How to Use Kapwing's AI Video Generator

Kapwing's innovative AI Video Generator called Kai transforms your ideas into a video with just a prompt. Unlike single-scene AI video generators, Kai is a video editing agent. It can accept video uploads, reference images, and audio to generate full-length videos for you.

How to Access Kai

There are three ways to use Kai:

1. Access the AI Assistant on the left sidebar by clicking the Kapwing AI option
2. Input a prompt directly in your Kapwing Homepage under "What are you creating today". The prompt can include attaching an image, pdf, or video file. .
3. Use Kai from within the editor under the "AI" tab on the left-hand side

How to Generate a Video on Kapwing

To access the AI Video Generator, click the lightbulb icon in the top bar or enter your topic into the text box in the empty Studio view. Our AI Video generator can create short scenes, fully-edited videos with stock b-roll, and videos with AI avatars (UGC creators, actors, models, spokespersons).

Once in the AI Video Generator, write a clear prompt to guide the AI into creating the video you want.

1. If you have an image or clip you want to work off of you can upload it by first clicking the "Attach media" button. Up to 10 attachments are allowed per prompt.
2. You can then select the slider setting icon on the right to choose your AI model preferences. If you’re unsure which model to use, simply leave it as is and Kapwing will automatically select the best model based on your prompt.
3. Before generating, you can look at the sample options for ideas on what to use our Video Generator for or for sample prompts.
4. Finally, you can type in whatever details you would like in the text box.
5. After entering your prompt and adding any supporting images or videos, you will receive a video storyboard. Use it to make changes to the script, B-roll, aspect ratio, and voice over.

Please note that once a video is generated, credits are consumed regardless of satisfaction with the output.

How To Use A Brand Character

You can learn more about creating a consistent character in Kapwing here. If you already have your brand character, this is a quick review on how to call the character to be used in your AI video generations. 

1. Ensure you have a character already in your Brand Kit
   1. If you do not have a character established, go to your Brand Kit, scroll down to Brand Characters and then add one following "create character” window 
2. In your prompt for your single or multi-scene videos you can have the AI use your character by typing @ then their name. For example, “@kapwing_kit” (all spaces are automatically replaced with an underscore (_)).

How to Write a Good Prompt

1. Start with an Image and Expand It into Video
One of the most effective strategies for AI video generation is to use an image-to-video workflow rather than generating video directly from text.

2. Direct Your Generations with Camera Movements
Camera work is one of the key elements that make videos feel cinematic. Without specifying movements, AI models often default to static shots. By adding film terminology into your prompts (i.e pan, tilt, dolly, roll) , you can guide how the camera moves and create sequences that feel choreographed rather than random.

To make prompts more precise, combine a movement type with a pace modifier (slow, quick, gradual) and a target focus (subject, object, or environment). This gives you control over how the shot unfolds:

"Expand this image into video with a [pace] [movement type] on the [focus]. Then [describe the next movement or transition]."

3. Build Multi-Shot Sequences with Continuity
Multi-shot prompting strings together different camera angles and focal points, much like how a scene is cut in traditional filmmaking. Instead of producing a single continuous shot, you can break the action into multiple perspectives.

You can learn more about writing the best prompt for your video here.

How Is My Generated Video Formatted?

If you do not write the size you would like your video to be within your prompt, the AI will decide for you, depending on the rest of your prompt. For example, if you request a video for a Reel, the AI will assume you want the video to be sized 9:16. If you upload starting media that is 4:5, the AI will assume you want your video to be generated 4:5.

Here is a list of popular size ratios for social media to refer to when writing your prompt:

• 1:1 - Instagram posts, Facebook pictures
• 9:16 - TikTok, YouTube Shorts, Instagram Reels, Snapchat
• 16:9 - YouTube, Twitch
• 4:5 - Instagram or Facebook videos
• 5:4 - Instagram or Facebook videos

After you send your prompt, you can also select the aspect ratio of your video in the dropdown above the AI's outline:

Prompt History

Kapwing remembers your past prompts on the left side of Kapwing AI under "Chats".

If you want to iterate on your prompt or remember previous generations, browse through your past chats. This prompt history is specific to a user, not the full workspace, so your prompts will not be shared with coworkers without your permission.

How Do I Make a Multi-Scene Video?

To create a video with multiple scenes, first select the sliders setting icon to change the model preference for video to Seedance. Then, include the phrase 'the camera switches' in your prompt to signal a scene change.

How Do I Generate Another Video?

If you'd like to generate a new video, you can simply rewrite your prompt with updated language and phrases in the same chat thread. If you find that the AI-generated video output isn't exactly what you were looking for, edit the video within Kapwing Studio to update images, videos, subtitles, music, and more.

Our AI tools, including the video generator, require credits. If you are unable to generate a video, please review your limits to ensure you haven't used them up for the month.

What AI Models Does Kapwing Use?

Kai supports best-in-class AI vendors for all of the different generative use cases. Leverage ChatGPT Image 2 to make text based images, Seedance 2.0 for videos, and ElevenLabs for text to speech, all under one subscription. Kai routes to different 3rd party processors depending on the AI tool to achieve the best results. To learn more about our full break down, review our subprocessors article here.

FAQ

What if don't I have enough credits?

Paid Plans on Kapwing come with credits that refresh on the first of every month. If you are low on credits or your project requires a lot of credits, you can try choosing cheaper models to see if this helps reduce the credit cost. Also, before confirming a plan, ensure the credit estimate is within your "budget". If it is too high, you can tell Kai to generate a new plan using less credits.

What do I do if the quality of my output is not what I wanted?

First, be sure to review our documentation on writing the best prompt for your video here. After writing and submitting your prompt, please note it is very normal for generative AI workflows to involve multiple iterations before arriving at the desired result. AI tools like ours typically work more like collaborative creative systems, rather than one-click generators. The first output should be a strong starting point, with the subsequent iterations helping refine more specific pieces to reach the desired product. If you have a very specific change you want to make to your video (i.e. change the subtitle font, shorten the duration of the video, add in text) we recommend using Kapwing Studio for those edits.

Does Kapwing Support AI Image Generation?

Yes! Kapwing's AI Image Generator is available in the same Kapwing AI generator.

When you submit your prompt, Kapwing will generate an image using a generative AI model. Be sure to say you want an image in your prompt so the AI doesn't generate a video instead.

For more information on how to generate images in Kapwing, read this how-to guide.

Using Kapwing's AI Image Generator and Video Generator can help you to improve your prompt engineering skills by helping you experiment with different prompt techniques and learn from past attempts.