vidu.ai
English
Try Vidu AI

BEGINNER TUTORIAL / VIDEO WORKFLOW

How to Use Vidu AI for Beginners

This practical guide shows how to use Vidu AI from your first prompt to a cleaner, more consistent video result. Start simple, review each generation, and improve one variable at a time.

Start creating ↗

01 / BEFORE YOU GENERATE

Prerequisites for a smooth first session

Before learning how to use Vidu AI, prepare a short idea and decide what the finished clip should communicate. A clear subject, action, camera direction, and visual mood give the model useful constraints. You do not need filmmaking experience, but you do need an input that is specific enough to guide the generation.

For beginners, the easiest starting point is a short text prompt or one strong reference image. If your goal is to animate an existing illustration or photo, the Vidu image to video workflow → is usually more direct than describing every visual detail from scratch.

  • Choose one clear subject and one main action.
  • Prepare a landscape or portrait reference image if you want image-led control.
  • Write a prompt describing motion, framing, lighting, and style.
  • Collect a second reference for color, wardrobe, or environment.
  • Prepare a short shot list if you plan to create several connected clips.

02 / THE CORE WORKFLOW

Numbered steps for your first Vidu AI video

Keep your first test short and focused. Once the motion works, refine the look and extend the idea.

  1. Define the shot

    Choose text-to-video or an image-led mode, then describe the subject, setting, action, camera movement, and atmosphere in plain language. One shot should usually contain one dominant action.

  2. Generate a small batch

    Run several variations instead of judging the first result as final. Compare motion, framing, subject consistency, and prompt accuracy. Small changes often produce larger improvements than a completely new prompt.

  3. Refine and assemble

    Keep the strongest take, adjust one weak element, and generate again. When the clips feel reliable, place them in sequence, trim awkward openings, and add sound or captions in your editor.

Beginners often get better results by separating creative decisions. First make the movement believable, then improve the visual style. If you prefer to describe the scene entirely in words, compare this workflow with Vidu AI text to video → before choosing your starting point.

03 / TROUBLESHOOTING

Common errors and fixes

Most disappointing outputs come from overloaded prompts, weak inputs, or expectations that exceed a short clip.

The subject changes identity

Faces, clothing, and small objects may drift when the shot contains too much movement or too many characters.

Workaround: use one main subject, repeat its defining traits, and reduce the camera movement.

The action looks chaotic

Long sequences with several actions can cause extra limbs, abrupt transitions, or motion that does not match the prompt.

Workaround: describe one action with a clear beginning and end, then create separate clips for the next beat.

The image feels static

An image-to-video input can preserve the composition so strongly that the result barely moves.

Workaround: specify visible motion such as hair moving in wind, a slow push-in, turning fabric, or a subject walking forward.

The prompt is interpreted differently

Abstract phrases and crowded style references can compete with the actual subject and action.

Workaround: put the subject and action first, use concrete visual language, and remove modifiers that do not affect the shot.

04 / IMPROVEMENT LOOP

Advanced tips after the basics work

Once you understand how to use Vidu AI for a single shot, build consistency through controlled experiments. Change only one part of a prompt between attempts so you can identify what helped. Keep a useful phrase library for camera movement, lighting, pacing, and subject behavior, but avoid stacking every phrase into one request.

For a stronger sequence, keep the same character description and visual palette across prompts. Use matching aspect ratios, similar shot lengths, and deliberate transitions. A reference image can anchor appearance, while a text prompt can clarify the movement. This combination is especially useful when moving from a concept frame to a short narrative scene.

Try a guided workflow ↗
Stylized AI-generated scene with cinematic lighting
REFERENCE / LIGHT / MOTION
AI video scene showing a subject in motion
SHOT / RHYTHM / SEQUENCE
Before example with a simple source image
BEFORE / SOURCE IDEA
After example showing a developed AI video frame
AFTER / REFINED MOTION

The goal is not to add more words; it is to make the intended subject, movement, and visual direction easier for the model to follow.

05 / HOW THE FORMAT EVOLVED

Tutorial FAQ

These answers address the questions beginners most often ask when starting with Vidu AI and planning their first usable clip.

01How do I start using Vidu AI as a beginner?

Start with one short shot, one subject, and one action. Choose either a simple text prompt or a clear reference image, generate several variations, and refine the strongest result instead of trying to create a complete film at once.

02What should I write in a first prompt?

Describe the subject, action, setting, camera behavior, lighting, and mood. For example, state who or what is visible, what it is doing, how the camera moves, and what visual atmosphere you want.

03Is image-to-video easier than text-to-video?

It can be easier when appearance and composition matter because the image supplies a visual starting point. Text-to-video is useful when you are still exploring an idea or do not have a suitable source image.

04Why does my generated video look strange?

Unclear prompts, too many actions, fast camera movement, and complex interactions can all reduce consistency. Simplify the scene, shorten the action, and change one instruction at a time.

05How can I make better videos with Vidu AI?

Review outputs critically, save successful prompt patterns, use consistent references, and edit multiple short clips together. The best results usually come from an iterative workflow rather than one perfect request.

  1. Short-form generation became approachable

    Vidu AI helped make prompt-led video experiments accessible without a traditional production setup.

  2. Reference-led workflows expanded

    Creators began combining images with motion instructions to preserve a stronger visual starting point.

  3. Iteration became the practical standard

    Rather than expecting one finished generation, beginners learned to compare variations and build sequences from selected shots.

  4. Simple workflows remain the most reliable

    Clear inputs, restrained motion, and thoughtful editing still provide the best foundation for new creators.