically
- Always start with rapid prototyping before committing to final production