Generate videos using Flow

Creating in Flow | How to use Google’s new AI Filmmaking Tool

Learn how to use Flow to generate videos and turn individual clips into a compelling narrative.

Generate video clips in Flow

Generate a video using “Text to Video”

Here’s how to generate a video clip based solely on a written description:

1. On your device, go to Flow .
2. Open an existing project or start a new one.
   • To open an existing project, click it.
   • To start a new project, click + New project.
3. At the bottom, in the prompt box, select Text to Video.
4. Add a text prompt that describes the scene you want to create in detail. Be specific about the subject, action, environment, lighting, and style.
   • Learn how to expand your text prompt.
5. Click Generate.
6. Flow will create a video based on your prompt.

Generate a video using "Frames to Video"

Important:Product feature availability may differ by country of use. Certain image types may not be supported.

Here’s how to generate a video that starts and/or ends with specific images you provide, create transitions, or animate a static image:

1. On your device, go to Flow .
2. Open an existing project or start a new one.
   • To open an existing project, click it.
   • To start a new project, click + New project.
3. At the bottom, in the prompt box, select Frames to Video.
4. To add your start and end frames, click Add .
   • To generate a new image, click Generate image.
     • To add an image that you want to reference, click Add  again. Then select the reference image.
   • To use an existing image, click Upload.
   • To use a saved frame, click it.
5. Add a text prompt that describes the action or transition that should happen between the frames.
   • Tip:To add a specific camera movement without describing it in your prompt, click Camera. Then select a camera move.
6. Click Generate.
7. Flow will create a video.

Generate a video using "Ingredients to Video"

Here’s how to generate a video using multiple images as references (like a character, object, and background):

1. On your device, go to Flow .
2. Open an existing project or start a new one.
   • To open an existing project, click it.
   • To start a new project, click + New project.
3. At the bottom, in the prompt box, select Ingredients to Video.
4. To add your ingredient images, click Add .
   • To generate a new image, click Generate  image.
     • To add an image that you want to reference, click Add  again. Then select the reference image.
   • To use an existing image, click Upload.
     • Tip:For the best results, provide subject or product references on a plain or segmented background.
   • To use a saved frame, click it.
5. Add a text prompt that describes how these ingredients should interact within the scene.
   • For example, with ingredients of a woman , a lava lamp , and a foggy street , you could prompt: The woman, whose torso is the lava lamp, walks down the foggy street.
6. Click Generate.
7. Flow will generate a video that combines your ingredients according to your prompt, maintaining their visual style.

Expand your text prompt in Flow

Important:This feature is only available when you use “Text to Video.”

To expand your prompts without leaving Flow, you can use predefined expanders by Flow TV or create your own.

1. On your device, open a project in Flow .
2. At the bottom, in the prompt box, select Text to Video.
3. Add a text prompt that describes the scene you want to create in detail.
4. At the bottom, click Expand.
5. Click the expander you’d like to use.
6. Review, edit, and regenerate your prompt as needed.

Create custom expanders

1. On your device, open a project in Flow .
2. At the bottom, in the prompt box, select Text to Video.
3. Click Expand> Create New Expander.
4. Fill in the name and content fields.
5. Click Save.

Delete custom expanders

1. On your device, open a project in Flow .
2. At the bottom, in the prompt box, select Text to Video.
3. Click Expand.
4. Next to the expander you want to delete, click Edit.
5. At the bottom, click Delete.

Add generated clips to a scene in Flow

To create a sequence of shots, add your generated clips to a scene:

1. On your device, go to Flow .
2. Open an existing project.
3. Hover over the clip you want to add to your sequence.
4. Click Add to scene. 

Build and refine your scene in Flow

Important:The Scenebuilder timeline currently resets when you leave your project. However, all of your individual clips are always saved in the project's clip view. A feature to save the Scenebuilder state is coming soon.

You can use Flow’s Scenebuilder to:

• Arrange multiple clips in a sequence.
• Trim the beginning and end of each clip using the handles.
• Use the Jump toand Extendfeatures to build your narrative.
• Rearrange the order of your clips.

Create your next clip using “Jump to”

Here’s how to generate a new clip that seamlessly continues an action and stays consistent with your last clip:

1. On your device, go to Flow .
2. Open an existing project.
3. Add the clip you want to continue the story from to the Scenebuilder.
4. At the top, click Scenebuilder.
5. On the timeline, click the clip you want to continue from.
6. Click Add> Jump to….
7. Add a simple text prompt.
   • For example:  She runs through the forest.

Extend an existing clip

If you need a shot to be longer, you can generate more footage and add it to the end of your original clip:

1. On your device, go to Flow .
2. Open an existing project.
3. Add the clip you want to continue the story from to the Scenebuilder.
4. At the top, click Scenebuilder.
5. On the timeline, select the clip you want to make longer.
6. Click Add> Extend….
7. Add a text prompt that describes how the action should continue.

Insert or remove an object

Here's how to seamlessly insert or remove objects in your clips:

1. On your device, go to Flow .
2. Open an existing project.
3. Hover over the clip you want to change.
4. At the top right, click Edit.
   • To insert an object, click  Insert.
   • To remove an object, click  Remove.
5. At the bottom, in the prompt box, describe the object you want to insert or remove.
   • To select where the object should appear or be removed from, draw a box on the image.
6. Click Generate.

Change a clip's camera position or motion

Here's how to reshoot a clip with a different camera position or motion:

1. On your device, go to Flow .
2. Open an existing project.
3. Hover over the clip you want to change.
4. At the top right, click Edit.
   • To change your camera position, click  Camera Position. 
   • To change your camera motion, click  Camera Motion.
5. Click the option you want.
6. Click Generate.

Achieve consistent characters and locations

• Use Ingredients to Video:This is the most reliable way to consistently use the same images for your character and key objects from one shot to the next.
• Save frame as asset:
  1. In the Scenebuilder, pause on a perfect frame of your character.
  2. Click Save frame as asset.
  3. Use this saved frame as an ingredient, start frame, or end frame for future generations.

Best practices & advanced tips when generating in Flow

Get the most out of every generation with these tips:

• Prepare clean ingredients
  • When you use “Ingredients to Video,” provide subject or product references on a plain or segmented background.
  • Make sure location and style references don't contain extra subjects, unless that is your creative intent.
• Avoid conflicting guidance
  • Your text prompt should complement, not contradict, your visual inputs.
  • Make sure your prompt references the frames or ingredients you've provided.
  • A consistent look and feel across all your ingredient images helps the model blend them more effectively.
• Iterate with Gemini
  • As a Google AI subscriber, you have access to the most capable Gemini models.
  • Visit gemini.google.com to help brainstorm. Send Gemini your prompt, an image, or even a video and ask it to write you new prompts, riff on ideas, and more.